WHAT TO PLANT 
27 
English ivy is always desirable, and its dark glossy 
leaves are the most effective of backgrounds for bright-col¬ 
ored flowers. It has the disadvantage, however, of slow 
growth, and is often neglected for more rapid climbers. 
The most ambitious of these are the tropceolum , Cobcea 
scandens , American ivy, Madeira-vine, morning-glory, etc. 
Of the first named, the tropceolum major , King Theodore, 
has dark crimson blossoms and bluish-green foliage, be¬ 
gins to bloom at a very early age, and continues through¬ 
out the entire summer and early autumn. It often at¬ 
tains a height of twelve feet, and has thick, massy branch¬ 
es. It is easily raised either from seeds or cuttings, and 
does not require a very rich soil, having been found to 
grow most satisfactorily in a mixture of fibrous-rooted loam 
and sand. 
Cobcea scandens is a somewhat rough vine, with rich 
purple bell-shaped flowers—also a very rapid climber. 
The Dutchman’s pipe, or aristolochia sipha , has im¬ 
mense leaves which make a dense shade wherever it is 
planted, and is very desirable on account of its hardiness 
when once fairly started. The small vines, however, grow 
rather slowly when first transplanted. 
The Madeira-vine is a rapid grower, and its small, fra¬ 
grant, white flowers are quite profuse. It likes a rich, light 
soil, and when settled to its satisfaction will draw out 
its lengthened sweetness from ten to twenty feet. 
The morning-glory has some gorgeous varieties, among 
which are noticeably a large blue and a large magenta-col¬ 
ored blossom, both having white fringed edges. 
The American ivy, or Virginia-creeper, is deservedly 
popular, not only for the rich green of its luxuriant foliage, 
but for the gorgeous scarlet and crimson of its autumn dress. 
It makes rapid growth during one season, aud outgrows in 
time every support that can be provided for it, climbing 
with giant strides to the very house-top, and wreathing 
