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HELIOTROPE. 



HELIOTROPE. 



The flowers of the Heliotrope are said to turn 

 toward the sun ; its name is from helios, the sun, 

 and trope y to turn. H. Peruvianum % the species 

 usually cultivated was discovered by the celebrated 

 Jussieu while botanizing in the Cordilleras in 1 757. 

 He sent seeds to Europe and the plant soon be- 

 came a household treasure. It is esteemed for its 

 delicious fragrance ; the Orientals say that its per- 

 fumes elevate their souls toward heaven. In Cali- 

 fornia immense bushes of this plant grow wild and 

 bloom luxuriantly the entire year. The Heliotrope 

 adapts itself to the window either as a small plant 

 or a shrub several feet in height, blossoming from 

 the age of a few months onward. 



SOIL, PROPAGATION AND GENERAL TREATNENT. 



The Heliotrope should have a sandy loam en- 

 riched with leaf-mold or a little well-rotted manure. 



It requires but a moderate supply of water, a 

 small amount of liquid fertilizer fortnightly, and 

 frequent washings to destroy the red spider. 



It wants a warm temperature ; 6o° at night and 

 75° to 8o° during the day. 



Cuttings of the young wood strike readily in wet 

 sand or soil. When rooted they should be trans- 

 ferred to 2^-inch pots, and afterwards be re-potted 

 as their growth may demand. Cuttings rooted in 

 March make blooming plants the following winter. 



The Heliotrope may be trained to a trellis and 



