October 24, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
889 
Notes on the Illustrations in this Issue. 
Helenium autumnale pumilum magnificum. 
The old Helenimn autumnale is a, very variable plant which 
has- received various specific names in gardens for different 
forms, but the botanist takes very little note of them, seeing 
that the difference is chiefly in stature and size and colour 
of the flowers. Usually the plant under notice is simply 
placed under H. pumilum. The ordinary form of the latter 
grows from 12 in. to 18 in. in height according to- soil and 
cultural treatment, and makes a. very useful subject for plant¬ 
ing in beds of moderate size upon the gra-ss. 
The form under notice is described as a cross between H. 
autumnale and H. pumilum. The flower-heads are of 
very large size, with broad overlapping soft yellow rays 
like those of IT. pumilum in the shade of colour, but 
much larger. The effect of crossing these two forms 
seems to have greatly improved the size of the blooms. 
The plant is also taller than H. pumilum, being 2-t ft. 
to 3 ft. in height, according to the cultural treatment 
which it receives. The stems branch freely, each 
branch bearing a, terminal blo-om and a. greater or les-s 
number of sideddooms, according to the vigour of the 
branch. In e-ach case, however, as far as we have noted, 
the flower-stalk of the- terminal bloom of the main 
plant as well as the side branches is long enough to 
permit of their being used for cut flower purposes with 
very graceful effect. 
The height of the- plant takes largely after H. autum¬ 
nale, forming an intermediate link between the ordinary 
form and the dwarf one. For this reason the plant, 
could be utilised in ether ways besides its use in the 
cut state. Very fine effects could be produced by 
planting a, bed of it on the gra-ss: in any conspicuous 
portion of the lawn or grounds., where it could be seen 
from a distance-. The plant continues to bloom for four 
months in succession, and for that reason the bed wo-uld 
scarcely require- refilling in the course of the summer, 
even if used in public parks. Our illustration wa-s 
prepared from flowers cut in the nursery of Mr. Amos 
Perry, Hardy Plant Farm. Winchmo-re Hill, Middlesex. 
Anemone sulphurea. 
There can be little- doubt that this Anemone is clo-sely 
allied to A. alp-ina, and some have- indeed included it 
as a variety of that- species. In, gardens- the names 
have been kept distinct for a long period, and the 
botanists- seem agreed that they should be kept distinct. 
A. sulpbure-a- is a, native of various, parts of Europe, and 
in this country is perfectly amenable to cultivation 
under various conditions, bo-th in the north and -south 
of Britain. It is perfectly hardy, for we have seen- it 
successfully cultivated and flowered in a. border where 
the temperature was often down, below zero during the 
winter months. 
Being an alpine plant, any difficulty that might be expe¬ 
rienced with it, in the south would he due to the dryne-ss of 
the soil in, which it. might- be planted, o-r to unduly droughty 
j seasons. For this reason cultivators, should select a, position 
where the soil is not liable to get baked nor dried up during 
the summer, when, the Anemone is in full growth. In gardens- 
where- the soil is- naturally dry it. may receive- considerable- 
help by incorporating a. large proportion, of leaf-mould o-r de¬ 
caying vegetable matter with the soil in which it is planted. 
This will help to retain the moisture and enable it to make 
good growth at the proper season. In this country it flowers 
during May and June, being at that time in full leaf and 12 in. 
to 18 in. in height. 
It may be planted in the ordinary border o-r upon the 
rockery, according to the convenience- of the- cultivator. In 
the latter case he may select a, position where it will be slightly 
shaded from the- mid-day and afternc-on sun by the presence- of 
some hold portion of the- ro-cke-ry. Some- stones placed on the 
surface of the soil O-ver the ro-ot-s- would also assist- it. The 
large le-ave-s are ternately cut, being twice or three times cut 
do-wn to the- mid-rib, resembling a highly compound leaf such 
as may be seen in some- of the- Davallias- or Umbellifers. The 
large flowers are borne singly on the- steins, clear sulphur- 
yellow, and carried well above the foliage. 
Tillandsia massangeana. 
Several of the species of Tillandsia are valued chiefly for 
the sake of their flowers, but another section of them con¬ 
sists of plants- that very seldom flower, and that only when 
they attain considerable size and age. The section to which 
we refer is that in which the leave-s are arranged in dense 
vasiform tufts. To this section belongs T. massangeana, and 
various others grown in, this country for stove decoration. 
The plants, if properly cared for, present practically the same 
appearance summer and winter, except that the centre of the 
plant may look a- little fresher just after a new tier of leaves 
has been completed. 
The, leaves- of the plant, under notice are deeply grooved, 
about 18 in. long, firm, shining on both surfaces as if polished, 
and green, marked upon the- back with transverse bands of a 
dark brownish-purple metallic hue-, and resembling hiero- 
glyphical characters painted or written upon the leaves. Owing 
to this smooth character of the- leaves, they are easy to- keep 
clean even in the presence- of the- many pests to be found in a 
stove. The syringe will usually keep them clean, but if ne¬ 
cessary a sponge will remove- anything in the way of either 
dirt or insects. This fine plant was photographed in the 
nursery of Me-ssrs. .Tames Ve-itch and Sons, Limited, King’s 
Koad, Chelsea, 
The Strawberry Tree (Arbutus Unedo). 
At this- season of the year, when the above evergreen shrub 
is in bloom, it constitutes- one of the most interesting features 
Helenium autumnale pumilum magnificum : Flowers yellow. 
