102 THE CULTURE OF POT-PLANTS 



of it, the best (tricolour) having the foliage blotched with 

 white and red. Its cultivation presents no difficulty if it is 

 protected from frost. Some of the mossy saxifrages may also 

 be used for covering the soil around taller plants, but they 

 must not be exposed to strong sunshine in summer. 



Sedum. — There are various species which are suitable 

 for hanging baskets, among the best being the variegated 

 form of S. kamtschaticum with yellow flowers, and S. Eiversii 

 with pink flowers, both of them hardy evergreens with trailing 

 stems. For cultivation, see p. 44. 



Sibthorpia peregrina. — A trailing perennial with 

 yellow flowers in June. 



Thunbergia. — The best species for a hanging basket 

 is T. alata, a very pretty annual with yellow and purple 

 flowers. It is a native of the Cape. There are several 

 varieties — Alba (white), Aiirantiaca (deep yellow), and Doddsii 

 (orange). Seed should be sown in a warm greenhouse in 

 spring, and the seedlings potted in rich soil. In summer 

 they may be brought into a room or even grown in the 

 open air. 



Torenia. — There are a number of different species, the 

 best being the annual T. asiatica^ which bears tubular blue 

 flowers in summer. It should be treated in the same way 

 as thunbergias. 



Tropaeolum. — Most of the members of this handsome 

 family grow so tall that they cannot well be used in hanging 

 baskets, but there are two perennial species, T. polyphylliwi 

 (yellow) and T. tricolonim (orange and black), which are of 

 dwarfer habit. The former is hardy; the latter, which is 

 much the most striking and has a much longer flowering 

 season, requires greenhouse treatment. It has tuberous 

 roots, and in winter, when it has died down, it should be 

 kept dry until spring, when it should be repotted in fresh 

 soil. The quickest way to propagate the perennial species is 

 by means of cuttings. There are also many fine varieties of 

 the dwarf form of the annual T. majus, commonly called 

 nasturtium, and with these a gorgeous display may be made 

 during the summer. They are, however, so strong in colour- 



