T1IE amateur’s flower garden. 
257 
half loam and half peat, and a warmer and closer part of the 
house will suit them than the two plants first mentioned require. 
Next, as to gathering the flowers. Take them in all 
possible stages; but by far the largest proportion should 
be young and scarcely fully expanded, as they are sure to 
expand in the process of drying. To dry them, lay them on 
papers in an airy warm place, safe from dust , and store them 
when dry in dry closets or drawers where dust is as nearly 
as possible unknown. The grasses may be dried by simply 
laying them between folds of blotting-paper, or placing them 
between the pages of large, heavy books. Remember, “ prac¬ 
tice makes perfectthe beginner is sure to spoil a few ; never 
mind, there will be many good ones to make amends. 
As to mounting, the grasses must be used in their natural 
state ; but it is best to mount the flowers on wires. This is a 
nice proceeding ; but ladies generally acquire the art in haste. 
The finest steel wire is the best adapted to the purpose, and 
it is attached to the flower at the base by merely thrusting 
it into the centre ; but the wire should have a few twists to 
make a sort of base to catch the flower, or for the natural base 
of the flower to rest on. 
The best flowers for this purpose are the following:— 
Uelichrysums of all kinds; more especially H. bradeatum , H. 
comjpositum , 11. macranthum , and H. monstrosum. All are half 
hardy annuals, to be raised on gentle heat, and planted out in 
May, or sown in the open ground in April. As they are so use¬ 
ful, it would be well to try all the sorts the seedsmen can supply. 
Acroclinium roseum. —Sow in pots and pans in April, and 
place in cold frame, or sow in open border and risk it. 
Rhodanthe Mangiest, R. atrosanguineum , R. maculata , R 
major. All half-hardy annuals. 
Helipterum Sandfordi and II. corymbiferum require careful 
culture. Sow, if possible, in February, and treat as perilla 
or lobelia. These are the least likely to succeed if sown in 
the open border in this country. They are so beautiful that 
they well repay a little extra care. 
Polycolymnia Stuarti. —A quite hardy annual, but none the 
worse for being pushed forward under glass. 
Ammobium alatum is a perennial, but may be treated as an 
annual, as it is sure to be killed by a sharp frost. Treat it as 
half-hardy. 
Waitzia corymbosa , W. grandijiora , fine half-hardy annuals; 
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