June 1, 1905 
without, their income often being insuffi- 
cient to spend on needed staples. in every 
cottage window is to be found a wealth of 
bloom; it may be of geraniums, pelargo- 
niums, or fuchsiag only, but always enouga 
to make the home look cheerful and bright. 
Livery little country village has its annual 
flower shew, and the keenness of competi- 
tion surpasses, in its own small way, a 
Madigon-square Garden Exhibition. The 
beauty of it is, that all are competent 
judges, and the minutest details are keenly 
scrutinised. 
The love of flowers, and the love of the 
beautiful in nature, appeals not to those 
whosa thoughts are sordid, whose one de- 
give is to make money or to shine before the 
glaring footlights of a superficial society. 
This ig a comparatively new country, and 
men have been busy up till now developing 
‘it. Liberty loving subjects of all nations 
have flocked to these United States, where 
aristocratic rule is unknown, and where 
ons manis as good asanother. Again, the 
spirit of Burns prevails: “A man’s 
a man for a that.’ But our work 
is just beginning. Ours is (a mis- 
sionary calling. There is here a fresh 
field for labor. There is here the 
material to work upon. There is here the 
wherewithal to: work with; and if the work 
remain unfinished it will be largely our 
fault. 
Ts floriculture in this country as far ad- 
vanced as it isin Europe? No; not yet. 
Questions to be answered next meeting 
are: “Are the street merchants and ped- 
lars beneficial or detrimental to the florist 
business from the standpoint of the grower, 
the retailer, and the commission man?” 
“What are the essential qualifications of a 
judge of cut flowers and plants?” 
are the most desirable features in a rubber 
plant?” and “Who is Job?” At the next 
meeting also there will be a display of bed- 
ding plants, and, probably, a talk on the 
subject by growers. An amendment to the 
by-laws, relative to the duties of the secre- 
tary and treasurer, also to increase the for- 
mer’s salary, will be discussed at that time. 
CLIMBING PLANTS. 
A climbing plant we would strongly urge 
our readers to grow is Solanum Wendlandii. 
Tt has become very popular, and deservedly 
so, for a more lovely flower of a lavender 
blue one seldom sees. It is very free flower- 
ing, and continues in bloom through the 
summer months. It looks well trained on 
a tripod among the shrubs, or over an arch, 
against a fence, or anywhere so that the 
flowers can be seen. 
It is deciduous, and very easily propo- 
gated by taking cuttings during the months 
of June and July. Scarcely one will miss 
taking root if cut from the parent plant 
with a heel, and inserted in light soil. 
There is a very large family of the Solanum 
suitable for climbers, but in addition to 
&. Wendlandii, we will mention §S. Jas- 
~ manoides Alba, and Aurea (white and: yel- 
low), and 8. Seaforthianum (pink). | They 
are natives of South America and Barba- 
does respectively. 
“What _ 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
Mandevilla Sauveolens is a well-known 
climber, bearing clusters of pure white and 
sweet-scented flowers. 
vated. Young plants will spring up from. 
seeds—blown about from the pods—in 
every direction. Native of Buenos Ayres. 
Physianthus Albens is another good ever- 
green climber from. Buenos Ayres, and re- 
sembles the Stephanotis somewhat, the 
flowers being white. It is a capital plant 
for trellis work or fences, and does well in 
almost any position. Fiom Buenos Ayres 
also comes that splendid climber Bignonia 
Tweediana. ‘This plant will ramble a 
great distance, and delights to entangle 
itself on mesh wire. arly this summer 
saw it growing on mesh wire, which was 
erected about 4 ft. above a dividing fence, 
and from end to end it was a mass of bright 
yellow flowers. Over old tree stumps, rough 
stone walls, and fences, this plant 
will ramble, and, being very floriferous, it 
makes a fine show. 
There are a great many varieties of Big- 
nonia, which are synonymous with the Te 
comas. 
“Johnston’s Garden Dictionary” classes 
both in the same order, the only difference 
being in the “partition of the fruit.” 
B. Venusta is one of the very best of 
climbers. It flowers during the winter 
months, and is laden with bright orange- 
colored flowers. Any position will suit it 
if well exposed to the sun. For lattice- 
work it is unsurpassed, and it does well on 
the roof of any outhouse. We can well re- 
commend this plant to our readers. Native 
of South America. 
B. Rosea is ai summer flowering variety, 
bearing trusses of fine, rose-tinted flowers, 
and hails from South Africa, It is cer- 
tainly deserving of a place in any garden. 
A very rare but beautiful creeper is Big- 
nonia Chere’re, or Chirara, from Guiana. 
The growth of this plant resembles the 
Cobea Scandens, but bears flowers of a long 
tube shape, and of red, orange color. We 
would like to see it more extensively culti- 
vated, as it thrives well about Sydney, in 
sheltered positions. 
B. Lindleyana, bearing lavender. colored 
flowers, is a first-class climber. A few days 
ago the writer was having a dispute about 
the correct name of this plant. My friend 
‘declared it to be B. Laurifolia, or laurel- 
leaved. However, the plant under discus- 
gion bears a lavender-colored flower, so 
those who wish to grow it—-and we strongly 
recommend it—will not go wrong if they 
purchase Lindleyana, as catalogued by our 
nurserymen. 
Hoya Carnosa (the wax plant from Asia), 
is worthy of attention. It bears a very 
pretty flower, which! is rather difficult to 
describe, and thick fleshy leaves. H. Bella 
igmuch smaller, both in foliage and flower ; 
the latter is pure white, with a purple 
centre. 
The Ampelopsis (Virginian creeper) 
should be grown by those who are fond 
of autumn tints. There are several varie- 
ties of them; but our preference is A. 
Veitchii Purpurea. They will cling and 
grow over rough stone walls, or up the side 
of buildings, and as autumn approaches the 
It 1s easily culti-- 
9 
a 
foliage changes to a beautiful red tint. 
Most of these come from North America. 
The Passiflora (Passion Fruit) are too 
well known to need comment, their 1apid 
growth and usefulness: for covering Un- 
sightly fences is often demonstrated ; 
but we must mention the Tacomas, which 
are closely allied to the Passifloris. Ail the 
Tacomas are good, but we have a strong 
liking for T. Van Volxemu. The flowers of 
this variety are a glaring crimson, hanging 
suspended on a slender stem. It is a very 
rapid grower, and we often wonder whiy 1 
is not more in cultivation. It 1s a native 
of New Granada. 
Ficus Stipulata is a well-known creeper 
for covering walls, fences, and the dwel- 
ling-house. _ It clings tenaciously wherever 
it is planted, and is well adapted for the 
purpose. When it begins to shoot out 
from the wall it should be kept constantly 
clipped; otherwise the leaves will grow 
coarse and unsightly. This fig is a native cL 
China. 
Mina Lobata is a splendid autumn-flower- 
ing creeper, bearing a mass of flowers of a 
red and yellow blend. It is an annual, 
and should be sown in the month of No- 
vember, in the ground where it is intended 
to remain, although young seedlings will 
easily transplant to any position required. 
It is a native of Mexico, and should have 
a sheltered position. 
Humulus Japonica, or the Japanese Hop, 
is a good climber for summer growth. It 
is a perennial, and grows very rapidly, but 
the flowers are not very attractive. The 
dark green foliage, however, stands the dry 
season well, and is refreshing to look at 
when. all else is scorched and withered with 
thse heat. 
Quinqualus Indica is another valuable 
climber, the flowers are orange-red in 
color, and very sweet. It ehould be more 
extensively cultivated, as it does well here 
in sheltered places. ; 
Tvies and Honeysuckles need no intro- 
duction; they are both old friends, and — 
thrive well in suitable positions. They 
also revive old memories to those who come 
from the Old Country. 
And so we could go on, as this subject is 
not half exhausted; but perhaps enough 
has been written for the information of the 
amateur, who is desirous of making a selec- 
tion of this class of plants, without which 
no garden is complete. 
We will conclude this article by giving 
the names of half a dozen good climbing 
roses: Cloth of Gold (yellow), Ards Rover 
(dark crimson), Climbing Devoniensis 
(creamy white), Rev. T. C. Cole (bright yel- 
low), Reine Maria Henriette (bright rose), 
Climbing Souv. de la Malmaison (pale flesh 
color). All of these are free flowering and 
vigorous growers. 
SMILAX. 
TUFTED PANSY COTTAGE MAID. 
Anotiher season has again shown the high 
quality of this. The variety under notice 
is of the same character, in so far as the 
flower is concerned, as Countess of Kin- 
tore. As regards its habit, it is superior to 
others of the same type, and it also flowers 
