178 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [ AuSUBT, 



the summer, and tlie wall becomes one dense mass of fresh green leaves. In 

 order to give variety to the monotonous dark green of the Ivy, it is as well to 

 plant a few climbing roses at intervals, the flowers of which stand out pure and 

 bright on the deep verdant ground. A plant of AristolocUa Sipho trained 

 in along an old ivy wall or screen, forms an agreeable contrast, and its large, 

 bright green heart-shaped leaves break the monotonous flatness ; or some of the 

 profuse-flowering varieties of Clematis may be trained up pillars at a little dis- 

 tance from the wall. We have scarcely begun to appreciate the Clematis, or 

 accord it the position it most assuredly deserves among our hardy climbers. 



Many of the common varieties of the Grape Vine {Vitis) form fine climbers 

 for a wall or trellis, while for pillars, chains, or festoons of bright foliage commend 

 us to tiie varieties of Vitis vulpina or American Fox Grape, which are fresh and 

 green all the summer, and in the autumn are heavily laden with rich purple 

 clusters of fruit among the varying red, brown, or crimson foliage. The common 

 Hop Plant (Humulus) is one of the finest and most tractable of our British 

 climbers, and few plants will cover a screen or verandah quicker than this, if 

 liberally treated, while its clusters of pale yellow bracts in the autumn are nearly 

 as effective as the fruit of the Vine itself. 



Among flowering climbers, the common Woodbine or Honeysuclde {Lonicerd) 

 occupies a prominent position, and is admirably adapted for training up the trunks 

 of large trees, or for clambering over rustic walls and trellises. The "White 

 Jasmine (Jasmimim) does well in similar positions, and the bright yellow J. 

 nudijlorum is valuable for lighting up the sombre ivy during the early spring 

 months with its golden star-like flowers. One or two hardy Bignonias do very 

 well in sheltered sunny positions in the south, and we must not forget their ally 

 Eccremocarpus scabra^ with its dark green pinnate foliage and clusters of orange 

 or coral-like flowers ; this plant is perfectly hardy in sheltered southern counties, 

 and generally flowers profusely. In 1872 I saw a cottage near Killerton, in 

 Devon, one end of which was entirely covered with the foliage and bright berry- 

 like blossoms of this plant. The common blue Passionflower (Passiflora cceridea) 

 is perfectly hardy on a sunny wall, even in the Midland counties, and produces 

 numerous radiate flowers among its elegantly-cut palmate leaves. The rare 

 Mutisias may be cultivated in a warm border, and succeed tolerably well if their 

 roots are protected during the winter months with a mulching of stable-dung or 

 litter. M. decurrens used to grow and bear its bright, orange, gazania-like 

 flowers freely in Glendinning's Nursery, at Turnham Green. 



Some of the more robust climbers, as the Vine or Virginian Creeper^ may be 

 made to contribute largely to garden scenery by training them up large tree 

 trunks and along the horizontal branches, from which they may be allowed to 

 fall in negligent profusion, not unlike the gigantic lianas of tropical forests. 

 Wistaria sinensis makes a fine object treated in this manner, far more picturesque 

 and effective than when nailed formally to a wall. It is also very effective when 

 allowed to run up a Laburnum tree, as at Mr. Waterer's. — F. W. Buebidge. 



