THE TERRACE, LONGFORD CASTLE. 



EVERLASTING FLOWERS. 



WHEN we use the word " Everlasting," in allusion to a certain class of flowers, 

 several besides the Immortelles are included. The "Immortelles" are 

 gathered from Xeranthemums, Rhodanthes, and Helichrysum arenarium. 

 Helichrysum bracteatum affords a very large variety of colours and 

 forms, and is the best and easiest to grow of all. Then there are the Acroclinium, 

 Ammobium, Waitzia, Helipterum, Gnaphalium, Catananche, Antennaria, Statice, Gomphrena, 

 and others, all deservedly coming under the head of " Everlasting Flowers." Stove and warm 

 greenhouse plants will be omitted from the list. As a rule, all the Everlastings enjoy a rich 

 and sandy loam, and very few indeed will thrive unless they can have good drainage. Some, 

 such as the Rhodanthes, are far too impatient of superfluous moisture to thrive well in the 

 open unless the season is exceptionally dry and warm. As their wants vary somewhat, 

 each species will be considered separately. 



The Helichrysums form a large family, containing over 250 species. Two of these are 

 all one need deal with here, viz., H. arenarium and H. bracteatum. The first is a hardy 

 herbaceous perennial, about a foot in height, and bearing bright golden-yellow flowers. It is 

 a sand-loving plant, and yet needs a fair share of manure worked in the soil, propagated by 

 division in spring, and cuttings of young shoots in summer. This is very useful as supplying 

 a good yellow among the " Immortelles." Helichrysum bracteatum and its varieties give us 

 the more double and globular forms of Everlastings. They enjoy a very rich and deep loam, 

 but it must have no suspicion of stagnant moisture if the best results are to be secured. This 

 is an annual. Sow in April if to remain in the open ground where sown, or early in March if 

 a little heat can be afforded, pricking the seedlings out by the middle of May. If some of the 

 dwarfer growers are sown in pots in May, and grown on plunged in a pit, they will make very 

 pretty plants for the cool greenhouse during early winter. One can have yellow, bronze, 



