Gardening for Amateurs 



181 



eiimbinq Plants from Seed 



THE number of annual plants of 

 climbing habit (those that bloom 

 the same year in which seed is 

 sown) is small, yet they are so valuable 

 that no garden can afford to dispense with 

 them. They add welcome variety and 

 considerable charm, and pretty effects may 

 be obtained by training them over arbour, 

 trellis, veranda, arch, or screen. Bare fences 

 and walls, particularly in the town and 

 suburban garden, may be clothed with them, 

 providing the growths are supported by a 

 row of tall stokes. Nasturtiums, Convol- 

 vulus, or Sweet IV;vs (which latter will be 

 dealt with separately later), form a most 

 attractive screen between the vegetable and 

 flower garden. Seeds of all those named 

 below may be sown during March where 

 the plants are to flower, but as it is very 

 desirable in most districts to get early 

 growth it is better to sow the seeds in a 

 heated greenhouse, or, failing this, in a frame, 

 so that large plants may be ready to put 

 out towards the end of May. 



Butterfly Bean. Climbing Butterfly is 

 a flowering bean which may be grown on an 

 arbour or trellis, and in the same way as 

 one grows the runner bean. The clusters of 

 flowers are salmon-pink and white. They 

 are followed by edible pods. As the seeds 

 germinate very quickly and the plants 

 grow rapidly it is not necessary to sow under 

 glass ; sow out of doors in early May. 



Convolvulus major. An indispensable 

 fast-growing and free-flowering half-hardy 

 climber. The plants may be used in sunny 

 spots wherever climbers can be grown. 

 There are numerous shades of colour, the 

 most distinct flowers being those in crimson, 

 blue, purple, rose, white, or striped. If the 

 seeds are not sown under glass which is 

 it ;tll\ preferable put them in the soil out 

 of doors early in April. 



Cucurbita (Ornamental Gourd). The 

 varieties of Ornamental Gourd are both 

 curious and attractive, forming a pleasing 

 contrast to the wealth of flowers. The 

 fruits of the different sorts vary greatly in 

 form and colour. They may be used to 



clothe pillars, arches, verandas, and arbours. 

 To support the weight of the fruit and prevent 

 the wind damaging the stems, the plants 

 should be securely fastened to supports. 

 Their cultivation may be described as similar 

 to that of the vegetable marrow. Gourds 

 delight in rich, well-drained soil, and a 

 mulching of rotted manure about midsummer 

 is of benefit. Raise the seeds in the green- 

 house early in April, grow the seedlings 

 singly in 5- or 6-inch pots, and plant them 

 outside the first week in June. The pro- 

 spective grower may choose between a 

 packet of seeds of mixed Ornamental Gourds 

 or a selection from the following sorts, seeds 

 of which are sold separately : Apple-shaped, 

 Egg-shaped, Bi-coloured, Orange, Pear- 

 shaped, Striped, and Waited. 



Mina lobata. A pretty free-flowering, 

 -half-hardy annual climber, seen to the best 

 advantage when supported by a few pea- 

 sticks. The buds are cherry-red, and the 

 open flowers orange-yellow, eventually get- 

 ting lighter in colour. Raise the plants in 

 pote in the greenhouse in March, and plant 

 out towards the end of May. 



Nasturtium majus (Tropaeolum majus). 

 The Climbing Nasturtium is the most 

 popular of all annual climbers, being in- 

 dispensable for covering bare wooden fences 

 in the suburban garden, or for screening 

 pillars, verandas and arches. Nasturtiums 

 should not have rich soil, otherwise they pro- 

 duce so much foliage that many of the 

 flowers are hidden. It is easy to raise the 

 plants singly in small pots in a cold frame 

 early in April, or to sow seeds out of doom 

 towards the end of this month. A packet 

 of seeds of mixed tall Nasturtiums will 

 suffice for a small garden, but should one 

 or two separate colours be denied seeds of 

 the following sorts may be bought : scarlet, 

 yellow, cn-aiii\ \\lntr. nr. and crimson. 



Tropaeolum canaricnse (Canary 

 Creeper). This is a very pretty climber 

 that is most suitably accommodated on 

 pea-sticks. The canary-yellow flowers are 

 prettily fringed. Sow in pots in a frame 

 in March or out of doors in April. 



