234 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



The Nasturtium 



BERTHA BERBERT HAMMOND 



The nasturtium or Tropccolnm, an introduction from 

 South America, has long been a favorite in the gardens 

 of our country, where it is cultivated as an ornament and 

 also for its edible qualities. (The young tender leaves of 

 Tropcroiitiii majus, better known as Indian Cress, are 

 highly esteemed for use in salads : the um'ipe >eeds are used 

 in relishes. ) 



As an ornamental garden plant the nasturtiinii holds a 

 high rank. Even when not in bloom, the odd-shaped 

 leaves, the coloring which according to variety may be 

 light or dark green, purplish green or variegated, make 

 It quite decorative, and when covered with profusion of 

 exquisitely formed flowers, which in variety of coloring 

 run the gamut in all shades from creamy white through 

 the yellow, crimson to pnrplish-violet shades, then these 

 plants form a dense mass of harmonizing color that can- 

 not be excelled. Indeed, the flowers of the nasturtium are 

 so wonderfullv and strikingly colored, striped, spotted, 

 mottled and variegated in such a charming medley that one 

 is ready to think like ISessie Johnson-]'>ellman who says: 



When Flora had finished her labors 

 And all the flowers were made 

 She still had left on her palette 

 Many a brilliant shade. 



So she gathered them all together 

 And added a drop of dew 

 And a lireeze from sunny spice-land 

 And then the Xasturtium grew. 



The twining sorts of nasturtiums classed among the 

 best of annual climbers with their luxuriant growth are 

 well adapted for covering fences, trellises or unsightly 

 objects. For trailing over rough ground they are especial- 

 ly fine, as a planting of rows of entwining vines will soon 

 produce wonderfulfy attractive carpeting. With us some 

 long rows on a hillside where other flowers have seemed 

 ill at ease, in a short time transformed the slojie into an 

 attractive si)Ot and yielded besides the gorgeous display 

 of bloom, plenty of tender cress and quantities of seeds for 

 culinary purposes. This Spring, seeds tucked away into 

 earthy beds in the crevices in an old stone wall, and here 

 and there along the over-hanging borders of a brooklet 

 and in other odd and unexpected places furnished a most 

 interesting i>lanting full of happy surprises. As a trailing 

 vine in wintlow boxes, hanging baskets or in ornamental 

 lawn vases the showy, graceful, twining nasturtiums are 

 excellent, and the improved drainage secured by the raised 

 position, tends to increase the number of flowers ancl adds 

 to the grace of the long hanging branches. This variety is 

 also well adai)ted for use in covering rockeries, tree stumps 

 or other similar objects with a trailing jewelled mantle, 

 that cannot fail to beautify the surroundings. 



.\nv number of other equally effective ways of utilizing 

 the various kinds of nasturtiums are possible. The dwarf 

 varieties which grow in a low brush-like form are ef- 

 fective as border plants or for bedding jiurposes. They 

 are especially useful where space is too limited to allow 

 for planting of the sjjreading sort. Even a small bed will 

 furnish an abun<lance of fine foliage and gay flowers for 

 indoor decoration. The comparatively new variegated 

 kinds known as the silver and mosaic-leaved nasturtiums 

 with their strikingly marked foliage arc ornamental even 

 when not in bloom. The dwarf kinds that form bushy 

 plants about a foot in height may be used as jiot plants 



as well as for outdoor bedding. The new ivy-leaved nas- 

 turtiiuns have thick, lobed, dark-green leaves somewhat 

 similar to those of the English ivy and bear a profusion of 

 medium sized star-like flowers during the season. The 

 ])etals of these flowers which are narrow and peculiarly 

 notched are quite separated from each other giving the 

 flowers a wide open airy a[)pearance which undoubtedly 

 suggested the name "ihuterfly Xasturtium" by which this 

 X'ariety is also known. 



The nasturtium is not at all fastidious. Given well- 

 drained, fairly good garden soil and a sunny situation, a 

 few weeks after sowing, the plants will begin floweriirg 

 and will continue to bloom until heavy frost puts an end 

 to the brilliant spectacle. Even in hot, dry weather, the 

 nasturtium will thrive and bloom luxuriantly unless soil 

 that is too rich encourages a rank growth of leaves at the 

 expense of flowers. 



I'or brilliant and varied display of color, wonderful 

 shading and markings, duration of blooming season and 

 ease of culture, the nasturtiums are unsurpassed. Few if 

 any other garden flowers can be successfully raised with so 

 little expenditure of time and money, for after the seeds are 

 once planted little attention is required, though the plants 

 respond promptly to cultivation and repav a thousand-fold 

 by a profusion of attractive, s])icy flowers from June until 

 frosty weather, and if desired, sturdy plants lifted in the 

 fall, or cuttings rooted in water or in sand, mav be potted 

 and taken indoors — a bit of Summer bloom to brighten 

 wintrv hours. 



SCENTED MUSK 



I.X tile \ernacular, 'AN'ot are yer bluomingwcll giving 

 us." Florum Amator? 



To use an old saw, "All is not gold that glitters" and 

 as far as offered seed of M. inoscliatos is concerned, all 

 listed as such, is not necessarily scented. 



Time was when I, as a kid, used to buy a hne jjoI of 

 scented musk for "tuppence," but unless a new source has 

 been discovered, I do not think it is possible in l'"ngland 

 now, not even at a "bob.'" Tlic Garden, London, has dis- 

 cussed this subject more than once and only one person 

 reported having a scented plant, a chance seedling in a bed 

 outdoors. 



If seed of the real thing were so easily obtainalilc, I 

 guess The Garden would have run into W. & S. next door 

 long years ago. lUit the trouble is that while true M. 

 uiosehalos seed is easily obtained no seedsmen would back 

 it to come scented. I used to grow the giant musk 

 (Harrison's). This, too. seems to have lost its ])erfume, 

 yet it was pro])agated from cuttings. It is years since I 

 saw it. 



It is just possible as Moriuu .\mator suggests that 

 there are two forms of .1/. inoscluitos but I have my doubts 

 as to the scentless form being a run out llritish tyi)e : it is 

 ([uestionable whether seed as sold in luigland was ever 

 grown in tli;il t'ounlry. Dare 1 hint that some wily ">'an- 

 kee'' lull It over because it seeded more freei\ r 



.At all events, I'll just ascertain from my esteemed 

 fricnil, J. M. lirideford of \\\ &• .'^. where bis true sweet 

 scented musk seed comes from. 



1 might add that I have yet to see a plant of .1/. luas- 

 rluilDS on ibis sirle of the water, either cultivated or wild. 

 — 1". .\. Wksto.n. 



