CONVOLVULUS FAMILY 



of speed, and when a temporary leafy screen is desired few vines 

 will do the work as effectually and in so short a time. The leaves 

 are large, the intemodes short, and the cover excellent. After the 

 stem reaches the top of its support it usually looks about for some- 

 thing else to conquer and often doubles upon itself or embraces 

 its neighbors. The stem must be provided with something to 

 twine about or it will provide this for itself, and when the Morn- 

 ing-glory does its own providing it stops at nothing. It will 

 overwhelm the rarest rose-bush, climb up the stalk of the finest 

 perennial, or ruthlessly choke out the life of the most valuable 

 plant in the garden. Hence, it must be kept within bounds or 

 kept not at all. 



Yet there is something so attractive in the poise of those airy 

 bells that come out of the deep of the night, wet with the dews of 

 the morning; so exquisite are the translucent depths of those per- 

 fect cups that, personally, I never see one without a thrill of 

 pleasure, and under the spell of their delicate and ethereal beauty, 

 I pardon something to the spirit of liberty. 



The blossom of the Morning-glory does not bear direct sun- 

 shine, but, if it were desired, this characteristic could be greatly 

 modified. There are always some vines whose flowers outlive 

 their neighbors, and careful selection would in time prevail. 



The Japanese grow the Morning-glory with devotion and have 

 developed their native Morning-glory (or is it Chinese ?) to a point 

 of marvellous variety and perfection. Wonderful tales are told 

 by travellers of "a whole city full" of people going out with 

 the dawn into suburban gardens to see the Morning-glories in 

 bloom. 



A flower that can be seen at its best only about sunrise, it is safe 

 to say, will never be a favorite with the American people, and the 

 Morning-glory vine, despite aU its virtues, will probably remain 

 as it now is, a utility plant loved by the few, outlawed by others, 

 tolerated by the many. 



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