CONVOLVULUS. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. COPROSMA. 407 



early, the roots being usually imported 

 from the Continent, where they are 

 grown and prepared for the purpose. 

 It may be naturalised, too, on any 

 place sufficiently moist and shaded, 

 and soon spreads into broad masses. 

 There is a variety with gold-striped 

 foliage, and another with double 

 flowers, but this is not pretty. The 

 finest form is called Fortin's, which is 

 more robust than the common kind, 

 having larger flowers. 



CONVOLVULUS (Bindweed}. 

 Handsome climbing herbs ; some 

 hardy, and, where properly used, effec- 

 tive. 



C. ALTH^IODES. A graceful trailer with 

 numerous rosy flowers, hardy and free 

 among rocks. Seeds or division of root. 

 Mediterranean region. 



C. CNEORUM. A silvery - leaved 

 shrubby species of high ornament and 

 beauty, growing 3 to 5 feet high. In 

 favoured localities it is excellent for sunny 

 positions on rock work ; otherwise it 

 should be planted near a wall. Cuttings 

 root readily. S. Europe. 



C. DAHURICUS (Dahurian C.). A showy, 

 twining perennial, bearing in summer 

 rosy-purple flowers. Excellent for cover- 

 ing bowers, railings, stumps, cottages, etc., 

 and also for naturalisation in hedgerows 

 and copses. It grows in almost any soil, 

 and, like its relation the Bindweed, is 

 readily increased by division of the roots, 

 which creep. Syn. Calystegia. Cauca- 

 sus. 



C. MAJOR. See IPOMOZA. 



C. MAURITANICUS (Blue Rock Bind- 

 weed). A beautiful, prostrate, twining 

 plant from N. Africa, with slender stems. 

 The flowers blue, i inch across, with a 

 white throat and yellow anthers. The 

 rock garden and raised borders ; supposed 

 to require sunny positions, in sandy, well- 

 drained soil, but I find it fine on stiffish 

 cool soils. Seeds or cuttings. . 



C. PUBESCENS FL.-PL. (Double Bind- 

 weed). Handsome and useful for cloth- 

 ing trellises, stumps, porches, and rustic- 

 work. It grows rapidly to the height of 

 6 feet. The flowers are large, double, and 

 of a pale rose, appearing in June and on- 

 ward. Division. China. 



C. SOLDANELLA (Sea Bindweed). A 

 distinct trailing species with fleshy leaves ; 

 flowering in summer, pale red, and hand- 

 some in the rock garden, if planted so that 

 its shoots droop over stones. Also suited 

 for borders, in sandy soil. Division. 

 Europe and Britain. 



C. SYLVATICUS. No plant forms more 

 beautiful and delicate curtains of foliage 

 and flowers than this, which grows vigor- 

 ously in any soil. The wild garden is the 



place where it is most at home, and where 

 its vigorous roots may ramble without 

 doing injury to other plants. Among 

 bushes or hedges, over railings, or on 

 rough banks, it is charming, and takes 

 care of itself. The rosy-pink form incar- 

 nata is supposed to be a native of N. 

 America, but is naturalised in some parts 

 of Ireland. Native of S. Europe and N. 

 Africa. 



C. TRICOLOR. One of the most beau- 

 tiful of hardy annuals. There are numerous 

 varieties, varying more or less in colour 

 of flowers or in habit of growth. The 

 flowers of the type are blue, yellow, and 

 white, and the plant being perfectly hardy, 

 may be sown in the open ground in Sep- 

 tember for flowering in spring, or sown in 

 February in a heated frame for trans- 

 planting in May for midsummer flowering, 

 and in the open ground from April to the 

 end of May for flowering in late summer 

 and autumn. Syn. C. minor. 



COPROSMA. Dwarf evergreen 

 shrubs from New Zealand, best seen 

 in shore and southern gardens, and 

 most at home on a bold rock garden. 

 The Coprosmas are widely distributed 

 in New Zealand, some of the Pacific 

 Islands, Chili, and elsewhere. Of the 

 forty or more known species a few only 

 have been introduced to cultivation in 

 this country, those few being chiefly 

 natives of New Zealand. They are too 

 tender for general outdoor planting in 

 the British Isles, although they thrive 

 in the milder parts, and very few are 

 grown indoors except in botanic collec- 

 tions of plants. As evergreens they 

 are most useful, for they have little 

 flower beauty, the blooms being very 

 small, and not bright enough to make 

 them conspicuous. When fruit is 

 borne freely it has attractions, but 

 fruit cannot be depended upon in this 

 country. Given suitable climatic con- 

 ditions, they are not difficult to culti- 

 vate, for they thrive in well-drained, 

 loamy soil, to which a little peat or 

 leaf-mould has been added. Cuttings 

 inserted in a close and warm frame 

 during summer root with little trouble, 

 and soon form good plants. 



Of the various species the following 

 are most easily obtained : 



C. ARBOREA. A bush or small tree 20 

 to 30 feet high, with dark green or 

 brownish-green leaves, each I to 3 inches 

 long, and up to i \ inches wide. It is the 

 Tree Karamee of the Maoris, and when 

 grown in the open forms a wide, bushy 

 head. When grown close together, how- 

 ever, tall, slender trunks with small heads 



