The Tropczolmn. 9 



T. polyphyllum, bright orange ; 2\ tuberosum, orange-red ; T. edule, btight 

 orange. 



The plant formerly known as T. pentaphyllmn, the fruit of which is a juicy 

 berry, is now known as Crymocarpus pentaphyllus. 



The general treatment of all the tuberous varieties is plenty of air, light, 

 and water, with free syringings to keep down red spider when in growth, 

 and the withholding of water when the plants are at rest. They are in- 

 creased by cuttings, which root in pure sand ; also by seed, which vegetates 

 freely if the hard outer shell is carefully removed. 



The large-growing tropaeolums, or, as they are commonly called, nastur- 

 tiums, are varieties of T. majus. They are very showy ; and as they are very 

 democratic in their habits, succeeding anywhere, they are very commonly 

 planted. The colors are various, and the species occurs under a variety 

 of names. The flowers are found of every shade of yellow, orange, and red, 

 and of all combinations of these colors, in spots, blotches, shading, or bands, 

 upon both light and dark grounds. As is the case with all the garden 

 tropaeolums, the plants succeed best in a poor soil ; for, in a rich loam, they 

 run all to foliage, and give but little bloom. These varieties are well 

 adapted for covering unsightly objects, as they produce a profusion of bright 

 foliage and showy flowers. Seed is freely produced, from which the plants 

 are commonly raised. Any fine variety may, however, be increased by 

 cuttings, which root freely. 



These varieties are rather trailers than climbers, though they may be 

 trained to cover a trellis. 



We next come to perhaps the most useful class, — T. minus and its numer- 

 ous varieties. These may be readily distinguished from the varieties of 

 T. majus by the leaves : in the former, the nerves of the leaves always end 

 in a point, which is never the case with those of the latter. These varie- 

 ties are very popular greenhouse-plants, free-flowering, of rapid growth, and 

 of easy culture. They are climbers, and admirably adapted for the rafters 

 or back wall of a greenhouse, where, if in a warm, sunny exposure, they 

 give sheets of showy bloom. 



T. Lohhianum, with small bright orange-scarlet flowers, was one of the 

 first of this class to attract notice ; but it is now neglected for newer varie- 

 ties, which are seldom as good. T. pulcherrimmn is a bright yellow, and 



