36 THE BOOK OF THE GREENHOUSE 



Habrothamnus (Oestrum). Of this there are two species 

 well worth growing, viz. H. Neivelli, with bright 

 crimson flowers, and H. aurantiacus, in which the flowers 

 are a rich shade of orange yellow. The latter is best 

 known as Oestrum aurantiacum. Both are more suited 

 for growing on a wall or pillar than as roof climbers. 

 When once the wall space has been covered or the top 

 of the pillar reached, the plants should every year be 

 hard pruned (i.e. all young growth should be cut back 

 almost close to the old wood) when flowering is over. 

 Any ordinary soil will grow these plants but they 

 require abundant watering when growing. 



Heliotrope. This is not often seen growing as a climber, 

 but I have found the old species H. peruvianum ex- 

 cellent for walls and for rafters, flowering freely almost 

 all the summer, and certainly one of the most attractive 

 plants to visitors. It should be planted out in not over 

 rich soil, the leading shoots being trained up the 

 supports till they have reached the top, which may 

 take some years. During the winter all side shoots 

 should be cut back close to the main stems and this will 

 be ail the pruning required during the year, as every 

 new shoot made in spring will give one or more bunches 

 of deliciously sweet flowers. The Heliotrope once well 

 established is a long-lived plant and worthy of a good 

 position in any greenhouse. During the summer it likes 

 plenty of water, but very little during winter. 



Myrsiphyllum asparagoides. This charming climbing 

 plant known to many as " Smilax," and sold as such on 

 the market, is not the true Smilax nor any relative of that 

 plant. It is one of the best of green plants, and its sprays 

 are of great use in decorations. It likes a snug corner of 

 the greenhouse where it may be planted out in light and 

 well drained soil with its thick, fleshy roots or tuber 

 scarcely buried. The growths should be trained thinly 

 up a temporary trellis formed of pieces of fine string, 



