Abobra tenui-folia is a rapid growing and beautiful climbing plant belonging to the natural order Cucurbitaceae. It is a half-hardy perennial gourd-like plant, with tuberous roots, and attains a height of from twelve to fifteen feet. It has very delicate, dark green leaves, which are very finely cut, and small inconspicuous flowers, produced in profusion. The flowers are soon succeeded by small, bright scarlet, glossy, oval fruit, to which the plant is indebted for its beauty, and which forms a striking contrast with the dark green leaves. As the fruit is very freely produced, this alone renders it a very ornamental and desirable summer climber. The abobra is a plant easily cultivated, doing best in a well enriched deep soil, in a sunny situation, and as the root is of a tuberous character, it can be taken up on the approach of cold weather, and 'preserved during the winter in a manner similar to dahlias. It should be set out again towards the end of April.

The plant is increased by means of seeds, which are freely produced, and these can be obtained at any seed store. They should be sown in a well-drained pot or pan of light sandy soil about the first of April, and placed in a warm and moist situation. As soon as the young plants can be handled, they should be transferred into three-inch pots. Keep the young plants close and moist until they commence to grow, then gradually harden off, and plant out as soon as the weather becomes warm and settled. Support should be furnished as soon as the plant commences to run. When thus treated, the plant will do well and fruit freely during the summer season. In order to obtain the most satisfactory results from this, or any other ornamental climber, it is well to bear in mind that support must be given the young shoots as soon as they commence to run, and that they should be tied to their proper places as soon as possible. If these essential requisites are neglected, the plants will be injured, and can with difficulty be made to assume their proper place. - Charles E. Parnell, Queens, N. Y.