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Conducted by W. C. EGAN 
VINES FOR TABLE DECORATION 
I spend my summers in the country and often give entertain¬ 
ments to my friends. As I am a lover of flowers and grow quite 
a quantity, I find pleasure in decorating the table and rooms myself 
with material from my garden, but I often find occasions where 
some vines would be of great help. Would you kindly give me a 
list of those most suitable for the purpose, and their special require¬ 
ments, if any. I. C. H. 
If you are willing to go to a little trouble in preparing the proper 
trellis or frame on which to grow it, you will find the cinnamon 
vine, Dioscorea batatas, one of the most useful vines to be found 
for the purpose, that can be grown out-of-doors in a northern 
climate. The tubers are inexpensive and may be obtained of any 
seedsman. The vines will grow from fifteen to eighteen feet and 
in order to obtain “good strings” the tubers should be planted 
eighteen inches to two feet apart. Discarded telephone poles, 
long enough to allow cross-bars placed say twenty feet high, should 
be set firmly in the ground. Plant the tubers in a line immediately 
under the bars and run a strong, but thin string from each plant 
to the cross-bar. The string may be fastened at the ground end 
to a forked peg, brick, or an old piece of gas-pipe may be laid along 
the row and take all the strings. Young vines, while not growing 
as tall as older ones, are best as they are more symmetrical and the 
foliage glossier, the older ones throwing out laterals and produc¬ 
ing seed. The flowers, which are sweet scented, are incon¬ 
spicuous. 
It is the lustrous, heart-shaped foliage that is attractive. When 
wanted, cut the vine at the bottom, and with a knife fastened to a 
long pole cut the string above the vine. 1 he vine hides all the 
string except near the top where it is readily removed. It is good, 
if there is time for the vine to dry off before wanted, to lay it 
on the grass and sprinkle it, as wetting closes the evaporating 
valves on the under sides of the leaves and thus lessens the tendency 
to wilt. I have known this vine to remain fresh for two days after 
being cut, although its stems were not in water. A situation where 
there is a strong draft, such as the opening to a chimney will wilt 
plants more quickly than when placed in corners of a room. It is 
a good plan to keep the room darkened after being decorated, 
until wanted, as the evaporating pores above referred to close in 
the dark and the natural moisture is somewhat retained. 
Melothria punctata, a tuberous plant, easily grown from seed in 
a hotbed will grow fifteen or more feet in a season if well watered, 
and may be grown in a similar manner as above described, but a 
very effective way is to grow it for a special decoration where a 
canopy, table cover, or a starry green curtain is desired, fake an 
old fish-net twelve feet square and fasten it to a wooden frame set 
up against a wall or house, the object being to cause each leaf and 
flower to turn one way for light. Plant the vines one foot apart 
in rich, rather light soil and if an occasional dose of manure water 
is given it so much the better. During the summer numerous sweet 
scented, minute star shaped flowers appear in charming confusion. 
This is the time to use it, cut the vine at the bottom and the string 
or net at the sides and top and you can take out a handsome green 
rug, curtain, or canopy. This will last in fair condition for two 
days at least. If used as a canopy over a table, it can be fastened 
to the chandelier at the center and at each corner fasten a cinnamon 
vine and carry them to the corners of the room. The flowers will 
look like small stars and their scent fill the room. It is a singular 
thing that plants raised from seed, produce seed, while those raised 
from cuttings do not, at least do not during the season of growth 
allowed in northern climates. 
The flowering sprays of most of the Polygonums, especially 
Polygonum multiflorum, are fine if used within a few hours of cut¬ 
ting, but it is well to remove their foliage and depend upon some 
other green. Branches of Hamamehs Virgimana, the common 
witch-hazel, is splendid to use for decorative purposes and to 
furnish green for the Polygonums, Clematis paniculata, or any 
plant where it is best to defoliate it. Any time after the leaves are 
well matured, say from the first of August on, especially when cut 
from open spaces, the foliage of the witch-hazel will stand without 
wilting a long time. Its flat, spreading manner of growth makes 
it an admirable plant for decorative purposes, as it will lie flat 
against a wall and not look stiff. 
Asparagus verticillatus, is a hardy climbing form attaining a 
height of twelve to fifteen feet and while not as slender and graceful 
as the tender greenhouse forms, may be used to advantage. It 
keeps in good condition for a week after being cut. I have two 
plants growing side by side which form a curtain four by twelve 
feet, very decorative when in berry. 
A SCREEN FOR UNSIGHTLY BUILDINGS 
How can I hide some unsightly outbuildings from a lawn view ? 
A narrow roadway passes within ten feet of them, thus preventing 
the use of ordinary trees and I do not care for vines. 
M. F. A. 
Populus Bolleana, a variety from I urkestan of Populus alba, 
may be grown in the ten feet allowed and not intrude upon the 
roadway. It is a rapid grower, fastigiate in habit, being an 
improvement upon the Lombardy poplar, which it somewhat 
resembles. For a shield, plant them six feet apart. 
A HARDY ROSE FOR CUTTING 
What rose can I plant that is fairly hardy that will give me 
plenty of bloom for cutting? W. 
The rather dwarf Bourbon rose “Hermosa,” a bright pink, 
will bloom all summer long, and while it lacks fragrance, is con¬ 
sidered one of the best bedding roses in cultivation. 
While reasonably hardy, it is best, if your winters are severe, 
to grow T them in rows in a situation where, about the middle of 
November, they may be bent over, tied down, and earth ridged 
over them. They will winter safely, but should be cut back 
severely in the spring. 
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