180 
THE LADIES’ FLORAL CABINET. 
variety radzcans. The difference between the poison¬ 
ous and non-poisonous vine may be noticed at a glance. 
Both make a brilliant show of crimson leaves in the 
autumn. A third native vine, often seen growing with 
the above, is the bittersweet ( Celastrus scandens), its 
orange and scarlet fruit renders it a conspicuous roadside 
ornament in the autumn and enters largely into the com¬ 
position of Christmas decorations. I have never seen it 
growing under cultivation, but there is no reason why it 
should not do well, if grown according to its natural 
requirements. 
Ampelopsis Veitchii is a Japanese Virginia creeper, 
to use an Irishism ; it has heart-shaped undivided leaves, 
green and shining, growing thickly along its rooted stems, 
which turn to a gorgeous crimson in the autumn. It 
grows quite rapidly, forming a mass similar in appearance 
to an ivy. 
Another beautiful contribution from Japan is Vitis 
heterophylla, a non-edible variety of the grape. The 
leaves are small and palmate, irregularly notched and 
toothed, and most irregularly variegated. The stems are 
purplish-green ; the leaves are blotched and streaked with 
creamy white, often changing into the reddish tinge of 
the stems. Sometimes a leaf will be entirely cream-white ; 
again, it will be entirely green. The plant bears clusters 
of little grape-like berries, crimson when unripe, which, 
as they ripen, change to a beautiful clear light-blue. 
Ripe and unripe berries are often to be seen in the same 
cluster, and the marvelous contrast in color, combining 
with the quaintly variegated leaves, makes it a most pic¬ 
turesque climber, suggesting a fairy vineyard for its 
origin. It is hardy, though it may require slight covering 
over the roots during the winter. It requires a trellis for 
support, like an ordinary grapevine. 
I have spoken before of the famihar Clematis Jack- 
manii , with its numerous large dark-blue flowers and 
sturdy growth It is most satisfactory as a climber, both 
in hardiness and beauty. Our common native clematis, 
or Virgin’s Bower ( C. Virginiana), is a pretty climber, 
bearing dark-green leaves divided into three leaflets, and 
panicles of white flowers, which are succeeded in the 
autumn by the feathery smoke-colored tails of the seeds. 
It will climb rampantly over fences or rockeries, and may 
be transplated successfully from the woods to the garden. 
The Wistaria sinensis , with its pendent racemes of 
lilac flowers, is too well known to need description, but it 
cannot be too highly praised. It shows its drooping 
clusters among the earliest spring flowers, and after its 
bloom is over, the handsome pinnate leaves form a charm¬ 
ing covering for screen or trellis. We may mingle with 
it most effectively the trumpet vine, Bignonia grandi- 
flora. It is a hardy Chinese climber, making a fine show 
with its clusters of large orange trumpet-like blossoms. 
It is quite a common thing in country gardens. I have 
seen a rustic arbor with a mingled mass of bignonia, 
wistaria, and ampelopsis quinquefolia , making a most 
I hold that he who humbly tries 
To find wherein his duty lies, 
And finding, does that same, and bears 
picturesque retreat, its only drawback being the presence 
of sundry earwigs and other many-legged creatures, 
which are only too apt to infest our rural shades. 
If we want to cover some unsightly stump or other 
eyesore in the garden or shrubbery, we must have re¬ 
course to some quick-growing annual vine, and of these 
the convolvulus, or morning-glory, is among the best; in¬ 
deed, it is a most satisfactory plant anywhere. If the 
seeds are sown in pots in March, they are ready to be 
put out in May, or as soon as danger from frost is over, 
and they flourish and bloom the season through. C. 
Mauritanicus is a fine variety with large sky-blue flow¬ 
ers ; however, a packet of mixed seed will give one a 
good selection, without paying attention to any special 
varieties. A nearly-allied plant is the ipomoea, very simi¬ 
lar in growth to the convolvulus. A very interesting va¬ 
riety is Ipomoea bona nox , also known as I. noctiliflora. 
During the day the buds remain closed, developing after 
nightfall into large, pure white, fragrant flowers. It is 
sometimes called the Moon Flower. 7 . coccinea has small 
star-shaped scarlet flowers. Another beautiful scarlet 
flowered variety is the Quamoclit {Ipomoea Quamoclit , 
or Quamoclit vulgaris), a native of the West Indies. 
The ipomaeas pass into as many and as beautiful varieties 
as the convolvulus; indeed, it is often a difficult matter to 
discriminate between the two. A nearly related plant— 
and a very ornamental one, too—is our sweet-potato 
{Dioscorea batatas'). It will creep, or twine, or hang in 
most picturesque fashion, if planted in sandy soil, with 
plenty of sun, and its dark-green leaves and pretty pink 
flowers make a handsome show. Abobra viridiflora is a 
pretty little gourd bearing a bright red fruit. There are 
many of these gourds having ornamental fruit, some very 
pretty, others merely odd. They are very useful on ac¬ 
count of the rapidity of their growth, especially for the 
purpose of covering any unsightly object. I have seen an 
old and broken fence rendered picturesque in the extreme 
by being covered with a common pumpkin vine. Cer¬ 
tainly, on close inspection, the plant seemed coarse and 
rank; but from a little distance the effect was extremely 
good. 
The “ Dutchman’s Pipe ” {Aristolochia sipho ) is a 
quick grower, with an abundance of handsome, bright 
green leaves and quaint pipe-shaped maroon flowers. It 
is perfectly hardy. Then we have another quick grower 
in the Cardiospermum , or balloon vine, so called from its 
inflated seed vessels. By exercising a certain amount of 
taste and judgment we may obtain the most charming 
effects with the climbers ; their form and habit lends 
itself to so many graceful modes of growth. Indeed, it 
seems impossible to imagine a successful garden without 
them. Care must be taken, however, if many sorts are 
grown, that they accommodate or harmonize with one 
another to a certain extent. Still, their natural grace of 
habit renders it impossible for one to make any very 
glaring mistake in that respect. E. L. Taplin. 
Its burdens lightly and its cares, 
Is nobler in his low estate 
Than crowned king or potentate.” 
