22 THE BOOK OF CLIMBING PLANTS 



Tropaeolum is also a perennial in a warm house, though 

 it is one of the most tender of annual climbers generally 

 grown outdoors. 



The list of hardy annual climbers which may be safely 

 treated as such and are sown in March and April outside 

 where they are to bloom, is comparatively short. It 

 may, however, be supplemented by those which are 

 half-hardy, which may be sown outside when April is 

 almost at an end, and even earlier in warm districts. 



The preparation of the station for these annual climbers 

 ought to be thoroughly done if the best results are 

 desired. Even the common Tropaeolum majus, which 

 will thrive on almost any soil, will attain a much greater 

 height and cover more space if in rich, well manured 

 soil, and it is desirable to have the place well and 

 deeply dug and manured with thoroughly decayed 

 manure, before sowing the seeds. The seeds ought to 

 be covered with fine soil to a depth of rather more than 

 their own thickness, though that is enough for those 

 sown in pots, pans, or boxes, and placed under glass to 

 germinate. 



Unless done previously, as soon as the young plants 

 appear the support to which they are to attach them- 

 selves ought to be placed in position, and when of 

 sufficient size the young plants led to it if they have 

 shown no signs of attaching themselves. As soon as 

 they can be handled they ought also to be well thinned 

 out, remembering always that one well-grown robust 

 climber will give better results and cover as much or 

 more space than half-a-dozen which are too close and 

 have not sufficient room to develop. 



Hardy Annuals 



Common though it is, there is no more effective hardy 

 annual climber than the Tropaeolum, as represented by 



