374 PLANT CULTURE 



display of bloom never seen in a wild state. As to their propagation, 

 /. HorsJallicB and I. insignis are either rooted from cuttings taken 

 during September, or grafted on seedling stocks of I. pandurata. 

 The other tuberous rooted kinds are best raised from seed, which 

 should be preserved in the capsules until the beginning of February 

 and sown in boxes of chopped sphagnum, in which they germinate 

 much sooner than in soil. Keep in a growing atmosphere, as the 

 seedlings are prone to develop tubers and go to rest shortly after 

 the seed leaves are formed. 



One of the best flowering vines of moderate growth for the decora- 

 tion of the greenhouse during the Winter months is IpomceaBriggsii. 

 Most of the other Ipomoeas bloom during the Summer, but this 

 one makes a liberal supply of shoots during the Summer from which 

 it blooms during the dull months of the year. The color of the 

 flowers is very deep crimson. The old plants should be repotted 

 in early Summer, using light, rich soil and giving them pots large 

 enough to flower in. As the shoots develop they should be tied 

 around stakes, and later on, if wanted to cover pillars or rafters, 

 these shoots can easily be untied and fastened in the positions in 

 which they are wanted to bloom. 



The flowers of Ipomcea grandijlora and /. Bona-nox (Moonflower) 

 are pure white and very large, opening about dusk and lasting till 

 morning. They are propagated by cuttings. Plants from Autumn- 

 rooted cuttings which were shifted on after the first potting, will, 

 b}' the beginning of February, be throwing out a quantity of shoots 

 which are intended to be utilized for cuttings. When these shoots 

 get a foot or more in length nip the ends out, as by doing so the re- 

 maining part will ripen more quickly and provide better material 

 for single eye cuttings. The plants from these will be large enough 

 by planting out time. Large flowering plants of the common 

 Moonflower will often ripen considerable quantities of seed; these, 

 when gathered, are very large and rather soft, but when kept for 

 some time they diminish in size and get very hard, so much so that 

 they refuse to germinate under ordinary conditions. Put them into 

 a saucer of water and stand the vessel on a warm bench for a day or 

 two, when the seeds will soften. This condition will be indicated 

 by their swelling to two or three times their normal size; they should 

 then be sown singly in small pots, keeping the soil only sUghdy 

 moist to prevent rotting. 



The Moonflower is again coming into popularity in certain sec- 

 tions of the country. At the planting out season the vines are 

 unattractive looking, and as most people want plants in bloom when 



