THE LARKSPUR 227 



Another vinelike plant from South America 

 that has made its way into every garden is the 

 Tropceolum, commonly known as the nasturtium. 



There are at least forty species of this tribe, 

 mostly climbing natives of Peru and Chile. One 

 of these, T. tuberosum, produces spicy roots that 

 are highly prized as food and the seeds of the 

 annual varieties are sometimes used in pickles 

 and salads. The seeds of the form familiar in 

 our gardens are often pickled and it is probable 

 that table products of greater value could be 

 developed from these plants if attention were 

 paid to breeding them with that idea in mind. 



Some of the nasturtiums are exceedingly 

 tender to the slightest chill, but they may grow 

 in the hottest and driest soil. 



My work with the nasturtiums has been 

 mostly with specimens sent from South America 

 by my collectors, representing eight or nine 

 species. Some of these have bulbs that sometimes 

 remain dormant in the ground for two or three 

 years, and then sprout and grow very fine vines. 



The common nasturtium of our gardens, T. 

 majus, is one of the most readily grown of our 

 annuals and has been so long cultivated and so 

 thoroughly crossed that the colors of the flowers 

 are exceedingly variable. In recent years very 

 good work has been done, particularly by Cali- 



