MANAGEMENT OP TROPiEOLUM POLYPHYLLUM. 
205 
| iSS. Afterwards, however, it was, for the sake of trial, planted in the open air 
j; a border with a western aspect, and it has stood there two winters without 
]‘|)tection. One of these being, of course, that of 1844*5 — a winter almost 
rparalleled for its length and severity — there can now be no reasonable doubt of 
f complete hardihood. 
It is a plant which forms large underground tubers of considerable length, by 
Tiich it may be propagated with facility. These are divested of their stems and 
i iage early in autumn, remain through the winter in a quiescent state, and 
j )trude fresh shoots with increased profusion in spring. The species may be 
i reased by dividing the tubers ; each part containing a bud, will soon produce a 
f arishing plant. 
. Perhaps the early maturation of the stems, and the consequent profound state 
cl torpidity at which the tubers arrive before winter, may be in some measure 
(jiducive to their hardiness. Hence it would be unwise to attempt to prolong 
tii season of growth and vigour to any considerable degree. At Messrs. Knight 
all Perry’s it has been grown in a somewhat dry situation, in a border, the soil 
cl which is a light sandy loam. Probably greater vigour might be elicited by 
^ploying a soil of a more retentive and a more nutritive quality ; but such a 
ciinge would be likely to affect the hardihood of the plant in two ways : first, by 
rjlarding the season of rest ; and secondly, by retaining more moisture in the 
yinity of the tuber during winter. Nevertheless, such a change may possibly 
1 adopted to some extent with benefit to the summer aspect of the plant, and 
■vihout much endangering its existence through the frosty months. 
: The utility of burying the tubers of Tropaeolums has been adverted to in 
fjoder volumes : in this species they should be full four inches deep, in order to 
ijrease their safety from excessive cold. No hurtful consequences need be 
a)rehended from doing so, if the ground is properly drained ; on the contrary, 
t plants will grow with greater luxuriance. We conceive, also, that it will 
a ^ays be better to leave the tubers in the ground undisturbed, than to remove 
t m every year after the stems are withered : they will commence growing 
e lier and also more vigorously. A portion of the soil may be removed occa- 
s aally as it becomes impoverished, and a quantity of fresh earth added in its 
pee. 
The shoots generally appear rather early in spring, and reach a flowering state 
a ut the end of May or beginning of June, lasting till the latter part of Tuly. 
4iy should be trained over a sloping trellis, to show the flowers to the best 
a antage. These stand erect and are closely arranged, appearing perfectly clear 
o;,he handsome glaucous foliage. If a sufficient number of shoots are not sent up 
fijn the tuber, the strongest may be pinched back to within a short space of their 
0 ,dn ; this will insure other buds to break, and thus produce stems in plenty. 
I'l other pruning will be necessary. Managed in this way, it makes a very 
a 'active and pleasing object. Perhaps the protrusion of flowers might be 
