THE GARDEN-ROOM 39 



others, I find, have gone where the good bulbs go. 

 But touching that matter you shall hear anon. 



A scarlet rambler and a common hop potter about 

 together over a corner of my garden-room ; and there 

 ought to be many more other roses. Cucumis perennis 

 catches my eye next with great, grey-green leaves ; 

 but this is another of the plants that always arrive a 

 day behind the fair. Autumn surprises it arranging 

 its wares, and, at the first breath of serious cold, it 

 flings up everything, discards its immature buds, 

 drops its leaves, and hurries underground again. The 

 native place of this perennial cucumber is doubtful. 

 That is to be regretted. Perhaps, if we knew where 

 he came from, we might learn the climatic conditions 

 there, and attempt to reproduce them. No doubt a 

 cool house would answer the purpose. 



There is never any trouble about the flowering of 

 polygonum baldschuanicum from Bokhara. He gives 

 me two displays in spring and autumn. The open 

 part of my garden-room supports him, and he foams 

 with flowers there in a beautiful sheet of palest rose. 

 He is a tremendous grower, and will soon be in the 

 trees, tumbling among them. Muehlenbeckia showers 

 its beauty elsewhere. This plant is no great climber 

 but an excellent tumbler good to fill a spare corner 

 or flank a flight of steps. Above or beside it should 

 be set some straight, stiff, sword-like thing gladiolus 

 or iris. Then you will be pleased at the effect. Ever- 

 lasting peas don't appeal to me, except the hand- 

 some and tender lathyrus pubescens, but they occur 

 here ; and actinidia volubilis from Japan I also have, 



