HELIX. 



140 



hepa'tica. 



are propagated by division of the 

 root. 



Helio'phila. — CrucifercB. — Beau- 

 tiful little annual plants, natives of the 

 Cape of Good Hope, generally with 

 blue flowers, and very long slender 

 stems. The seeds should be sown on 

 a hot-bed in February, and the plants 

 planted out in a warm open situation 

 in May. 



Heliotrope. — See Heliotropium . 



Heliotro^pium. — Boraginece. — 

 The Heliotrope is a favourite flower in 

 most countries, from its fragrance, 

 which, however, is overpowering, and 

 very unpleasant to those not accus- 

 tomed to strong perfumes. It should 

 be grown in a light rich soil ; and 

 though it requires protection during 

 winter, it may be planted out in May, 

 when it will flower splendidly in the 

 open air, till destroyed by frost in 

 autumn. It is propagated by cuttings, 

 which strike easily. 



Helix. — The Snail. Snails are so 

 destructive to gardens, and particularly 

 to those of small size, that too much 

 care cannot be taken to destroy them. 

 The best time for effecting this is in 

 winter or early spring, when the snails 

 are in a quiescent state, and when 

 they will be found in great numbers 

 sticking to the walls, under ivy, &c, 

 in box-edgings, or in the crevices of 

 rock work, &c. In spring, the warmth 

 and moisture induce them to leave 

 their hiding-places, and they com- 

 mence their work of destruction. At 

 this season, they should be sought for 

 in the day-time, in the same kind of 

 places as those they select for their 

 winter retreats, and if possible de- 

 stroyed before they lay their eggs, 

 which they do in April or May. The 

 eggs, which are buried in the earth in 

 some rather moist and shady place, 

 and which are whitish, and quite 

 round and transparent, should be 

 6ought for and destroyed in May or 

 June. By these means the ravages of 



snails may be in a great measure pre- 

 vented ; and there will be no occasion 

 to resort to watering the beds with 

 lime or tobacco- water, remedies which, 

 unless very judiciously practised, are 

 in fact worse than the disease. Many 

 persons place empty flower-pots in dif- 

 ferent parts of a garden infested with 

 snails at night ; and when this is done, 

 a great number of snails will generally 

 be found either in the pots or sticking 

 to the outside in the morning. Cab- 

 bage-leaves and slices of raw potatoes 

 are also laid as traps for snails. 



Helle'borus. — RanunculacecB. — 

 The Christmas Rose, H. riiger, is one 

 of the handsomest plants belonging to 

 this genus, on account of its flowering 

 in winter, or very early spring, before 

 almost every other flower. It is a 

 hardy perennial, which will thrive in 

 any common garden soil, and is in- 

 creased by dividing the roots. 



Helmet- flower. — See Corya'n- 

 thus. 



Helo x nias. — Melanthacece. — Per- 

 ennial plants, natives of North Ame- 

 rica, which produce spikes of very 

 small pinkish or white flowers, and 

 which are generally grown in peat soil, 

 and in a moist situation. They are 

 propagated by seeds or division of the 

 root. 



Hemeroca'llis. — The Day Lily. — 

 Handsome perennial plants, with yel- 

 low or copper-coloured flowers. They 

 are quite hardy, and only require a 

 moist soil and a shady situation. They 

 are propagated by dividing the roots. 

 For the white and purplish flowered 

 kinds, see Funkia. 



Hen and Chickens. — A kind of 

 daisy. — See Bellis. 



Henbane. — See Hyoscvamus. 



Hepa'tica. — RanunculacecB. — 

 Pretty little plants, which flower very 

 early in spring. They should be grown 

 in a light sandy soil, and a shady situa- 

 tion; and, as they have a propensity 

 to raise themselves out of the soil, they 



