nduce to the freshness and wild beauty of our
gardens; the dark and glossy verdure is charmingly disposed in
embowerments by means of the delicate twining stems; and though it grows
apace, there is never an unsightly dense or dark mass, so commonly seen
in many climbers, but, instead, it elegantly adorns its station, and the
outlines of its pretty pinnate leaves may easily be traced against the
light.

[Illustration: FIG. 14. APIOS TUBEROSA.

(One-twelfth natural size; _a_, flower, natural size.)]

As may be seen by the illustration (Fig. 14), it is in the way of a
climbing bean. The flowers are purple and borne in small clusters from
the axils of the leaves, and, of course, as indicated by the order to
which it belongs, they are like pea flowers; they are produced a long
time in succession, providing the frosts do not occur; they have the
scent of violets. The leaves are distantly produced on fine wiry stems,
which grow to the length of 12ft.; they are pinnate, the leaflets being
of various sizes, oval, smooth, and of a dark shining green colour.

The roots are not only peculiar in the way already mentioned, but the
tubers have the appearance of being strung together by their ends. They
are edible, and where they grow wild they are called "ground nuts." From
the description given it will be easy to decide how and where it should
be planted.

There should be provision made for its twining habit, and it may have
the liberty of mixing its foliage with that of less beautiful things
during autumn, such, for instance, as the bare _Jasmine nudiflora_; its
spare but effective leaves and flowers will do little or no harm to such
trees, and after the frosts come the jasmine will be clear again. It may
also be grown with happy results as shown in the illustration, needing
only a well-secured twiggy bush. Cut as sprays it is very serviceable
for hanging or twining purposes.

It most enjoys a light soil, also a sunny situation. Sometimes it has
been found slow at starting into growth when newly planted; this,
however, can hardly be the case with newly lifted tubers. I may add that
it is no uncommon thing for these to be out of the ground for weeks and
months together, when they not only become hard and woody, but when
suddenly brought in contact with the damp earth rot overtakes them.
There is no difficulty whatever with fresh tubers, which may be lifted
after the tops have died off. Beyond securing fresh roots, there is
not