July, 1 910 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



291 



general way twining plants are not able to rise except up an 

 object which is nearly perpendicular, and it is a good plan to 

 fix a straight stick or cane in an upright position for the pur- 

 pose of the experiment. This should be placed to the left of 

 the plant, a short distance away from the point last reached 

 by the shoot in its journey round the circle. It is a singu- 

 lar circumstance that plants seem to be able to feel things 

 which they are not actually touching; this tendency has often 

 been seen in the case of roots which have turned aside from 

 an object barring their way, some while before they have 

 actually reached it. And we may see something which is 

 very much like this in the bean shoot which will show signs 

 leading one to suppose that it is almost conscious of the near 

 presence of a support. Often before it is actually touching, 

 the shoot leans over and the tip curls round ready to encircle 

 the stick. This extreme sensitiveness is only to be noticed 

 under the most favorable conditions when the atmosphere is 

 very warm, and the cell contents of the plant is in the highest 

 state of activity. In any case a very decided change comes 

 over the bean shoot when it is actually touching. The first 

 thing noticeable is that the shoot loops round the stick in 

 hook fashion, so that it is safeguarded against dislodgment 

 by rough winds. So much trouble has the plant had in find- 

 ing a support, that it evidently does not mean to lose hold 

 for want of a little care. 



The development of the shoot in its new position is very 

 rapid and one must watch the plant closely to see all the 

 wonderful changes which now come about. Perhaps the 

 most noticeable alteration is, that the manner of growth 

 (from the spectator's point of view at any rate) appears 

 to have changed. Instead of the continued wandering 

 round and round, the shoot now grows in a spiral fashion, 

 at first casting itself lightly about the support, then tighten- 



ing up, so that it is not an easy matter to unwind it. There 

 is still a certain amount of doubt as to whether the spiral 

 development is not a variation of circumnutation, the change 

 in the method of progression being perhaps induced by the 

 rubbing of the inner side of the stem against the support. 

 It has been suggested by Kerner that the movement may be 

 caused by the "action of co-operating protoplasts in cer- 

 tain rows of cells on the circumference of the shoot." What 

 it is that compels them to do this work he does not, of 

 course, pretend to say. To him it is just as puzzling as the 

 origin of the elemental stimulus that is to be found In all 

 living things. 



Given genial conditions the progression of the bean 

 shoot up the stick now goes forward at a great pace. The 

 whole desire of the plant seems to be to make up for the 

 time which it lost whilst seeking round for some support. 

 As before, everything depends upon the matter of tempera- 

 ture, but with warmth the growth of the shoot is surpris- 

 ingly quick. It is interesting to divide the stick with marks 

 into measured spaces so that the rate at which it mounts up- 

 wards may be definitely checked. The extension of tissue 

 taking place as it does more rapidly during the hours of 

 darkness, some of the most striking results will occur during 

 the night. On a close summer evening, the shoot will extend 

 as much as a quarter of an inch in an hour, but an average 

 growth extending over four nights showed that the rate of 

 progress was about two inches in the twelve hours. Day 

 by day the development of the plant will go forward, until 

 in the course of a few weeks the bean will have mounted 

 many feet in height. As the plant gets older the twining 

 stem becomes tough and fibrous so that it will be able to 

 stand the strain of the heavy seed pods which must be 

 produced. 



Ornamental Bedding Plants for Hedges 



By Ida D. Bennett 



N attractive feature of a garden or lawn 

 is always found in a hedge of blossoming 

 plants and it is rarely that a garden ex- 

 ists which does not afford an excuse for 

 one. Usually one likes to separate the 

 flower garden, the vegetable garden or 

 the service part of the house from the 

 lawn by the use of a hedge of blooming shrubbery, of ever- 

 greens or the like, but there are more exposed formal posi- 

 tions where something different seems required as the divi- 

 sion line between city lots, or a hedge in a temporary home 

 where it is not desirable to make permanent plantings but 

 rather to have for the one season something ornamental, 

 unusual and fine. 



Fortunately there are many fine bedding plants which 

 may be used for this purpose. It is desirable, however, 

 that plants used in this way should possess not only fine, 

 attractive and striking blooms, but handsome foilage as 

 well. Fortunately many of the plants of which I shall 

 speak possess the qualifications in a high degree. 



One of the most beautiful of bedding plants is found in 

 the Chinese Hibiscus in its various varieties. This is a 

 hard wooded plant which in time attains considerable size. 

 The foliage is exceedingly fine, being heavy, waxy, glossy 

 and of a dark rich green. The flowers, which are produced 

 in various shades of shrimp pink, rose color, rosy scarlet, 

 orange and a variegated blossom are rarely beautiful. 



H. Mineatus is much the finest of the class, being a rosy- 

 scarlet, double flower five inches or more in diameter. This 

 variety has the added merit of being a very free bloomer. 

 Peach Blossom is also a very attractive double variety of 

 large size of a delicate peach color as its name indicates. 

 As grown in the green-house it is rather insipid but in the 

 open ground it takes on a deeper tone which is very beauti- 

 ful. The double blossoms are far more attractive than the 

 single, though these are very handsome and the long, brush- 

 like stamens and anthers add to the attractiveness of the 

 flower. They are very easily grown. The best way to se- 

 cure the plants is to purchase blooming plants of the florist 

 and plant out in a sunny position in rich soil of leaf mold 

 or muck well enriched and to give liberal culture at all 

 times. They are quite susceptible to frost and must be win- 

 tered in a green-house or warm window. 



Another wonderful plant for hedge purposes is found in 

 the oleanders, the old-fashioned double pink which is so 

 well known being one of the most pleasing varieties. These 

 make in time small trees which during the summer are a mass 

 of flowers and if not allowed to grow too tall or straggly, 

 they are attractive in foilage at all times. They may be 

 bedded out or grown in wooden pails or tubs sunk in the 

 ground. Possibly, like the hibiscus, which, given too much 

 root room is apt to run to foilage, they will bloom better 

 for having their root room rather restricted. There are 

 several fine varieties of the oleander seldom seen at the 



