ON THE TROP.EOLUM. 
No genus of plants contributes more willingly to beautify our greenhouses and 
flower-gardens than the present ; and when we take into consideration their free 
growth, pleasing habit, and beautiful flowers, which in some of the species, as 
T. major atrosanguinea, are large, well formed, and of a most brilliant dark scarlet 
colour, and contrast these with their delicate pale green foliage, we feel at once 
satisfied that it is not in the least overrated. In the flower-garden, when unsup- 
ported by stakes, they wander a distance of several feet, flowering in the greatest 
profusion from one end of the branches to the other, thus forming a very pleasing 
appearance. When trained to a trellis against a wall, or supported by stakes on a 
border, or even carried over the projecting portions of rockwork in the rock 
garden, they have a highly ornamental appearance ; and are objects that no garden, 
from that of the nobleman to the humblest cottager^ should be without. We have 
been led to mention this genus, principally from a desire to put into the hands of 
our readers a fair account of those two species, which adorn so gracefully the 
columns, rafters, &c., of our greenhouses in the summer season, viz., T. penta- 
phyllum and T. tricolorum ; these two species, beautiful as they are when in 
bloom, still are, in many instances, but indifi'erently grown ; this must be owing to 
the want of a thorough acquaintance with their general habit ; the former species is 
by far the easiest to manage, it being of a more hardy and vigorous growth than the 
latter, consequently the method of treatment requires to be different for each 
species. The T. penta'pliyllum^ after it has done flowering, which will be late in the 
autumn, and the branches have become withered down to the crown of the root or 
tuber, these parts may be cut off, being cautious not to disturb the root. As soon as, 
or even before, indications of withering are perceptible in the plant, watering at the 
roots should be entirely suspended ; for, as the tuber is liable to be injured by much 
water about it, after it has ceased to generate sap for the support of the branches, a 
CO ntiuation of the practice may terminate much to the injury of the tuber, and 
consequently tend to limit its exertions the ensuing season. If planted in a border, 
which is the most successful way of treating it, after all decayed portions are cleared 
from the root, place over the tuber a common flower-pot in an inverted position, 
and in this state let it remain till March, taking care to keep it free from water; at 
the expiration of that time, remove the pot and expose the top of the root to the 
sun and air, giving a little water until it commences growing ; when, and during its 
whole progress, it must be watered with the greatest caution. In very dry weather, 
a gentle syringing now and then over the leaves and branches will be of much 
benefit to it, as it will wash off all accumulations of filthy and set the plant growing 
with more freedom. The success of this plant entirely depends on its safe preserva- 
tion through the winter ; and we have experienced that to leave the tuber in the 
ground, securing it as we have now detailed, is by far preferable to taking it up 
and moving it to a supposed more secure place in the greenhouse ; the latter 
VOL. III. NO. XXXI. x 
