8 
well in pots, and is very distinct from any- 
thing else, while to these may be added the 
loose-growing Bromus brizeformis. Seeds 
of the above are readily obtained and most 
seedsmen now keep a well-assorted collec- 
tion of ornamental grasses, as many are 
available for sowing in the open ground 
that will not succeed in pots. 
EVERLASTING FLOWERS FOR 
WINTER: USE. 
Where numerous tall vases require fill- 
ing for the winter months and suitable 
flowers are not over-plentiful, various kinds 
of everlasting flowers and grasses are use- 
ful, and make an agreeable change. 
Honesty ranks as one of the best; the shin- 
ing silvery seed-pods when prepared are 
very showy and last a long time in good 
condition, and it is also valuable in the 
herbaceous border in early summer, when. 
the purple and white flowers are freely 
produced. There is only one thing that 
tells against the growing of Honesty in 
the herbaceous borders for use during the 
winter—its untidy appearance after the 
flowers have faded and when the seed-pods 
are forming. The remedy, then, is to 
grow a batch of plants in some part of the 
kitchen garden for winter use only. With 
good culture Honesty grows from 3 ft. to 
4 ft. high. The plants should be pulled 
up-when thoroughly dry and hung up in 
‘a cool, airy shed to dry gradually for ten 
days, when the outer covering of the seed- 
pods can be easily taken off, leaving no- 
thing but the shining silvery centre. They 
should be again hung up in the same quar- 
ters until required for use. 
The Pearl Cudweed (Gnaphalium mar- 
garitaceum) is valuable for winter use, but 
not often employed for this purpose. The 
flower-heads are produced on stout stalks 
froin 2 ft. to 3 ft. long; the fully expanded 
blossoms have their outer petals white, the 
centre pale yellow; the unexpanded bulbs 
have a scaly appearance, silvery-white. 
The leaves are woolly, and should be strip- 
ped off when the stems are gathered, hang- 
ing the flowers up in bunches to dry gradu- 
- ally in a cool, airy shed. If laid in the 
- sun they dry too fast, shrivelling the stems 
and discoloring the flower-heads. Beyond 
its value for winter decoration, this Gna- 
phalium is much appreciated as a summer- 
flowering herbaceous subject 
Helichrysum is the most common species 
of everlasting flowers, and probably the 
most useful of all, as it can be had in such 
a variety of colors from the bracteatum 
type, from pure white to scarlet-crimson, 
with innumerable tints between. They 
ought to be cut in a variety of stages, from 
small buds to fully expanded blossoms, to 
obtain the widest range of variety. Heli- 
chrysums are very suitable for small as 
well as tall vases, and for bouquets and 
wreaths. The same treatment is required 
for these as for the preceding in the way 
of harvesting the flowers. 
Rhodanthes are valuable not only when 
grown in pots, but for winter use in a cut 
state; being slim in appearance, they lend 
er! 
eke 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
themselves to tasteful arrangement in 
small vases for drawing-room, decoration. 
Sown. several seeds in 3-in. pots m March 
in a cold frame, and afterwards planted out 
in rich soil in a warm position, they grow 
freely and flower profusely. They can be 
had in separate colors of carmine, rose, 
crimson, white, and yellow. The flowers 
coughs to be fully expanded before cut, 
which should be done with ag long stalks 
as possible. 
Winter Cherry (Physalis) is not exactly 
deserving of being classed among everlast- 
ing flowers, although it is a capital sub- 
ject for winter decoration. The beauty of 
this plant consists in the bright red cherry- 
like fruits inside a large inflated calyx. 
Under good cultivation stems bearing 
many fruits can be cut from | ft. to 2 ft. 
long, but for keeping during the winter 
should becéme thoroughly matured before 
being cut. : 
Acrocliniums, rose and white, and the 
larger variety called grandiflorum of the 
roseum type, make capital winter orna- 
ments for vases; being single-flowered om 
long, slender stems, they can be lightly 
arranged in a mass or mixed with other 
things. Seed should be sown in 
a cold frame, the seedlings pricked out 
in light soil in a frame, and afterwards 
planted in rich compost in a thoroughly 
exposed situation. The flowers should be 
cut when young, as they retain their colors 
better in that state. 
Aphelexis of the macrantha type, culti- 
vated as greenhouse specimens, are most 
useful in producing flowers for winter after 
they have served their purpose as exhibi- 
tion plants during the summer. The flow- 
ers last a long time after being cut, and 
give pleasing shades of pink. 
Statice profusa, another pleasing sub- 
ject, ig appreciated by many in. a cut state 
for winter use, as blue flowers, even of the 
everlasting type, are rare. The flowers 
ought to be cut before they commence to 
turn pale on the plant, as the color is better 
preserved and the flowers fresher too, con- 
sequently in better condition to stand the 
winter months in a cut state. 
Bulrushes of both the narrow and broad- 
leaved types make capital winter orna- 
ments for large halls where an imposing 
group is required. Mixed with Pampas 
Grass plumes, Bulrushes have a good effect. 
When fully in bloom they should be gath- 
ered, being cut with long stems, as they 
are so much more ornamental in that way 
than when only a few inches long. Many 
kinds of native grasses can be employed to 
give a winter effect if cut and preserved at 
the right time—when fully expanded just 
before the seeds commence to fall from the 
‘heads. 
The flowering sprays of the now well- 
known Lace Flower (Gypsophila panicu- 
lata) and Statice latifolia are also very use- 
ful when cut and dried for winter decorar 
tion. The Sea Hollies (Eryngiums), too, 
may be cut and dried in the same way. 
PLANTS FOR ROCK GARDEN. 
Quite a large number of plants of the 
free-growing sort are not at all fastidious, 
July 1, 1904 
such, for instance, as the whole family of 
Aubrietias, a large number of the dwarf 
Campanulas, a variety of Gentians, while 
such as G. asclepiadea and G. Andrewsil 
prefer a moister place and some shade also- 
You could, however, make a feature of 
Sempervivums, Sedums, Saxifrages of seve- 
ral sections, the dwarf Irises, such asx 
pumila, nudicaulis, olbiensis, stylosa, and 
a few of the bulbous Irises, which cannot 
now be planted, as the season is too far 
advanced. Other suitable things may be 
found in the dwarf Phloxes, the alpine 
Pinks, alpine Poppies and Polygonums, 
Megaseas, Arnebia, Thymus, Iberis, Trap 
zolum polyphyllum, Arenarias, alpine 
Asters, CEnotheras, Anemones in variety; 
Adonis, a selection of hardy Opuntias, He- 
lianthemums, and many more. Many of 
the smaller bulbous plants—Scillas,.Chion— 
odoxa, Snowdrops, Muscaris, Leucojums, 
the dwarf Daffodils, and others—if plant- 
ed in the autumn will produce a fine effect 
in the early spring months. Al] this, how- 
ever, depends upon the extent of the work. 
WINTER FLOWERS FOR PERSONAT 
WEAR. 
It follows, as a matter of course, that 
those desirous of haying a supply of flowers 
for personal wear during the winter can 
only ensure a continuance by having access 
to a house properly heated. There are rare 
exceptions, like the Hellebore, whose pure 
white blossoms are to be had out of doors 
in the depth of winter under a handlight, 
but for a supply of blooms we must look 
to other things under glass. One of the 
most useful for making up into sprays, &e., 
is the Bouvardia. It is with me now in 
full beauty. There are, for instance, the 
double white Alfred Neuner, President 
Garfield, double pink, and singles like Pre- 
sident Cleveland, red, and Candidissima, 
white. Chrysanthemums will naturally 
suggest themselves to the minds of many, 
and the later the varieties the more ac- 
ceptable as the winter goes on—size of 
bloom ig not aimed at so much as neat bloe 
soms for the coat. What neater for wear 
‘could one have than the spraysof Chrysan- 
themum Snowdrop, now so rarely seen? 
Azaleas, Roman Hyacinths, double Primu- 
las, Gyclamens, Heliotropes, Abutilons, are 
all suited to the purpose mentioned, 
whilst’ Roses in pots or on the roof wilk 
provide many choice blooms as the spring 
wears on. he growing of the subjects 
mentioned to have flowers all winter en- 
tails more in the matter of preparation and 
providing for a succession than keeping the 
house up to a high temperature—indeed, 
it is rather the house where a uniform heat 
is found where winter blooms are mostly 
found—Lranurst. 
_ 
AUTUMN SOWN ANNUALS. 
In these go-ahead days of cheap green- 
houses, in which amateurs and others can 
successfully winter a stock of the orthodox 
hedding plants, there seems to he a lack of 
interest in what—to my mind—is a very 
