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THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
It is a native of India and a member of the Canna order 
(Scitamiaceae). The plant has herbaceous stems, large leaves 
and yellow fragrant flowers borne in racemes at the apex of 
the shoots. The root-stocks require to be stored in a dry 
frost-proof place during winter, placed in pots in heat in early 
spring, and hardened off and planted out in the garden early 
in June. In mild districts the roots may be left in the ground, 
protecting them with a mulch of dry litter or ashes. These 
plants are seen to the best advantage when grouped with 
other tropical plants. Increased by division of the roots in 
spring. 
Melichrysum (Everlasting Flower). — Half-hardy an- 
nuals, belonging to the Daisy order (Compositse). They are 
showy plants to grow in groups in sunny borders, and their 
flowers when fully developed are valuable for cutting and 
drying for winter decoration. H. bracteatum, a native of 
Australia, is the only species grown, but there are numerous 
single and double varieties of it. A mixed packet of seed 
will give a variety of colours — white, red, yellow, carmine and 
purple. Coccineum is a fine bright red variety ; luteum, 
yellow; purpureum, rose and red; and Silver Ball, silvery- 
white. The plants grow 2 ft. high. Sow seeds in gentle heat 
in March, harden off the seedlings in a cold frame 
in May, and plant out early in June. Grow in groups of a 
dozen plants at 6in. apart from plant to plant. When the 
flowers are fully open, cut them with long stalks, tie in small 
bunches, and suspend head downwards in an airy shed to dry 
for decorative use in the house. 
Heliotropium (Heliotrope; Cherry Pie). — The Helio- 
trope (H. peruvianum) is a well-known fragrant-flowered 
greenhouse plant, which is much used as a bedding plant in 
summer. It is a native of Peru and a member of the Forget- 
me-not order (Boraginaceae). The species has greyish-lilac 
flowers, but there are several varieties with flowers of varying 
tints. A few of the best are Madame Bruant, mauve, light 
centre ; President Garfield, mauve-purple ; Roi des Noirs, 
maroon-purple, white eye ; White Lady, white. Heliotropes are 
either grown by themselves in beds, grouped in the borders, or 
mixed with other appropriate plants. Sometimes, too, they 
are used to good effect as small standards, or tall bushes with 
a carpeting of other dwarf plants. Heliotrope and white, yellow, 
pink or purple are colours that generally go well together. Thus 
a bed of tall heliotropes with a groundwork of yellow violas or 
begonias, or white violas or begonias, make a very pleasing 
combination. Again, a bed of dwarf heliotropes with silvery- 
leaved Maize or Eulalia dotted amongst them is exceedingly 
