The Tropcsolum. 



THE TROP^OLUM. 



Within the last few years, a new impulse has been given to the cultiva- 

 tion of this favorite flower by the production of varieties of a dwarf free- 

 blooming habit, which serve an admirable purpose in the garden as bedding- 

 plants. 



The tropaeolum seems naturally to divide into several classes. First we 

 have the greenhouse species, with tuberous roots, of which T. azureicm and 

 tricolorum are examples. 



Next we find those with large round leaves and showy flowers, often 

 coarse growers, but very ornamental, mostly varieties of T. inajus ; ■d.^'dSw, 

 those with small, rounded leaves, and delicate, symmetrical flowers, the 

 habit of the plant being rather climbing than trailing ; and, lastly, a class 

 of bushy, erect habit, with regular flowers, and generally profuse bloomers. 



These classes, except the first, often run into each other ; and, in individ- 

 ual plants, there is often difficulty in telling where they belong : nor have 

 the numerous seedling varieties of the last few years tended to remove the 

 difficulty ; for they are so confused by hybridization, that it is almost impos- 

 sible to determine their true position. 



The general culture of the tropasolum is very simple. The tuberous 

 species, which are greenhouse-plants and winter-bloomers, need a compost 

 of leaf-mould, peat, and silver sand. They should be potted in the autumn 

 in well-drained pots (the top of the tuber being above the soil), be v/atered, 

 and placed in a gentle heat. The crown will soon send out a stem, often 

 as fine as a hair, which, as it grows, must be carefully trained to a trellis. 

 In a few weeks, flowers will appear, and the plant will soon be a mass of 

 bloom. The blossoms do not resemble in the least the garden species, 

 but are delicate, curious, and beautiful. 



Those of T. azureinn are of a beautiful blue, look like double violets, 

 and are delightfully fragrant. The discovery of this species in 1844 over- 

 turned a pet botanical theory. It had, with some show of reason, been 

 asserted that no genus where the general color was yellow or red could 

 have a blue flower ; but tropceohim is a striking exception to the rule. 



Other tuberous species are 2\ tricolorum and jarraltii, with brilliant red, 



