WINTER RHUBARB 255 



kind, and have not found it necessary to de- 

 velop succulent fruits. In any event, it is fortu- 

 nate from the standpoint of the plant developer 

 of the temperate zones that the fruit-bearing 

 members of this particular tribe are the ones that 

 are hardy enough for introduction in our 

 climate. 



The common species of the southeastern 

 United States, locally known as the Maypop, 

 is so thrifty a plant that it becomes a very 

 troublesome weed. 



It spreads in all directions by its underground 

 rootstalks, and it roots very deeply. It is 

 almost as difficult to eradicate as the perennial 

 morning-glory. Deep plowing of the soil is 

 about the only method of destroying it when it 

 is once introduced. But this very thriftiness 

 may become an advantage, once the plant has 

 been sufficiently transformed to assume position 

 as a valuable fruit bearer. 



This common Maypop was the plant with 

 which my experiments in developing the fruit- 

 ing possibilities of the Passion Flower began. 

 But my interest soon extended to other species, 

 including the best Australian varieties of at 

 least three species, and a number of new species 

 from South America that were not named by 

 my collector and have not been identified. 



