36 FLOWERS AND THE FLOWER GARDEK. 



climber, with leaves of curious form. Menispermum 

 Canadense is very hardy, will cover a space quickly and 

 ornamentally, and bears drooping racemes of greenish 

 yellow flowers of elegant appearance. It will grow in 

 almost any soil or situation, and has a graceful growth if 

 planted out alone and tied to a stake, leaving the top to 

 droop over. Menispermum Lyonii has a purple flower. 

 They flower in June, and they may be propagated by 

 division of the root, by cuttings planted under a hand 

 glass, in spring, or from the seed sown in spring. 



The Virginian Creeper is admired for the brilliant hues 

 which its foliage assumes in autumn, and for its quick 

 growth. It grows from layers or cuttings. 



The Canary Creeper, Ampelopsis hederacea, Qana- 

 riensis, or Tropceolum peregrinum, is pretty, from 

 the bright delicate harmony of its gay yellow flowers 

 and pale green foliage. With us, it is a half-hardy 

 annual and most useful creeper, covering a fence 

 and keeping it gay until frost interferes. It may 

 be raised from seed on a hot- bed in the spring. Plant out 

 the seedlings where they are wanted in May, with a 

 trellis or wall for support. A hot-bed is not necessary 

 for raising these pretty creepers ; the seed may be sown, 

 as soon as it is ripe, in a pot, and kept in a room for the 

 winter. "Water the young plants regularly ; when they 

 shoot up train them to sticks, and plant them out in 

 the spring. The.y are not particular about the smoke 

 of towns, but will enliven London balconies with 

 their gay green foliage and lovely flowers. The Nas- 

 turtiums belong to the same family, and they ought 

 to be encouraged, not only because the berries make 

 a most delicious though little appreciated pickle, but 

 because the green of their luxuriant foliage is bright 

 and tender, and their flowers are brilliant with every 

 shade of yellow, orange, and maroon. If nasturtiums 

 were rare, their pretty bright foliage and brilliantly 

 varied flowers of peculiar shape would make them much 

 sought after ; but as a seed will spring up on any hillock 

 on which it happens to fall, and clothe it with varied 

 beauty, the plant does not get its due. When they are 



