PERENNIAL SUNFLOWERS. 



89 



nected, as far as we know, in gradation. Between the supposed 

 type of the species, H. decapetalus, and the nearest known form 

 of H. multiflorus there is a wide gap. It had always seemed 

 probable to Mr. Dod that H. multiflorus is a garden hybrid of 

 H. annuus and perhaps H. deccqoetalus, and that it has been pro- 

 duced several times. H. annuus is the only known Sunflower 

 besides H. multiflorus which assumes double forms, and its 

 hybrids might inherit this tendency. Mr. Dod had also more 

 than once drawn attention to the fact that H. multiflorus is 

 invariably barren, making only empty achenes. Could anyone 

 say that he had ever raised a seedling from it ? Perhaps we may 

 some day have more certain evidence by the suggested cross 

 being effected artificially. 



THE CULTURE OF SUNFLOWERS. 



By Mr. E. H. Jenkins, F.R.H.S. 



If one may be permitted to form an opinion of the cultural 

 requirements of Sunflowers by the frequency with which they 

 occur in cottage and wayside gardens in almost all parts of the 

 country, it is not unlikely that the general conviction would be 

 that their culture is very simple ; and, indeed, this is quite in 

 accordance with the facts of the case. In not a few gardens of 

 my acquaintance are these showy herbaceous plants allowed to 

 come and go year by year just as they will, and to annually 

 produce their quota of flowers, without receiving any attention 

 beyond the removal of the flowering stems when these have 

 finished their season's work. But in reality this is not cultivating 

 the Sunflower at all, and may perhaps be better described as a 

 test of their powers of endurance. Still there are, however, 

 certain phases in gardening where this let-alone system may be 

 tolerated — such, for example, as the wild garden or the woodland, 

 in either of which places it would certainly be productive of 

 .good results ; but, on the other hand, when it is desired to associate 

 such things with the usual hardy herbaceous plants in the 

 borders or beds, some little attention to their wants will become 

 necessary. Indeed, in common with other plants, if we would do 

 justice to these flowers and have them in perfection, then 



