114 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 
only popular because of the wide range in size and color of 
the flowers but because the plants could be grown as ‘‘dwarfs.’’ 
The common morning-glory, so well known about St. Louis, 
which climbs many feet before producing a flower of in- 
ferior size, is a marked contrast to the dwarf Japanese types 
shown in plates 14-16. 
Attempts have repeatedly been made to show these Japanese 
morning-glories at the Garden, but all the seed obtained either 
failed to germinate or produced the common types of this 
country. In the early part of this year, however, seed of 
these dwarf morning-glories were obtained from Japan 
through Mr. Takashi Matsumoto, a former student in the 
Shaw School of Botany. This seed was divided, one-half 
being sown the middle of February and the second half the 
beginning of June. The seeds of the first lot germinated very 
unevenly, but by cutting a notch in those seeds that failed to 
show signs of life in two weeks the majority were made to 
develop. Most of these plants were extremely dwarf, some- 
times being less than a foot high with not more than half a 
dozen leaves. These tiny plants produced the most gorgeous- 
colored flowers, often four to five inches in diameter. Seeds 
from these flowers did not set freely, but the few that were 
secured were planted as soon as mature. In the second gen- 
eration, however, instead of dwarf specimens, plants were 
produced that climbed fifteen feet and more. The size of 
the flowers was not diminished, some of the pink varieties 
measuring six inches in width. Still more interesting and 
peculiar is the fact that the second planting of the original 
lot of seed received from Japan, which was made the first 
week in June, instead of producing dwarf plants, sent out 
long vines so that the bamboo trellises, described in the 
Japanese instructions, had to be employed to train them. In 
order that germination might be hastened every seed of this 
second lot was cut, and practically all germinated within 
forty-eight hours. 
The following directions, printed just as translated by Mrs. 
Matsumoto, were received with the seeds: 
“CULTURE OF THE MORNING-GLORY” 
“‘In order to meet the requirements for growing the morn- 
ing-glory, the soil must be superior in two respects, drainage 
and fertility. Under no circumstances use heavy clay. 
7 » Pa E 
