CLIMBERS—DIOSCOREA BATATAS. 
I N an article in The Floral Cabinet for July we 
read : “ A nearly related plant [to the Ipomceas\ and 
a very ornamental one, too, is our sweet-potato ( Dios- 
corea batatas).” 
The writer has evidently confounded two plants. The 
sweet-potato is a batatas and a climber, but it is entirely 
different in most respects from the Dioscorea. The lat¬ 
ter, although said by Mr. Henderson, in his “ Handbook 
of Plants,” to have been introduced from the West Indies 
in 1733, was little known in this country until after 1850, 
when it was introduced as from China. It was then 
feared the Irish potato might be entirely destroyed by 
the rot, and some believed this yam might, in a measure, 
take its place, and its cultivation was attempted in various 
localities, but never prosecuted to any great extent. There 
is no difficulty in its culture, for it grows readily, requir¬ 
ing but little care, and is perfectly hardy; but although 
the root is edible it is not particularly desirable, and it 
costs more to gather it than it is worth, as it grows in 
shape like a parsnip, but with the large end down. It is, 
however, desirable as a climber, and as such is often sold 
under the name of “ cinnamon vine ; ” its flowers, which 
are formed in the axil of the leaf, having an odor strongly 
resembling that of cinnamon bark. 
It is propagated by seeds or bulblets, that may be 
planted soon after they are ripe or delayed until the next 
spring, they being kept meantime in a cool place suffi¬ 
ciently moist to prevent their shriveling. 
Although it is an annual like the sweet-potato, it may 
be left in the ground through the winter without injury, 
and by so doing larger and stronger plants will be es¬ 
tablished. Because of this, it has been believed by 
some to be perennial, but such is not the case. It has a 
bright, glossy, heart-shaped leaf, remarkably free from 
insects. Seedlings produce leaves close to the ground, 
but established plants throw up a stalk several feet be¬ 
fore a leaf is seen and with a rapidity that is astonish¬ 
ing. I do not know how high it would grow, never 
having given it an opportunity to do its best, but have 
had specimens that run fully thirty feet. It twines itself 
around a pole or may be trained on a fence or trellis. 
By pinching in, it can be kept within due limits, but it is 
a rampant grower. Its flowers, although delightfully 
fragrant, are insignificant in appearance, its main at¬ 
traction being in its foliage. It is especially adapted to 
places where wooded climbers are unsightly in winter, 
as the stems can be removed as soon as frost comes, the 
tuber remaining in the ground, where it will be all 
ready for action after winter has gone. 
L. A. R. 
SOME PRETTY FIRS. 
T HE evergreen trees and shrubs of our gardens chiefly 
consist of pines, firs, spruces, yews, cypresses, arbor 
vitaes, retinosporas, rhododendrons and junipers. Among 
them all are some beautiful species and varieties well 
adapted for garden cultivation, and suitable for either 
large or small places; but now I shall deal with the firs 
only. I shall not lead you through a wilderness of cata¬ 
logues or botanical or horticultural books, but ask you to 
come with me into our garden, which is on the north side 
of Long Island, and I shall bring to your notice the firs 
that are growing here, and feel at home and appear happy. 
Botanically, the firs are known as Abies, and the spruces 
as Picea ; but in old books and catalogues you will usualjy 
find Picea used as a sub-genus of Abies, and both firs 
and spruces included under the generic name of Abies. 
The Balsam Fir {A. balsamea). —A common tree in 
cold damp soil, from Canada to Virginia, and West along 
the lakes to Minnesota. When old it is a miserable-look¬ 
ing tree. As a rule it loses its lower branches when com¬ 
paratively young, and is short-lived. But take a young 
healthy plant, and keep it low, and it will make a fine- 
looking evergreen for twenty-five years. 
The Cephalonian Fir ( A. Cepkalonica). —From 
the high mountains of Greece. It is beautiful and dis¬ 
tinct, with short, sharp, rigid leaves. Our specimens are 
solid masses of green, unhurt by summer or winter. 
The Cilician Fir {A. Cilicica). —From Mount Tau¬ 
rus, in Cilicia; is a lovely evergreen, and I believe the 
handsomest specimen conifer in our grounds. In general 
appearance it is much like Nordman’s fir; but it is more 
compact, brighter in color, and starts into growth earlier. 
The White Fir (A. concolor). —From the mountains 
of New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Southern Colorado. 
It has several varietal names. We have several forms of 
it, and all are pretty. Some have long broad leaves; 
others shorter ones ; some are deep green in color, and 
others of a glaucous or silvery hue. When young it is a 
gem, but as it advances in age we fail to get it as com¬ 
pacted as a Cilician fir. 
The Japanese Silver Fir ( A. firma).—\s found 
throughout the whole extent of Japan. It resembles the 
European silver fir. The upper surface of the leaves is 
deep green, the lower silvery. 
Fraser’s Balsam Fir (A. Fraseri). — Is a small 
tree from the summits of the peaks of North Carolina and 
Tennessee, and is not unlike our northern balsam fir. 
So long as we keep it small, so long it will be pretty, but 
let it grow unchecked it is apt to lose its lower branches. 
Hudson’s Bay Fir (A. Hudsonica). —Regarded as a 
variety of the last. Was found in the vicinity of Hud¬ 
son’s Bay, and is a very pretty dwarf form, a fit com¬ 
panion for Mugho and other dwarf pines and dwarf 
