May 19, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
601 
expense, as there are in this case no houses to build on 
the lots, and the healthy moral impetus given the 
labourer must eventually benefit all parties concerned. 
— TV. H. Smith, The Gardens, Springfield, Alderley 
Edge, Cheshire, May 14 th, 1888. 
-- 
BIG-NONIA TWEEDIANA. 
This magnificent climber comes from Buenos-Ayres, 
from whence several other fine climbers have been 
introduced to this country. Although originally 
brought to England in 1838, its presence in greenhouses 
or conservatories is exceptional rather than the rule. 
Mr. F. Ross, gardener to Sir George Macleay, Pendell 
Court, Bletchingley, grows it in a stove and also in a 
Instances of this nature have been pointed out by 
various observers from time to time. 
The flowers are large and handsome, generally 
described as yellow ; but they really exhibit two or 
three shades, the tube being clear bright yellow, and the 
upper surface of the deeply-five-parted limb is orange- 
yellow, while between and on either side of two ridges 
of the corolla, extending down into the throat, are 
seven to nine orange lines. The individual blooms are 
borne singly in the axils of the leaves on short lateral 
branches, and being freely produced all along the 
sprays have a fine effect. The large bladder-like calyx 
bears a great number of glands irregularly-dispersed 
over it and sometimes crowded, similar to those which 
down festoon-like, the effect when in flower is much 
improved. Unlike some of its congeners it is easily 
accommodated as regards space, having slender shoots, 
with small, thinly disposed evergreen foliage—characters 
which are much liked in climbing plants, as they can 
be grown without their unduly shading the subjects 
underneath them. 
“Like most other Bignonias some little discrimination 
is required in pruning or cutting back, as the flowers 
are produced in the axils of the leaves from the 
ripened wood of the previous season’s growth ; therefore 
it follows, that the proper time to thin out or prune the 
plant would be immediately after flowering, which is 
our practice. After this, to encourage a good growth 
Bignonia Tweediana : Flowers Yellow. 
greenhouse, the chief difference in his experience being 
that it flowers earlier in the higher temperature. The 
flowering sprays consist of long slender shoots, well 
furnished with evergreen, opposite, compound leaves, 
consisting of a single pair of lance-shaped, acuminate 
leaflets, generally marked with numerous small darkly- 
coloured glands on each side of the midrib, on the 
lower half of the leaflet especially. "What the economy 
of these glands might be, it would be difficult to 
determine without actual observation of the intercourse 
existing between them and insects in their native 
country and under natural conditions. Probably it is 
one of the many schemes of nature to preserve the 
proper equilibrium between one kind of animal and 
another, especially as far as plants themselves, like the 
Bignonia, is concerned. The glands in question might 
furnish food for certain insects that serve to keep others 
(which might be injurious to the Bignonia) in check. 
occur on the leaves. The plant climbs by means of 
hooks at the apex of the leaves ; the hooks representing 
three modified leaflets, as in many other Bignonias. 
These processes are, however, sometimes entirely absent, 
when the leaves, in the adult state of the plant at least, 
simply terminate abruptly. 
Mr. Frank Ross, to whom we are indebted for the 
specimens illustrated, writes : — “ This handsome 
climbing plant is of comparatively easy culture, being 
in no wise fastidious as to either soil or temperature, 
succeeding equally well in a greenhouse or a stove. 
We have it planted out in both, and in each case it is 
merely run along a single wire under a rafter, where 
without much attention in the matter of training it 
soon forms a graceful wreath-like cordon. Its own 
three forked hooked tendrils keep it up in a much more 
natural form than can be done by artificial tying ; 
indeed, if its slender shoots can be permitted to hang 
we treat the plants liberally, our aim being to secure a 
good and thoroughly well-ripened growth, as only upon 
this being attained can anything like a satisfactory 
crop of flowers be obtained in the following spring. A 
light position and full exposure to the sun are the best 
means to secure this end. If grown in a cool stove 
temperature, it usually begins to flower in March, 
when its large yellow, Allamanda-like flowers are much 
appreciated. When grown in the greenhouse it usually 
flowers in early summer. It may also be successfully 
grown in pots, any ordinary loamy soil answering 
well to grow it in, and with occasional good syringings 
during summer, insect pests will not trouble this plant. 
It is easily increased from cuttings of the half ripened 
wood, which, if cut into lengths of two or three joints 
and inserted round the edges of small pots, will root in 
■a few weeks, when they may be potted and grown on 
in the usual way.” 
