Copyright, 1899, by 

 FLORISTS' PUBLISHING CO., 520-535 Caxton Building, CHICAGO. 



Vol. IV. 



CHICAGO AND NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 7, 1899. 



No. 93. 



CLEMATIS. 



I Krom the Florists' Manual by Wm Scott.] 



Although more properly belonging 

 to the nurseryman than the florist we 

 are continually asked to supply plants 

 of several varieties and species of 



usually grafted on the roots of C. 

 flammula, the common European, or 

 the root of any strong growing vari- 

 ety. The florist buys his clematis and 

 is more interested in knowing how to 

 make them grow satisfactorily than 

 how to propagate them. Very strong 



Clematis of Jackmanii Type. 



these free flowering hardy climbers. 

 Some of the species are readily in- 

 creased by cuttings. The paniculata 

 type root freely from pieces of the 

 young growth and there is no better 

 place than the gentle heat of a hot- 

 bed. They all are, however, bought 

 very cheaply from the nurseryman. 

 The large flowered Jackmanii type are 



plants of Jackmanii and other large 

 flowering varieties are imported every 

 fall, arriving here early in November 

 or perhaps a little earlier. They have 

 usually a good growth with a great 

 bunch of roots. Thousands of these 

 are sold and thousands die, and pro- 

 vokingly after living one or two or 

 more years. 



We spread out the roots and lay 

 them in trenches in the cold-frame 

 during winter and in severe weather 

 cover with glass, removing it before 

 they get anyway forced by the suns of 

 March. We believe they are more 

 satisfactory to our customers planted 

 this way than potted and given any 

 time in the greenhouse. The potted 

 plants look well when sold, but are 

 more liable to suffer from neglect after 

 planting. In very strong plants there 

 is such a mass of roots that it is im- 

 possible to spread them sufficiently 

 for all to get some earth around them. 

 so we cut out about half the roots, 

 which enables us to get some soil 

 among them. 



You dare not guarantee the clematis. 

 If you do you will have to make good 

 your losses on some other article. But 

 you can plant them with care and 

 give good advice as to the attention 

 they need. They are nearly always 

 planted against a veranda, whose over- 

 hanging roof often keeps the rain 

 away, or they may be on the side of 

 the house or an aspect from which the 

 prevailing rains are infrequent. They 

 should during summer receive copious 

 waterings. When planting out each 

 clematis should receive a barrow load 

 of good, rich soil and not be put into 

 a small hole and have clay or brick 

 bats to feed on, which is often the re- 

 sult of the grading and sodding that 

 is done around a pretty house. 



In milder countries the gorgeous 

 Jackmanii and its kindred varieties 

 may retain their stems through the 

 winter; with us they do not, but when 

 well established the roots have such 

 vigor that the young shoots spring 

 from the ground in a very few weeks, 

 and by end of June are a gorgeous 

 mass of bloom 7, 8 and 9 feet high, and 

 5 or 6 feet across. All these flower 

 from the growth of the same year. 

 The past severe winter has injured 

 a few, but the majority of the clematis 

 have come through none the worse. 



Plants of Jackmanii, Henryii or any 



