CLIMBING PLANTS. 



285 



have recourse to the Creeping Fig (Ficus repens). It has small leaves, 

 and it clings like ivy to a wall or to rocks, and it is useful in a 

 situation where flowering climbers will not grow. 



Several Tropaeolums are grown at my garden. T. Jarrattii is a plant 

 with a bulbous root ; it flowers in the greenhouse in early spring. It 

 requires cool treatment, otherwise it is apt to be attacked with the aphis 

 and die down. It is interesting to see a little bulb, from the size of a 

 marble to that of a hen's egg, throw out a slender stem, which grows 

 till it completely surrounds a large wire globe, two feet in diameter, and 

 then becomes covered with flowers at all points. There is another 

 tropaeolum, the T. edtilis, which is sold as an esculent at the Palais 

 Royal in Paris. I brought it over, but it has never blossomed. There 

 are other tropcEolums valuable for winter blossoming ; and one, called 

 Fire-ball, adorns the Poor Man's house in winter and in early spring, 

 affording abundance of lovely blossoms. The plant, after its winter 

 flowering, may be planted out of doors. It can be readily propagated 

 by cuttings. 



Whilst I was on a visit to Scotland, I was charmed with a climber 

 which was trained to the wall of a manse in the valley of the Don. I 

 had hardly uttered my praises when, with the 

 natural kindness of the Scotch 

 people, a plant was placed at 

 my disposal. I brought it home 

 in triumph, as pleased to receive 

 it as the donor was to give it. 

 It was the T. spcciosum (fig. 589). 

 It is a South American creeper, 

 not in extensive cultivation, but, 

 as I afterwards found, is for 

 sale in the Scotch nurseries. 

 It is a truly lovely climber, with a scarlet flower and slender stem ; 

 every garden should have a plant. 



The Canary Creeper (T. canaricnse, fig. 590) is a useful annual 

 species for out-door growth. 



FIG. 589. Tropaeolum 

 speciosum. 



FIG. 590. Canary 

 Creeper. 



