178 THE SCHOOL GARDEN BOOK 



The plant from tropical America which is known in the 

 catalogues as Cobcea scandens is one of the best climbing vines 

 available to American gardeners. In its native home it is a 

 perennial, but it is so tender that with us it is to be treated 

 as an annual. The compound leaves have commonly four- 

 stalked leaflets, with the terminal leaflet transformed into a 

 tendril by means of which the plant supports itself as it 

 climbs. The bell-shaped flowers often have a diameter of 

 one and one-half inches, and are either white or purplish in 

 color. The projecting saucer-like calyx around the base of 

 the flower serves to give the plant its common name. 



This coboea is easily grown from seed, which should be 

 planted edge downward that it may come up more easily, 

 and the seed should be covered very slightly. The young 

 plant grows rapidly and in a single season will reach a height 

 of ten to twenty feet, with a varied profusion of handsome 

 flowers. Sometimes other leaflets besides the terminal one 

 will show an interesting tendency to develop tendrils. 



There are many hardy vines that are distinctly desirable, 

 and which may be purchased reasonably from dealers in 

 plants at prices given in all the large seed catalogues. Some 

 may be easily raised from seed in the school garden, for 

 example, the Japanese Clematis Paniculate whose glossy 

 foliage is hidden in late summer by its profusion of starry 

 white flowers. The Japanese, or Boston Ivy is used to cover 

 the glaring brick walls of many city schools with a curtain of 

 waving green. Such a transformation is as desirable as the 

 change from a yard of gravel and weeds to a well-equipped 

 playground bordered with shrubbery and flowers. The blue 

 berries of this vine persist through the winter, and they may 

 be gathered, their seeds separated and planted at any time of 



