^larch  3,  1904. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Hardy  Plaut  Notes. 
In  thinking  of  the  many  flowers  which  coinl)ine  their  beanties 
in  the  effort  to  brighten  onr  gardens  we  cannot  but  think  wliat 
a  part  is  played  among  them  by  the  liardy  composites  from  the 
New  World.  This  is  especially  the  case  in  summer  and  late 
antnmn,  when  we  have  the  golden  blooms  of  the  Sunflowers  and 
allied  plants,  and  the  contrasting  and  harmonising  flowers  of 
the  Asters.  Among  the  golden  flowers  a  high  place  is 
undoubtedly  due  to  the  Heleniums. 
In  the  cultivation  of  the  Heleniums  as  a  whole,  nowhere  do 
we  see  such  fine  blooms  as  those  which  are  gathered  from  plants 
growing  in  a  moist  and  rather  swampy  soil,  where  they  never 
suffer  from  drought  in  the  hottest  day  of  the  year,  and  where 
they  present  a  contrast  to  the  poor  specimens  we  can  only  have 
in  the  dry  and  drought-injured  border  of  sandy  soil.  In  these 
moist  positions  the  Heleninm  attains  its  full  stature,  gives  its 
flowers  at  their  finest,  and  produces  healthy  and  vigorous  foliage 
which  it  is  a  delight  to  see. 
Of  the  .species,  some  score  or  more  in  number,  known  in 
North  America,  there  are  only  a  few  in  cultivation  or  known 
to  be  of  sufficient  value  for  our  gardens.  Of  these  perhaps  the 
best  are  H.  antnmnale  and  H.  Bolanderi. 
The  first  is  variable  in  height,  growing 
from  2ft  to  Oft  high,  and  is  always  pleas¬ 
ing  when  in  flower,  with  its  bright  green 
oblong,  lanceolate  leaves,  and  its  bright 
yellow  ray  petals  surrounding  the  globose 
golden  disc,  and  raised  on  stout  stems. 
There  are  several  varieties  of  this 
species,  under  the  name  of  H.  pumilum, 
bnt  generally  looked  upon  in  gardens  as  a 
Heleninm,  some  pubescent  and  some  gla¬ 
brous;  while  the  form  known  as  pumilum, 
has  given  a  fine  variety,  called  H. 
pumilum  magnificum,  one  of  the  best  of 
our  summer  and  autumn  flowers.  H.  a. 
superbum  is  a  very  fine  form,  and  there 
are  others  of  great  beauty 
In  H.  nudiflorum  we  have  a  very  vari¬ 
able  species,  and  nowadays  we  find  several 
varieties  offered  under  various  names. 
At  home  it  varies  from  one  to  three  feet 
high,  bnt  in  this  country  it  may  grow 
even  taller.  Its  colour  varies  from 
yellow,  yellow  with  a  brovui  base,  to 
brown,  and  it  would  seem  to  be  to  this 
species  that  we  owe  the  plant  sold  as  H. 
striatum  or  H.  grandicephalum  striatum 
a  distinct  looking  thing,  with  markings  of 
hrown  and  yellow,  which  caused  great  in¬ 
terest  when  it  was  first  shown  some  years 
ago.  In  Heleninm  Bolanderi  we  .  have 
another  good  garden  plant,  varying  in 
height  less  than  those  already  named,  but 
being  generally  from  one  to  two  feet  high. 
It  comes  inta  bloom  early,  and  is 
noticeable  from  its  dark  brown  disc  con¬ 
trasting  so  well  with  its  golden  rays.  It 
.seems  to  do  with  less  moisture  than  some 
of  the  others.  In  H.  Hoopesii  we  have 
another  of  considerable  beauty.  It 
grows  about  two  feet  high,  and  has  fine 
masses  of  yellow  flowers.  Of  command¬ 
ing  appearance,  growing  about  four  feet 
high,  is  H.  Bigelovi,  wdiich  has  fine 
yellow  flowers  with  a  brown  disc,  and  of 
considerable  effect  in  the  border. 
It  must  be  said  that  there  is  at  present 
much  confusion  in  the  nomenclatui'e  of 
the  genus,  especially  upon  the  que.stion  of 
file  right  of  certain  flowers  to  specific 
rank.  Some  consider  H.  pumilum  a 
species,  and  H.  grandiflorum  of  Nuttall  is 
referred  by  authorities  to  H.  autumnale, 
to  which  also  one  would  place  the  plant 
sold  as  H.  grandicephalum,  a  really  fine 
flower.  Whether  authorities  agree  or  not 
upon  these  questions,  the  leading  thing 
for  us  gardeners  is  to  be  able  to  procure 
the  plant  we  require  wlien  we  want  it. 
This  is  not  so  difficult  as  with  some  flowers, 
but  those  who  desire  to  grow  Heleniums 
may  rest  satisfied  that  none  of  those 
named  are  unworthy  of  being  planted  in 
their  gardens.  All  are  beautiful  and  all 
are  valuable.  Their  cultivation  in  good 
soil  presents  no  difficulty ;  they  are  easily 
propagated  by  seeds  or  division ;  and 
whether  planted  in  autumn  or  .spring  are 
almost  certain  to  do  well.  Few  hardy  flowers  can  be  recom¬ 
mended  with  more,  confidence  than  these  North  American 
Heleniums.— Solway  Firth. 
Hybrid  Potentillas. 
Hybrid  Potentillas  sold  und(^r  name,  and  which  are  only 
dwarf  when  allowed  to  trail  upon  the  sui-face  unsupported  by  a 
stake,  or  the  yellow  P.  yerna  ;  the  pretty  P.  caule.scen.s,  witli 
white  blooms ;  the  neat  little  P.  minima,  a  miniature  P.  aurea  ; 
or  the  pretty  P.  nivea,  and  a  number  of  others  which  to  detail 
would  involve  the  occupation  of  too  much  space.  Practically  all 
are  attractive  and  easily  cultivated  in  common  soil.  They  are 
very  easily  raised  from  .seeds,  sown  preferably  in  early  spring 
under  glass,  but  the  greater  number  are  also  increased  by  means 
of  division  at  the  roots.  Combined  with  other  flowers  of  similar 
or  diverse  character,  they  are  very  pleasing  in  their  season. — 
S.  Arnott,  Carsethorn  by  Dumfries,  N.B. 
Salvia  gesnerseflora. 
The  wood-engraving  herewith  given  will  serve  to  illustrate 
the  descriptive  remarks  made  in  our  issue  for  February  18,  page 
142,  regarding  this  species.  For  winter  and  spring  decoration 
it  is  commendable.  The  flowers  are  scarlet. 
5alvia  gesneraeflora. 
