Ornamentals 
ORNAMENTAL VINES FOR FLORIDA. 
John Schnabel. 
Among the various classes of ornamen¬ 
tal plants, I have chosen vines. This sub¬ 
ject has often been touched upon in pre¬ 
vious meetings of the Society, but merits 
much more extended consideration. 
We have spent altogether too much 
time and money in attempting to accli¬ 
mate vines that do well in the North and 
in Europe. If we had given the same at¬ 
tention to African and Asiatic introduc¬ 
tions we would have had greater success. 
There is also a wealth of native vines far 
surpassing those from the North and 
Europe. These have been almost entirely 
ignored. 
We have a wide field for choice of suit¬ 
able vines for different localities and un¬ 
der different conditions. Different sur¬ 
roundings require quite different treat¬ 
ment. Thus, in selecting a vine for a 
piazza screening, the mistake is often 
made of choosing one with a too thick 
growth, which shuts off the air and sun¬ 
light to too great an extent, with the re¬ 
sult that the piazza is damp and gloomy 
instead of dry and pleasant. . 
Climbing vines, either as rooted cut¬ 
tings or seedlings, should be set in good 
soil, well cultivated, sufficiently watered, 
and well fertilized the first year, in order 
to give them a good start. The soil 
should be spaded up well and mixed with 
well rotted manure. 
VINES FOR EASTERN AND NORTHERN 
EXPOSURES. 
Bearing this point in mind, I would se¬ 
lect vines, especially on the east or north 
exposures, with a light, airy growth just 
sufficient to east an agreeable green 
shade. The character of the soil must 
influence the selection somewhat. Among 
the varieties that would fill the conditions 
mentioned, the following can be recom¬ 
mended from my own experience, for the 
central and northern sections of the State : 
Solarium jasminoides, with light blue 
flowers in clusters, and green glossy 
leaves. This can be propagated by seeds 
and by cuttings. The blooming is con¬ 
tinuous throughout the summer. 
Bignonia speciosa, one of the trumpet 
vines, with clusters of purplish flowers 
and glossy leaves, blooming through April 
and May, and easily propagated by cut¬ 
tings. 
Thunbergia pragmas, a perennial vine 
with white flowers. It does not make a 
