28 



MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



TaopiEOLUM Jarrattii. — Sometimes imported under the high sounding 

 name of Tropaeolum tricolorum grandiflorum. This variety, which was 

 first introduced some twenty-five years ago from Santiago, very much 

 resembles T. tricolorum in growtli and color of flowers. The differences 

 are these ; the flowers are larger than those of T. tricolorum, of a more 

 brilliant color, with more yellow on the outside ; the two upper petals are 

 marked with brown ; the habit of the plant is more robust. It is a profuse 

 flowerer, and is easily propagated from cuttings. Soil, peat and loam. The 

 remarks made in reference to T. tricolorum apply to this variety. It is not 

 uncommonly grown under the name of T. tricolorum. 



Trop.5:olum azdredm. We now come to describe by far the most 

 beautiful bf all the Tropseolums. Before its introduction the floral world 

 was in a state of fever from the descriptions of travellers, and not a little 

 scepticism Avas manifested as to its existence; many, as before mentioned, 

 considering it an impossibility, and regarding the reports as " travellers' 

 stories." It was successfully introduced about fifteen years ago, but as yet 

 is rarely seen in our greenhouses. 'J he writer, a few years ago, had a fine 

 specimen, which was unfortunately lost by Avatering during the season of 

 rest. The bulbs are very impatient of moisture, and too much care cannot 

 be taken to keep them perfectly dry during the summer. 



As the variety is as yet rare a short description may not be uninteresting. 

 Its habit is very slender ; and the plant may be easily distinguished from 

 the other varieties by its leaves ; these are small, and almost equally sep- 

 arated into five segments, Avhich are extremely narrow linear lanceolate, of 

 a pale green tint. The flowers are of peculiar form ; the five petals are of 

 about the same size, and radiate very regularly. Color, when first expand- 

 ed, deep violet, resembling, when about a day expanded, the color of our 

 well-known pedate violet (V. pedata,) and Avhen old changing to Avhitish. 

 The calyx is short and green. The flowers exhale a delightful perfume. 

 The flowers are produced from tlie axils of the leaves in great profusion. 

 The proper soil is a coarse sandy loam, Avith a little leaf mould and coarse 

 peat. The plant Avill readily strike from cuttings of the half-ripened Avood, 

 inserted in pure sand, but we have noticed that not one half of the cuttings, 

 though they grow vigorously, produce a bulb of any appreciable size. 

 The plant also seeds sparingly, and probably Avith care the seed Avould veg- 

 etate. The chief difficulty is to preserve the bulb during the summer, and 

 to regulate the moisture in Avinter. Uur specimens bloomed Avell, treated 

 as recommended for T. tricolorum ; the position in the greenhouse Avas in 

 the warmest end, on a side shelf, close to the glass. This lovely plant is 

 worthy of every care and attention. 



Thus have we briefly and imperfectly given a hasty sketch of some of 

 the more important varieties of the Tropaeolum. It is a flower Avhich Avill 

 well repay every exertion to bloom it in perfection, and may be one of the 

 principal ornaments of our greenhouses. There is no more beautiful sight 

 than specimen plants of any of the bulbous varieties, and Ave bespeak for 

 these a little more devotion and careful culture. A fine plant occupies little 

 more room than a poor one, and requires but a trifle more care. 



