HARDY FLOWERS. 



IOI 



several species, all good garden plants, enjoying shade, 

 and for this reason wherever there are shady corners to 

 make beautiful the Hemerocallises should be used libe- 

 rally. By streamside, in the mixed border, or in the 

 wild garden, the Day Lilies may be planted with success 

 in the autumn. The soil should be well manured, and 

 then it will not be necessary to disturb the chimps for 

 years. If an increase of stock is desired, divide the roots 

 in autumn, a very simple matter. The most important 

 kinds are H. Dumortieri, which conies from |apan. It 

 bears a profusion of rich yellow fragrant flowers, which, 

 il very short lived, appear in quick succession, so much 

 so that their brief existence is not noticed. The variety 

 named Aurantiaca major is of more recent introduction, 

 and is the finest of the family. It is remarkably robust 

 both in leafage and flowers, these being very large, sweet- 

 smelling, and apricot in colour. A large mass of this in 

 the garden is a noble feature. These strong-growing 

 kinds in particular must not remain too long in one place, 

 else the growth becomes weakly through being matted 

 together. A charming kind is the Yellow Day Lily 

 (H. flava), which has pure-coloured flowers, strongly 

 scented, and they do not fade so quickly as those of other 

 kinds. Vriie leaves are graceful, fresh in colour, and the 

 plant increases quickly. II. fulva is the copper-coloured 

 Day Lily, and of bolder growth than the yellow kind, 

 being thus fitted for the wilder and rougher parts of the 

 garden. H. disticha, the variegated H. Kwanso, the 

 double-flowered Augustifolia, and variegata, are all forms 

 of this species. H. minor, or II. graminea, as it is also 

 called, because of its grassy foliage, is smaller altogether, 

 and has large yellow fragrant flowers which remain in 

 beauty for two or three days. The Day Lilies should be 

 grown in quite small gardens, and the pretty H. flava 

 may often be seen flowering freely in the shade in gardens 

 near large smoky towns. 

 Hepatica. — See Anemone. 



Heucheras. This family is of importance in two ways. 

 In some species it is the foliage that constitutes the chief 

 charm, this changing to bright colours in winter, so much 

 so that the leaves are often worth gathering for decora- 

 tions. The Heucheras are very hardy, and best used in 

 front of shrub groups, as in the mixed bonier, unless it 

 be the scarlet-flowered H. sanguinea, the plants are in a 

 way lost. H. sanguinea is certainly the brightest of the 

 family as regards flowers, these being scarlet, crimson, or 

 shades of it, and produced in slender spikes. Seedlings 

 vary so much, that propagating the plant each year after 

 flowering by dividing the tufts is advisable, and the 

 experience of most flower gardeners is that to induce this 

 Heuchera to bloom freely, disturbance of this kind once 

 in two or three years is necessary. A warm, loamy soil 

 and sunny position are needful. Grandiflora is a variety 

 with stronger flower stems, and is of richer colour. H. 

 americana, H. glabra (brightly-coloured leaves in winter), 

 and H. Richardsoni or hispida, are useful for their 

 foliage ; the flowers are of little account. 



Hibiscus. — There are a few of this splendid family, usually 

 suitable for the stove only, that may be treated as hclf« 

 hardy annuals. One of these is H. Manihot, which has 

 beautiful delicate yellow flowers, with a marone centre. 

 II. africanus major, pale yellow, is also pretty. Sow the 

 seed in warmth in February, and plant out in late May, 

 w hen frost is no longer to be feared. The Hibiscus is 

 placed here because usually considered perennial. 



Hieraeium aurantiacum (the Hawkweed) is a plant 



common in many gardens. It is not without beauty, as 

 its flowers are rich brownish red, and produced in a 

 dense head, continuing to appear for several weeks. 

 There is no trouble about growing the plant ; it is at 

 home almost anywhere. 

 Hollyhock, The (Altlnea). — The Hollyhocks form a noble 

 family of hardy plants, making picturesque groups in the 

 border, especially when backed by an old moss-stained 

 wall. Unfortunately, for many years past disease has 

 played havoc with this stately flower, although happily its 

 visitations are less frequent and severe than formerly. 

 There are many species, few, however, of any value, the 



race used so freely in gardens having been derived from 

 A. rosea, which is itself a very handsome species. Holly- 

 hocks should not be merely confined to the bark row of 

 the mixed border, but grouped in the woodland, where 



the sun is not hidden, or a igst shrubs. Many 



effective pictures may be created by using the Hollyhock 

 in the wilder parts of the garden. The soil must be 

 thoroughly good, even rich, putting in plenty of manure, 

 as it is, as gardeners say, a "gross feeder.'' During the 

 summer months, if the weather is very dry, give water 

 freely, and never fail to securely stake the stems il tin- 

 position is at all windy. 



The way to increase Hollyhocks is by seed, dividing 

 the roots, cuttings, and eyes. Sowing seed is advisable, 

 as seedlings are far less likely to perpetuate any disease 

 than cuttings or eyes. There are several times for seed 

 sowing, namely, in early autumn in a cold frame, when 

 the seedlings must be kept in pots during the winter and 



HEUCHERA . 



planted out in spring, or in February, using shallow pans 

 for the purpose, which should be placed in a cold frame. 

 Pot off when large enough, or, if the seed be not sown 

 too thickly, leave the seedlings alone until of moderate 

 size, when plant them in the positions they are to adorn. 

 February is a good time to sow. Seedlings do not repro- 

 duce the colours of the parents, but give a variety of tints 

 sometimes, though the colours are seldom poor, whilst 

 we cannot be sure of obtaining double kinds. To per- 

 petuate any unusually fine variety, resort must be had to 

 dividing the plants when new growth is commencing in 

 spring. Cuttings may be struck readily in summer-time 

 with a little bottom heat. If one has a spent cucumber- 

 bed, utilise this for the purpose, putting a glass light on, 

 and shading the cuttings from the sun until rooted; then 

 pot off and plant out. In propagating from eyes, which 

 are in the axils of the leaves, these should be treated like 

 vine eyes, and planted in small pots placed in gentle 

 warmth. Let there be a leaf with each eye if possible. 



Of other species of Hollyhock, A. ficifolia is very 

 beautiful, the flowers usually soft yellow, but varying in 

 colour. It grows about 5ft. in height. ( )ur British 

 Althaea is A. officinalis, called the Marsh Mallow. 



When the plants get diseased, there is, unfortunately, 



