COBCEA, Nat. Ord. Polemoniacete. 

 The Cobea scandens is one of the most beautiful of our climbing annuals, on account of its 



large size, rapid growth, fine foliage, and large, bell-shaped flowers, about an inch and a half 



across and two inches in length. When strong plants are 

 set out early in the spring, and in a good soil, they often 

 grow twenty or thirty feet in length, branching freely, and 

 covering a large surface. Plants commence to flower when 

 quite young and continue in bloom until removed or killed 

 by frost. In the autumn, plants can be taken up with care, 

 potted, and removed to the house where they will flourish 

 and flower during the winter. The flowers are at first green, 

 but gradually change to a deep, violet blue. The seed 

 requires some care in starting, and much success is not to be 

 anticipated in sowing the seed in the garden. Put the seeds 

 in moist earth, edge down, and do not water until the young 

 plants appear above the surface, unless the pots are in a 

 warm place and the earth becomes exceedingly dry. Cobceas 



set in a row, two feet apart, supported by brush six feet high, make an elegant screen. 



CONVOLVULUS, Nat. Ord. Convolvulacea. 



Convolvulus major, the old Morning Glory, is the best known and most popular, and all 

 things considered, we are almost prepared to say the best annual climber we possess. The seeds 

 germinate so readily that they can be grown in the garden 

 in any corner where the plants are needed, and almost at 

 any time. The flowers we need tell no one are beautiful, 

 and of a great variety of colors. Their growth is so rapid 

 that they cover an arbor or trellis in a very short time, 

 though it is important that support should be supplied as 

 soon as the young plants show a disposition to run, for if 

 this is neglected too long they willl not readily attach 

 themselves. The only fault that can be urged against the 

 Convolvulus is the fact that its flowers are open only in the < 

 early part of the day, the brightest about sunrise, but a sight 

 of a good " patch " of these flowers in the " dewy morn " is 

 a feast for a whole day, and quite enough to tempt any lover 

 of the beautiful to rise early to see and enjoy their glory. 

 Indeed, we have known several fits of early rising induced 

 by the beauty of the Morning Glory, and yet, we are glad to say, without serious results. 



DOLICHOS, Nat. Ord. Leguminosee. 



Very beautiful climbing plants, resembling the running bean, but the flowers are more beanti- 

 ful, as the common name (Hyacinth Bean) indicates. The seed-pods are as pretty as the flowers, 



being, in the purple-flowered variety, a beautiful purple, 

 shining as though freshly varnished. The large varieties 

 grow from six to twenty feet in height, but the growth 

 upward may be checked by pinching off the tops. Plant 

 the seeds in the garden where the plants are desired, 

 selecting as warm and dry a spot as possible. Give just 

 the treatment required for our more tender running beans, 

 like the Lima. Most of the varieties are eaten in some 

 parts of Europe. A dwarf white variety grows only 

 about four or five feet in height. The Dolichos is not 

 only the prettiest of our bean-like climbers, but is 

 one of the ornamental species that not only flourishes in 

 the hot weather of summer, but rejoices in heat, drouth and a warm, sandy soil. This makes 

 it particularly valuable to Americans, as our flowering beans usually suffer in a dry time. 



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