VINES, HARDY AND TENDER 371 



The flowers are dark blue, in shape and size resembling those of the 

 Sweet Pea. This vine is sometimes grown as a creeper, but the 

 very attractive flowers are better seen when it is allowed to climb. 

 It is an ideal plant for growing on iron railings. There are pink, 

 ■white, and double flowered forms. 



Propagation. The seed should he started indoors early. The 

 seedlings, no matter how carefully they are tended, look as if they 

 had a hard struggle for existence, but under the influence of full 

 sunshine they will make good plants by the middle of May, when 

 they may be planted out for the Summer. 



COB/^A. When grown indoors as a perennial, C. scandens will 

 attain a length of 30 feet. In this country it is principally grown 

 as an annual for outdoor use in Summer. C. s. variegala is a varie- 

 gated form for the greenhouse. 



Propagation. As the seeds germinate quickly and need prick- 

 ing off shortly, or almost immediately after germinating, owing to 

 their large cotyledons, it will save time to put each seed in a 2-inch 

 pot ; fill the pots and merely press the seed in edgewise. No covering 

 is necessary if the seed be pressed in deeply so that only the upper 

 edge is seen when the soil is settled by watering. The variegated 

 form is increased by cuttings. 



CONVOLVULUS (Bindweed). This genus possesses many 

 weedy plants which, when once they gain a foothold in the garden, 

 are difficult to eradicate. Several are very ornamental when in 

 bloom. One of the best, especially for baskets, an evergreen, with 

 short, pendulous growths, is named C. maurilanicus. The flowers 

 are blue, and about an inch across. C. tricolor makes a very suitable 

 plant for hanging baskets. 



Propagation. This plant is usually increased by division, or 

 cuttings of the ripe growths early in Spring. Seeds are also offered. 



Culture. A fibrous soil is preferred by these plants in the 

 greenhouse. 



HEDERA (English Ivy). The varieties of H. helix are numer- 

 ous; some have very small leaves as in H. Doneraliensis, others are 

 very large leaved, as, for instance, H. dentata. Others again are 

 beautifully variegated. H. h. var. hallica seems the hardiest form. 

 Nearly all of the Ivies make good pot plants, and some of the va- 

 rieties will develop more leaves and stems to a given size of pot 

 than any other plant in cultivation. The less sun the plants get in 

 Winter the hardier they will be, as rapid thawing and freezing is 



