BALCONY GARDENING. 229 



purple blossoms and fantastic seeds. But give plenty of 

 water ; it is a thirsty plant, and in a situation like ours will 

 drink largely. The first frost will, however, turn it black, 

 so if we want the permanent climbers, the cobea will 

 prove a good nurse for them. Plant them with the cobea ; 

 it will shelter them, but be careful not to let it kill them by 

 its exhausting the soil, filling the box with roots, or twining 

 around them. 



Now, we need climbers for the sides of our balcony, and 

 they should be planted C!OSD to the outside of our box, and 

 here we have a large list to choose from. Maurandia Bar- 

 clayana, with blue, foxglove shaped flowers, is a little gem 

 of a twiner ; then there is M. rosea, with pink, and M. 

 alba, with white flowers. These should be raised from 

 cuttings, or plants purchased. Seedlings do not bloom till 

 late,* and we wish flowers all summer. 



Then we have the large family of Nasturtiums, both the 

 large and small flowered varieties ; these all do well ; then 

 scarlet beans, morning glories, the pretty little cypress vine, 

 the canary bird flower (Tropceolum aduncum), sweet peas, 

 and that pretty vine commonly known as Madeira vine, 

 which comes from tuberous roots, which may be any where 

 procured. 



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