July A—We notice unflowers are making a show in some gardens, many of the Species are coarse, Dut all are decorative and admirable for Summer displays, Botanists refer fo the plant as Helianthus, from hellos "Sun and antlias a flower, The Mower is said to {follow the Sun: it does not always do so, how= fever. The flowers on many of the larger-grow-Ing species may be said to resemble the radiant beams of the Sun, so, they probably obtained their name from this, The sunflower ly a. most useful plant to grow, apart from its decorative value: Jeaves are used In some parts of Europe as forage for cattle, whilst, in Portugal, bread made from the seeds. In other parts, the seed is roasted and used ay 9 substitute for coffee: "Tommy" has an idea that there must be plenty of sunflower plants in European gardens this year. The seed 1s also boiled and served as an infant food; It is pressed in many parts of the world for the oil that it contains, this oil ly said to be little inferior to olive In Russia, the seeds are eaten raw and may be purchased on the streets; we believe that medicine, useful for treating malaria cases, 13 '4so. made from the seeds in the same country. Sunflower seed cake is exported in large quanti ties from Russia to Denmark. A fine Nbre, not unlike silk, is furnished by the: stems and excellent paper is also made from them; they are generally burnt, however, for the potash. they Contain. They yield a large quantity, Those who-are desirous of growing their own "coffee" and "olive ai" should procure seed of the variety known as "Mammoth Russian," the Aowers on. this plant are over one foot in diameter. The plants. grow high and mature in about ten weeks. Those who like the dwarf types belter and are chiefly concerned in providing a display in the garden, and, at the same time, have an ample supply of flowers for me door vase decoration, should grow that wel named "out and come again." This type bears plenty of small Mowers on strong stems. fal crepe myrtle shrub this pla fof China and it was introduced into England in 1816. People in England seldom have the. privilege of seeing the plant growing in tree form like it grows here: 1 is generally grown there in greenhouses, although it does. grow outside in. the South provided it ix given shelter {rom cold winter winds. The botanical name of the plant is Lagerstroemia tellee, but i is NOt Sigenous to India despite the fact that it widely "cultivated there. "The most_altractive plants we have seen this year are grow.
in pots in an "out of the way" place where they are seen by few: they are probably five feet nigh and over six fect across, the flowers Jare huge and they appear s0 delicate. The crepe myrtle is avery accommodating plant; it can be made to flower at any height and remain at the same height for years. It does flower the first year from seed but' It does not become really decorative until It ix four or five years of this does not worry us however for we a able to buy established plants very cheaply 'The usual procedure is 10 allow the plant to grow higher than it is eventually required and Jeut it down to the desired height in the winter. [We then' have to accustom ourselves 10. the sorry appearance of the plants until the sprint when they begin to grow again and slender stems appear from' the stump: the smooth brown-barked stumps are soon transformed unto attractive plants. The stems bear large [panicles of crinkled flowers and as they are quite lender they present an arched appear [ance. We have sotieed that some shrubs are allowed to grow naturally in a few gardens, there are few flowers on them however and it would" be better if their owners would cut them back during the winter, the shrubs would {then say "Thank you" and repay their owners by giving them a profusion of bloom the walnut is not the only tree. which more Sut beat, the better they' be."—W-
July 29—We see many species of hibiscus [growing in local gardens: they are all showy plants and worthy of a. place Hibiscus. syriacus, the Syrian molle wee have
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