HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 99 



retain portions of their stems for several seasons. The genus Vhar- 

 bitis is so named by M. Choisy, a French Botanist, from a Greek 

 word in allusion to the great beauty of the flowers — is very nearly 

 allied to Ipomoea, differing a little in the formation of its seed ves- 

 sel, but none in the habits or appearance of the plants comprising it. 

 There are several other genera separated from Ipomoea by similar 

 differences, as the Quamoclit represented by the I. quamoclit, or 

 " cypress vine ;" Mina, represented by I. lobata; Batatas, of which 

 the I. batatas or sweet potato is the type; the I. Learii is perhaps the 

 best known of any of the kinds referred to Pharbitis. The habits 

 and appearance of I limbata are weaker and altogether different 

 from that species, but the flower is in every respect handsomer and 

 superior to that very beautiful kind. 



This species, like most of the Ipomceas, delights in a light, open 

 soil, of a texture so as to be capable of receiving an abundance of 

 water without ever being soddened — than which there is nothing 

 more fatal. The soil I use is about three parts turfy loam to one of 

 well-rotted dung, in well-drained pots ; if the soil is well arranged 

 by the use of large turfy portions, broken pots, and similar things, 

 the P. Learii thrives well on the " one shift system," — that is, it may 

 be planted at once in the pot it is intended to bloom in. In the 

 case of the present species, which appears of more delicate growth, 

 it would be safest to repot it as often as the pot becomes lightly 

 filled with roots, into sizes but a little larger. The larger the pot it 

 can be flowered in by this course, the more luxuriant will be its 

 growth and the finer the flowers. There cannot be finer objects for 

 training on trellises in greenhouses or stoves; their flow r ers always 

 look best when looking from a flat surface. Planted out in a con- 

 servatory border, they will give more satisfaction, though dying- 

 down in the winter, than the generality of perennial branched 

 climbers, which, after one or two years' growth, become naked at 

 every part except that near the glass. Their growth in such situa- 

 tions is very rapid, several feet being but a few days' work. They 

 love a light and warm situation, and are very easily propagated 

 from cuttings in a slight bottom heat. 



Some object to the tribe on account of the resemblance such 



