382 PLANT CULTURE 



splendid showing. T. Van Volxemii is a commonly cultivated species. 

 In the East they are used as climbers in ornamental greenhouses. 



Propagation. They are propagated at almost any time of the 

 year from cuttings of the ripened growth. 



THUNBERGIA. This genus includes some very desirable 

 greenhouse climbers, and at least one species, with several varieties, 

 useful for vases, baskets, and as a vine of moderate growth for the 

 mixed border. This is T. alala, one of the several plants known 

 by the common name Black-eyed Susan. Seeds will germinate out- 

 side, but to produce early effects they may be sown indoors early in 

 the season and hardened off with other softwooded plants. The best 

 greenhouse species are: T. laurifolia, white and blue flowered; T. 

 fragrans, pure white, and T. mysorensis, purple and yellow. 



Propagation. The perennial species may be raised from seeds, 

 but plants obtained in this way are apt to have a weedy growth and 

 turn out to be shy in blooming. Cuttings put in about February will 

 furnish the finest flowering plants. 



TRACHELOSPERMUM (Star Jasmine). As if this long 

 name were not enough it is sometimes called Rhynchospermitm, but 

 notwithstanding these horrible names the species T. jasminoides is 

 a thing of beauty, being useful for a cool conservatory climber. 

 It bears very beautiful clusters of pure white flowers. It has per- 

 sisted out of doors at Washington for many years, but in a sheltered 

 position on a wall. 



Propagation. Well ripened growths must be used as cut- 

 tings, but they must be rooted in a cool propagating house. 



WISTARIA. W. sinensis, the Chinese Wistaria, flowers before 

 the leaves are fully expanded. Old and floriferous plants have a 

 gorgeous appearance when in full bloom. It may be grown as a 

 standard trained to a stout post sunk in the ground, or as a vine for 

 arbors, etc. There are several varieties of this species: IT", i. flore- 

 pleno, having double flowers; W. s. macrobolrys, a variet},- with very 

 long and light colored racemes. IF. frutescens is a native species, 

 flowering later than the Chinese plant. 



Propagation. Propagation is effected in various ways. The 

 plants, as a rule, set seed freely, but the seedlings are apt to turn 

 out shy bloomers. Seedlings of 11'. frutescens may be used as stocks 

 on which to graft IF. sinensis and its forms. The operation should 

 be performed while the plants are dormant in March or April. The 

 long growths may also be layered in Midsummer, allowing them 

 to remain till well established. 



