THE WISTARIA SINENSIS. 



65 



Treated as a dwarf slirub, and cultivated 

 in a pot, it is, moreover, an extremely 

 manageable plant, and makes a very 

 agreeable thing for a show house, as well 

 for its actual interest, as because the fra- 

 grance of its flowers can be better enjoyed. 

 What may be done with it in this way, is 

 yet to most cultivators all speculation ; but 

 specimens have been exhibited which show 

 that the most satisfactory results have fol- 

 lowed the effort. As in the cases before 

 spoken of, pruning is the means by which 

 it is to be brought into this dwarf condition ; 

 and since it grows in the most common 

 soil, the compost supplied to it in a pot 

 should be of the simplest nature, such as 

 ordinary garden earth, while the pot itself 

 need not be over large. 



In alluding to the Wistaria as a pot 

 plant, we would not forget its capabilities 

 for forcing, under such circumstances. Un- 

 der the stimulus of a little heat it develops 

 itself finely, as most cultivators well know. 

 And when its attractions are duly consider- 

 ed, it will, we think, ere long be frequently 

 subjected to the treatment indicated. As 

 a plant for forcing, under any circumstan- 

 ces, this species is likely to prove a valua- 

 ble accession to the rather limited number 

 of such plants, a ad we shall be pleased if 

 this hint should bring it more into notice. 

 Its recommendations are freedom in the 

 production of flowers, great beauty, and an 

 exquisite fragrance. 



When grown out of doors as a wall-plant, 

 and trained over the face of a house or 

 other edifice, the circumstance of its bloom- 

 ing before the leaves appear, though not in 

 itself an interesting one, is a thing which 

 might properly exercise the attention and 

 inquiry of the culturist, in order to associate 

 it with some other plant which would sup- 

 ply the lacking verdure. Perhaps the ivy, 

 being the most verdant of all plants with a 



climbing habitude, might be very appro- 

 priately blended with the Wistaria in 

 clothing a wall, or a portion of a building. 

 From the spreading nature of the ivy, it 

 would necessarily require a great deal of 

 trimming and pruning, to prevent it from 

 overrunning the Wistaria and smothering 

 it. But this could be easily prevented, and 

 if only half a dozen branches of bloom were 

 here and there visible amidst the dark and 

 glossy foliage of the ivy, the effect would 

 be most charming. 



But the Cyiisus lahurmtm is more ap- 

 propriate than the ivy for the purpose indi- 

 cated above. It blooms nearly at the same 

 time, has an allied character, and possess- 

 ing a greater profusion of fine foliage, 

 might be happily mingled with the Wista- 

 ria. There is no difficulty in training the 

 Laburnum against a wall ; and by inter- 

 mingling the branches of the two plants, 

 their similar racemes of blue and yellow 

 blossoms would create a peculiar and pleas- 

 ing effect. 



In treating the Wistaria as an open 

 ground plant, it has hitherto been chiefly 

 employed for walls or against houses ; and 

 its singular adaptation for decorating bow- 

 ers, arbors, &c., seems to have been quite 

 overlooked. It is exceedingly well fitted 

 for covering those trellised arches of wood 

 or iron which are sometimes placed over 

 the walks in flower gardens and pleasure 

 grounds, as nothing could be more delight- 

 ful than a walk beneath its lovely blooms. 

 Those open roofed pavilions or canopies, 

 too, which are occasionally made of rustic 

 wood and put up in similar places, afford 

 an equally good position for the charming 

 Wistaria. 



What so appropriate in the way of a 

 climber for arbors, or the retired erections 

 for rest and cool enjoyment, so common in 

 some gardens, as the Wistaria ? To look 



