382 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Mny 9, 1889. 
is do need for elaborate preparation of soils. All the species and 
varieties are readily increased by division and by cuttings ; the 
former is best done early in spring, April and May being the most 
suitable, just as the young shoots appear, and the cuttings may be 
taken any time when they are 3 or 4 inches long, a dung frame 
with gentle heat suiting them admirably. Cuttings, however, will 
only need be resorted to where laige quantities are requiied, for 
they can be divided freely. 
The best known are the varieties of Helianthus multiflorus and 
Helianthus rigidus, and 1 will therefore refer to them in the order 
given first. To have a continuance of fine flowers year after year 
all the varieties of Helianthus multiflorus should not be allowed 
more than two seasons in one place without being transplanted, 
since all the forms as well as the type have a tendency to decay in 
the centre when allowed to remain long in one place, and where 
this occurs deterioration in the whole clump speedily follows. For 
this reason alone they should be lifted and replanted in a fresh 
place every second year. The varieties of H. multiflorus are not 
numerous, but are good and showy, in the type the flowers are large 
and freely produced ; then comes the variety major, which is 
distinguished by its handsome flowers. Next is maximus, also 
called grandiflorus, in which the flowers are nearly 6 inches across, 
and the florets acuminate ; the flowers are much lighter in colour, 
while the plant usually attains 6 feet in height, the two first-named 
being about 4 feet high. We have also an excellent variety in the 
old double H. multiflorus plenus, the handsome flowers of which 
are always admired, and being produced in plenty in autumn are 
very serviceable for church decoration when harvest festival cele¬ 
brations are a daily occurrence. There is still another double 
belonging to this group, which was known originally as grandi- 
plenus ; the colour is good and a decided gold, and would make a 
useful addition to this group if it were constant, but it is not. It 
is probably a sport from the well known double with the anemone 
centre, grandiplenus partaking slightly of the character of Dahlia 
Cochineal, and therefore without the guard florets, which are 
characteristic of the old double Sunflower. 
Next in order come the forms of H. rigidus, also known as 
Harpalium rigidum, all of which, if large handsome flowers are 
desired, should be planted annually in May, at which time the 
young growths are just coming through the soil. Besides the one 
above named there are H. laetiflorus, which flowers three weeks 
later than the type, the foliage decidedly broader, and the flowers 
somewhat lighter in colour. H. doronicoides is allied to the last 
named, though inferior to it. Another so-called variety (but which 
may in all probability be one of the two last named) figures as 
H. japonicus, which is a misnomer, as no species is found either in 
China or Japan. The several forms of th’s section by their quick 
spreading underground shoots are specially adapted for shrubberies, 
where their masses of rich deep golden flowers in early autumn 
would produce a telling effect, and while adding beauty to the 
general surroundings would also form an excellent reserve ground 
for cut flowers in quantity when these were needed. It is worthy 
of note that all are useful for planting in towns and smoky 
districts; indeed, few plants appear so little affected as these when 
in town gardens, and for which purpose they may with advantage 
be largely employed. Other Sunflowers are H. decapetalus, 
H. intermedius, H.scaber, H.strumosus, and H.atrorubens. The last 
I shall now name is H. orgyalis, the flowers of which are small 
and individually insignificant, while its extremely graceful bearing 
renders it valuable for purposes of isolation. It usually attains 
about 8 feet high, the stems being thickly set with narrow gracefully 
recurved leaves, which give it an elegant appearance. A bold 
clump on the lawn would be most effective, its beauty increasing 
with age, and may remain undisturbed for maDy years.—J. II. E. 
THE SCORCHING OF VINE LEAVES. 
Nothing is more troublesome to the amateur Vine grower at this 
season than the way the Vine leaves become scorched, and pro¬ 
fessional gardeners do not always escape it. Its signs are unmis- 
takeable. The tender green leaves assume a brown withered appear¬ 
ance. In some cases it shows as spots, in others the centre is burned 
and the outer edge "left green; but the most common form is the 
reverse of this, when the leaves are all brown and curled round the 
edges. It makes them unsightly, and, worse still, it is a hindrance to 
the development of the wood and fruit. Indeed, Vines that are badly 
scorched receive a check from which they do not readily recover, and 
although tne laterals may grow and form other le ves, the effects can be 
seen as long as the Vines are in leaf. To scorch Vine leaves is there¬ 
fore a matter which all desire to avoid, but the greatest care is necessary 
to escape it. 
April, May, and June are the months when the foliage is most 
liable to be scorched, as after that it is too tough to be easily injured ; 
and if one variety is more readily scorched than another it is Lady 
Downe’s. The fruit of this variety is also easily scalded, and the con¬ 
ditions that will scorch the one will scald the other. I never knew any 
Vine leaves to be scorched if the ventilation was properly attended to. 
Scorching will never take place unless the sun shines, and it is with the- 
sun coming out strongly on damp leaves, and in a close atmosphere, that 
scorching occurs. If the leaves are damp, but the ventilators open, 
there is no danger of scorching, and dry leaves are not so easily scorched 
as damp or.es, although they, too, in time, will be affected. If wc have 
bright weather day after day the leaves are not so apt to be scorched as 
when it is sunless for a day or two and then brightens. In this case, if 
the sun catches the Vines without ventilation, scorching will take place 
quickly and extensively, and Vine-growers should be constantly on the 
outlook on those “ catchy ” days ; but a little ventilation at the top of 
the vinery will prevent it, and amateurs who cannot reach their vineries 
early in the morning should allow the ventilators to remain open a littlo 
all night, and those who are away from them during the day, as is often 
a necessity, should take the same precaution.—A Kitchen Gabdeneh. 
This beautiful and somewhat rare Dendrobium has been 
flowering well in Mr. Larkins’ garden at The Firs, Lee, Kent. The 
plant in question is growing in a shallow pan suspended from the 
roof of an intermediate house under the charge of Mr. Trollope, 
the gardener. It is a dwarf-growing, evergreen species, with 
oblong, tetragonal pseudo-bulbs and small leaves, the whole rarely 
exceeding 3 inches in height. The flowers, which are produced 
from the side of the pseudo-bulbs, are of a rich yellow and an 
inch across.—C. 
ORCHIDS IN BRUSSELS. 
The eighth meeting of L'Orchidienne was held at Brussels on 
the 5th instant in the central pavilion of L’Horticulture Inter¬ 
nationale under the presidency of Mr. J. Linden, the members of 
the jury being Messrs. Lubbers, (Secretary), G. Miteau, A. Van 
Imschoot, Ode Meulenaere, A. Lallemand, and E. Wallaert. The 
following awards were made :—Diploma of honour of the first class 
to Cattleya Mossise Madame Arthur Warocque, exhibited by M. 
Linden ; Odontoglossum Pescatorei Hveanum, by M. Jules Huy of 
Ghent; Odontoglossum Peeter.d from Brussels. Diploma of honour 
of the second class to Odontoglossum Pescatorei var. de Mariemont 
and Odontoglossum gloriosum var. splendidum sent by M. G. 
Warocque ; Cattleya Mossise var. Caparti and Odontoglossum. 
Grusonianum sent by M. Linden of Brussels. The following re¬ 
ceived first-class certificates of merit :—Cypripedium Elliotianum, 
bv M. J. du Trien de Terdonck of Ma lines ; Cattleya Mossiac 
Madame Georges Warocque and Cattleya Mossiae M. Raoul 
Warocque, by M. Linden ; Odontoglossum vexillarium fastuosum, 
by M. A. Van Imschoot of Ghent ; and Delia purpurata Blockei, 
by M. Block of Brussels. 
L/ELIA MAJALI3. 
Tiie most recent issue of Mr. B. S. Williams’s “ Orchid Album’’ 
contains illustrations and descriptions of Cirrhopetalum ornatissi- 
mum, Cypriped um cardiaale, Laslia Gouldiana, and Lfelia majalis. 
The last-named is particularly good, and the letterpress accom¬ 
panying is well worth perusual. The piincipJ mentioned are as 
follows 
“ This beautiful species would appear t > have been discovered 
early in the days of intercourse between Mexico and Europe, as it 
is mentioned by Hernandez in 1615, and to this day it must be 
reckoned amongst the very finest plants we have in cultivation. 
For the size of its bulbs the flowers are larger than any other 
Orchid with which we are acquainted, but it has never been grown 
to the extent which its merits entitle it to. Many years ago this 
plant was in our possession, and we exhibited a fine specimen upon 
several occasions at the exhibitions of the Royal Horticultural 
Society held at Chiswick, and at that of the Royal Botanic Society 
held in the Regent's Park during the months of May and June, 
where it was deservedly much admit ed; but at that time (nearly 
forty' years ago) this species was rarely to be seen in bloom in our 
collections. Few La:lias, even of the present time, can eclipse this, 
species in the size of its blooms, or equal the lovely soft colour of 
its flowers. Of this species there are from time to time large 
importations, and upon these occasions strong masses are easily 
procurable ; these with caie will make showy specimens, which will 
well repay the pains bestowed upon them, and as they do not 
occupy much space, and can be procured at a cheap rate, they come 
within easy reach of all amateurs. 
