TROPvEOLUM, Nat. Ord. Tropceolacece. 
Tropaeolum majus is a fine climber, growing ten or twelve feet in height, comprising sev- 
eral varieties, differing in the color of both flower and foliage. In some the leaves are a bright, 
lively green, in others very- 
dark. The flowers are of 
all shades of yellow, scar- 
let, striped and spotted. 
The engraving of trellis 
shows the habit of the 
plant. Seed may be planted 
in the open ground, or 
under glass. T. Lobbi- 
anum is very desirable for 
the greenhouse, and will 
answer well for a summer 
climber when started in 
the house. T. peregrinum, 
of which we also give an 
engraving, is the popu- 
lar Canary Flower. The 
Tropseolums grow freely 
from cuttings, and are " " — ' 
admirable for the house in the winter. For large baskets and vases, especially for hanging bas- 
kets, they are exceedingly desirable, drooping over the sides to the ground, making a charming 
and graceful dis- 
play of foliage. 
When the branches 
have become as 
long as desired, 
they should be 
pinched off. Some 
gardeners think 
Tropaeolums are of 
so rampant a 
growth that when 
planted in baskets 
they rob more deli- 
cate plants of 
their share of nour- 
ishment, but we 
have never found 
this a serious ob- 
jection, especially 
where water was 
given pretty freely ; 
and a basket ex- 
posed to the air on 
every side, without 
plenty of water, is 
only a snare and a 
delusion. If any 
trouble of this kind 
is noticed, pinch 
the shoots back 
freely, and this will 
check the growth 
of roots. It is a 
good thing to have 
a few vigorous 
plants, those whose 
growth need check- 
ing instead of en- 
couraging, as an 
abundance of foli- 
age is thus secured 
beyond a contin- 
gency. We give 
an engi-aving of the 
Tropseolum flower of full natural size, and can recommend the family as worthy a place in any 
garden, and an honorable position among the choicest of our annual Climbers. 
94 
