THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



from the peculiar shape of its flowers, 

 which resemble a siphon or hook, and 

 in which some see a fanciful resem- 

 blance to a pipe. It is quite hardy, and 

 of vigorous growth, climbing to a height 

 of from 15 to 30 feet. It was discov- 

 ered in 1763. 



Mr, Nicholson describes 28 varieties 

 of Aristolochia, and an additional one 

 is mentioned by Mr. Watson, of Kew, 

 with the specific name of A, ridicula, 

 because of the droll appearance of the 

 flower, the two lobes on each side of 

 the flower forcibly reminding one of 

 donkey's ears. 



Mr. C. L. Allan, in American Gar- 

 den, says : " In habit, it is both a 

 climber and a twiner, and is therefore 

 unsuited for walls ; but its great heart- 

 shaped leaves, from seven to twelve 

 inches in diameter, borne with tropical 

 luxuriance, make a finer exhibition of 

 massive foliage for covering verandas, 

 trellises or other artificial constructions 

 than anything else we know of. Its 

 flowers are extremely curious, being the 

 shape of a siphon or hook, with a long 

 pendent pouch, of a yellowish brown 

 color, borne in May or June. For its 

 perfect development it should have a 

 deep rich soil and a moist situation. It 

 grows eqally well either in sun or shade. 

 G. W. O. of the Botanic Gardens at 

 Washington, writes in Gardening of A. 

 elegans : 



" This new Brazilian flowered with us 

 for the first time a few weeks ago, and 

 what a pleasing surprise ! With leaves 

 quite as small as those of A. ciliata, the 

 flowers in size come near those of A. 

 gigas. The leaves are nearly heart- 

 shaped, slightly glaucescent underneath; 

 the flowers, borne on long stalks, are 

 very conspicuous and strikingly hand- 

 some. The concave surface of the 

 perianth is beautifully and uniformly 

 speckled with dark claret on a creamy 



white ground. This species is very 

 floriferous even in a young state, and 

 entirely free from the peculiar cam- 

 phorous odor common to other mem- 

 bers of the genus." 



Ampelopsis quinquefolia. 



This word is from two Greek words 

 meaning vine-like, because of the re- 

 semblance to the grape vine in habit. 

 There are, at least, two varieties which 

 are natives of North America, viz , the 

 bipinnate leaved of Virginia ; and the 

 well-known fi-je leaved, or Virginia 

 Creeper, which festoons the forest trees 

 in many parts of Ontario, and can be 

 had almost anywhere for the trouble of 

 digging. It is a vine of rapid growth, 

 and, with a little support, will climb to 

 the top of our houses. In autumn, the 

 foliage assumes brilliant red and purple 

 shades, and is therefore a desirable 

 ornamental climber for certain places. 

 It is however rather too strong a grower 

 to be placed in too prominent a posi- 

 tion, and is better adapted for special 

 uses, as for instance, as an ornamental 

 pillar on the lawn, 

 either creeping up 

 an old tree trunk 

 or telegraph pole, 

 see Figure 1465. 

 An additional 

 beauty can be 

 added if several 

 such tree trunks, 

 not more than 

 thirty or forty feet 

 apart can be con- 

 nected by festoons 

 Fig. 1465. -Pillar cov- „^ ^1^ • -, 

 ERED WITH Virginia ^^ shown in figure 

 Creei'eh. 1466. The sup- 



port between the trees should be heavy 

 galvanised wire. Another good use 

 of this Creeper is to screen objection- 

 able features, as stables, outhouses, etc. 

 Fig. 1467 shows such a screen separa- 



452 



