156 ORNAMENTAL GARDENING 



Punica granatum, Pomegranate. A large shrub or small tree 

 bearing handsome scarlet flowers followed by good-sized, edible 

 fruits. It is hardy almost as far north as Washington and does 

 well throughout the state. It should be well fertilized. 



Rhodomyrtus tomentosus is a shrub that bears handsome 

 purplish pink flowers and fine edible berries. MacLaren reports 

 that it does well with him at Fernandina and it flourishes with me. 



Tamarindus indica, Tamarind, has been discussed in the list 

 of ornamental exotic trees. 



ORNAMENTAL VINES AND CREEPERS. 



Abrus precatorius, Crab's Eye Vine. A delicate vine with 

 pinnate leaves, inconspicuous flowers and pods of scarlet beans, 

 each with a black eye. It is believed to be a native of the East 

 Indies and Tenison-Woods says that it grows in Malaysia just 

 inside of the mangroves; as it is found in the tropics around the 

 world it is probable that the seeds have been distributed by 

 the sea. The leaves are rich in licorice and are fine to eat but 

 it is claimed that the -seeds are poisonous. When once estab- 

 lished on a place it spreads rapidly by means of its seeds. 



Agdestes clematidea is a tender climbing herbaceous plant from 

 Mexico with soft, cordate leaves and lovely panicles of small, pure 

 white flowers in summer and fall. The young shoots hang down 

 and over them the leaves are beautifully imbricated, making a 

 handsome plant when not in flower ; but when it is in full bloom it 

 is simply superb. The tuberous roots sometimes attain a diameter 

 of two feet and with the whole of the plant are ill-smelling. 



Allamanda. These beautiful shrubs are among the queens of 

 the flower garden and the finest is A. hendersoni. If given a 

 good place and well fed it is a rampant grower and is covered 

 most of the year with its large, trumpet-shaped, golden yellow 

 blossoms. I have a vine growing over my porch; the tree frogs 

 make their homes in its great flower tubes and the dear little 

 creatures always notify me when they expect rain, though some- 

 times they seem to be mistaken. A . cathartica has rather small 

 obovate leaves, the flowers marked with white in the throat; 

 A. schotti is a strong grower. A. molacea is a fine plant with 

 violet-tinted flowers of which excellent specimens are growing at 



