THE CULTURE OF SUNFLOWERS. 



45 



Some of those present may like to hear what progress cut- 

 tings make, and particularly those having " single eyes " only ; 

 and my reply is that they make plants quickly and flower within 

 six months of the cuttings having been inserted — provided always 

 that they are planted out as soon as rooted and duly hardened 

 off, and not allowed to remain in the store pots to starve, and 

 therefore lose valuable time. 



It is surprising, too, what a large number of good flowers 

 individually are produced during the first season by these plants 

 from cuttings when accorded liberal treatment. 



It now only remains for me to mention some of the best kinds 

 for general use. These are the varieties of H. multiflorus, which 

 include major, with finely formed flowers ; maximus, also called 

 (jrancliflorus , with lighter yellow flowers and more pointed petals ; 

 multiflorus fl. pi., and grandiplenus, also known as Soleil d'Or, 

 These are all excellent, but the last-named has rich orange- 

 coloured flowers, and in form partakes more of a Cactus Dahlia. 

 It is not improbable that this is a sport from the ordinary double 

 form, as I have repeatedly had flowers identical with Soleil d'Or 

 on plants of multiflorus pi., and once or twice I have had flowers 

 wherein the characters of both varieties have been displayed, 

 but in no case did these remain constant. 



Other good kinds may be found in orgyalis, rigidus, Iceti- 

 florus, decapetalus, occidentalis, doronicoides, divaricatus . 

 Heliopsis Icevis is a most desirable species with rich orange 

 flowers. All these are worthy the attention of cultivators, and 

 some at least should be grown in every garden. 



Discussion. 



TheEev. C. Wolley Dod said that he was rather disappointed 

 that nothing had been said about the hybridisation of the Sun- 

 flower, as he felt no doubt that hybrids of it might with advan- 

 tage be raised in gardens. There is an annual species called 

 TI. cucumerifolius in common cultivation ; its flower is very 

 good, being of moderate size, bright in colour, with a very black 

 disc. Mr. Dod had formerly raised several good hybrids from 

 this, but they had died out without producing good seed. In 

 1890 a friend of Mr. Dod, living at Twyford, had artificially 

 raised a very fine hybrid between II, annuus and H. cucumeri- 



