130 The Flower Garden [Chapter 



There is another variety the San Salvador Cobaea 

 that is even more desirable than the C. scandens. 

 The flowers are much smaller, but have greatly exag- 

 gerated stamens that give them distinction. Its chief 

 beauty, however, is the foliage of light, translucent 

 green, to which the sun, shining through it, gives a 

 luminous quality rare in vines. In manner of growth, 

 too, it is superior, its many-lobed leaves lying parallel 

 to, or flat on the netting, instead of at right angles, as 

 is the case with C. scandens. Both these vines do 

 well in a north or east exposure and require less water 

 than most vines. They are admirable for covering an 

 old tree or any partly dead wood. 



Seed should be started in the hotbed early in spring, 

 setting them on edge and covering a quarter of an inch 

 deep. Unless the soil appears dry they should not be 

 watered until the plants are up and have their first 

 true leaves. Set out when danger of frost is past in 

 mellow soil, watering as needed, and giving support 

 for the vines to cling to. To stone and brick, or the 

 bark of a tree, they will cling of themselves, each leaf- 

 spray ending in a tendril that attaches itself to any 

 rough surface. I have never been able to ascertain 

 what height they will attain if given support, but the 

 top of a reasonably tall tree falls short of their am- 

 bition. 



The Centrosema (Butterfly Pea) is rather a hard 

 vine to propagate from seed. Seeds germinate freely, 

 but the young plants seem strangely lacking in vigour, 



