PHARBITIS HISPIDA. — CHoisY.* 



}'arieti/ 1. White Uower, striated with blue. 2. Kirniisine. 3. Violet. — Convolvulacese. 



JuBOiNO from the jrraccful ai)])carance wliicli this group of Twiners ))reseiits, 

 the natural mistake of supjtosinj]:: tliat tlie tliree flowers all grow upon tlie same 

 stem might be readily made. This, however, is not the case, aud, although a 

 combination of this kind would not be strictly imjiossiljje among a particular 

 species, exactness obliges us to say that the subject before us consists of three 

 specimens of distinct varieties, represented, for convenience sake, on tlie same 

 plate. This artifice, moreover, authorized in similar cases by numerous antece- 

 dents, can happily be reproduced in nature, at but little expense, and on a larger 

 scale. It is enough to join on a single lattice-work the slender and trailing stems 

 of the varieties in which the colors harmonize with the greatest eftect. This is a 

 question of taste, where the difficulties and merit must be left to amateurs. The 

 essential part for the horticulturist is, to furnish the most worthy elemeiits to place 

 in such fancy baskets or groupings. For the purpose, better specimens could not 

 be presented than the three flowers here represented. 



The name of Pharbitis Hispida, familiar to botanists, and the only one which 

 they now adopt, designates the old Convolvulus i)urpureus of Linnaius, or the 

 common Volubilis of our gardens. It is a plant of American origin, circulated 

 by culture to nearly every point of the globe. The botanist Parkinson cultivated 

 it, in England, in 1625. These flow'ers, which come five or six together, vary 

 singularly in color, and ofifer all the shades of white, rose, and violet, and of these 

 mixed. 



Culture. — As soon as the colds of winter are passed, about the last of April, 

 the seeds are planted in any earth and any exposure — that of the south is prefer- 

 able. Or even, to hasten the plant, four or five grains may be put in each i)ot, 

 in a bed under a frame, in the beginning of April, giving as much air as ))0ssible 

 in moderate weather. When ready to plant out, remove them carefully, without 

 breaking the soil. 



The flowering begins in June, to end only with the frost. The seeds ripen in 

 autumn. — Flore des Serres. 



ON THE USE OF AMERICAN EVERGREEN SHRUBS, 

 AND ON ROCKWORK. 



BY EUGENE A. BAUMANN, NEW YORK. 



Since my residence in the United States, in the numerous beautiful gardens 

 which I have visited, many of which scarcely admit of improvement, I have not 

 yet seen a very judicious application, nor a very discriminating use of the magni- 

 ficent Evergreen shrubs which grow so profusely in North America. 



In England, in France, and in Belgium, these elegant shrubs are so highly 

 appreciated, that a garden, however small, which does not contain a clump or 

 cluster of them can scarcely be found ; and frequently sums are expended in the 

 ornamentation of a small corner only, which would suftice for the arrangement of 

 a whole garden ; for all localities are not equally favorable to the cheap creation 



* See Frontispiece. 



