CONE FLOWER. 
129 
conspicuous yellow stamens in the centre, appear from 
June to September. A medium-sized blossom is shown 
on Plate 29. Being a native of California the plant 
requires to be grown in the warmest and sunniest spot 
in the garden. It likes a rich and well-drained sandy 
loam, and copious waterings during hot seasons. Weak 
doses of liquid manure may be given two or three times 
a week when the flower-buds are showing, so as to 
impart greater size and substance to the blossoms. In 
cold wet winters it is advisable to protect the crowns 
with litter or hurdles. As the plants do not bear 
division or transplanting very well, it is better to 
increase the stock by sowing seeds in gentle heat in 
March, the young plants being grown on in pots for 
one or two seasons. 
RUDBECKIA (Gone Flower-). — These useful and 
ornamental plants flourish in almost any garden soil 
and increase with almost as much freedom as the 
perennial Sunflowers. The easiest way to increase 
them is by division of the rootstocks in spring. 
Seeds, however, may also be sown if necessary. The 
flowers of nearly all the kinds are yellow or orange, 
and are remarkable for the conical receptacle bearing 
the disc florets in the centre. The best known peren- 
nials with yellow flowers are : californica , 5 to 6 feet 
high, with oval pointed leaves ; columnaris, 2 to 3 feet 
high, with leaves pinnately cut into sharp pointed 
linear lance-shaped segments ; Drummondi , 1^ to 
2 feet high ; also with pinnately-divided leaves • 
hirta, 1 to 2 feet high, rough and hairy, leaves oblong 
lance-shaped above, spoon-shaped below ; laciniata , 2 
to 4 feet high, the main shoot often much taller, 
K 
