PRETTY ANNUAL CLIMBING PLANTS. 



131 



led Loasa, Loasa lateritia. It is a native 

 of South America, aiad was discovered and 

 sent to the Glasgow Botanic Garden in 1S36. 

 As it bears seed most abundantly, it soon 

 found its way into many collections. Its 

 blossoms are very curiously shaped, scarce- 

 ly less so than those of the Passion Flower. 

 They are prettily colored, between a brick- 

 red and orange shade, and they are produced 

 all the summer and autumn in profusion. 

 The seed-vessel, which follows them, is one 

 of very striking appearance as I re- 

 member — a grotesquely twisted 

 cylindrical capsule, with spiral 

 ribs. The seeds of this annual 

 climber may be sown about the 

 first of May, in a warm border. It 

 will run from twelve to twenty 

 feet in a season, and, trained over 

 three stakes, soon forms a fine 

 pyramid of leaves and blossoms. 

 There is a fine new species, 

 Loasa pentlandica, more tender 

 than this, figured in Paxton. We 

 give its portrait to show the habit 

 of the plant, which, indeed, is 

 much the same in all the species 

 of this genus. It is, perhaps, well 

 to add that a remark that Mrs. 

 Loudon makes, and which Ihave 

 found very true, should be borne 

 in mind, when admiring the Loa- 

 sas, " no lady should attempt to 

 train a Loasa without gloves." 

 The truth is, the leaves have, in 

 hot weather, a little of the nettle quality — 

 slight, it is true, but enough to annoy a 

 person a few moments who carelessly thrusts 

 his hands among them. 



I ought not to forget among my three or 

 four sorts, that most delicate and prerty of 

 all annuals, the well known Cypress Vine, 

 Jpomea quamodit. There is nothing more 

 airy and delicate than this little beauty. 



which is a native of the southern parts of the 

 United States. Its minutely divided, deep 

 green foliage, and bright crimson or white 

 star-like blossoms, render it universally ad- 

 mired. I have never seen this plant trained 

 to show it off to so much advantage, as at 

 the Highland Gardens last season, on a little 

 pavilion. It had quite a fairy-like appear- 

 ance. Some persons complain of the diffi- 

 culty of growing this annual. The difficul- 

 ty is only in its germination. I sow mine 



Fig. 41. A Cypress Vine Pavilion* 



about the tenth of May, in rich soil, having 

 previously soaked the seeds four hours in 

 tepid water. Every one vegetates uniformly, 

 when the seeds are good. 



I may, perhaps, continue these remarks 

 at a future time, with notices of other climb- 

 ers. I Avill only add now, that for those 



* Fig. 41 shows tliis simple ajul pleasing mude adopted by 

 us. — Ed. 



