132 



THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY 



[May, 



sorts, viz : Patens, Lanuginosa, Fortunei, Stand- 

 ishii and Viticella, have been derived these mag- 

 nificent hybrid varieties which we have now in 

 cultivation. 



So far as my experience goes, I think the Cle- 

 matis is a good thing which is destined to become 

 as deservedly universally popular, for out-door 

 garden culture, as the rose ; and for indoors, too, 

 for that matter. For the greenhouse, the conser- 

 vatory, the parlor window, to cover rock-work or' 

 rustic arbors, or any lattice work, pillars of the 

 verandah or porch, or any other ornamental use 

 where flowers are desirable. 



For individual specimens, trained to ornamen- 

 tal forms or designs on the lawn, or making good 

 pot specimens to place about the lawn, they can- 

 not be equalled by any other plant for this pur- 

 pose and climate. For permanently bedding out 

 in the flower beds the Clematis is superior to any 

 other individual class or species of bedding out 

 plant with which I am familiar. The colors 

 are all that can be desired, and, withal, it is the 

 cheapest bedding out flowering plant we have, for 

 so good a thing. 



Three or four dollars do not go far, even at 

 the low price of a dollar a dozen, for bedding out 

 plants, to fill a bed prettily. The same sum would 

 nearly fill the same bed with Clematises the first 

 summer, and certainly the second, with good 

 plants to start with ; for one good strong plant of 

 Clematis will cover the space of a dozen of the 

 others. The tender bedding plants usually die 

 and have to be renewed every year; but the Cle- 

 matis, when established, is " there," and better 

 the second than the first year. The older the 

 plant the younger and fresher it appears. The 

 Clematis is well adapted to our soil and climate. 

 It will grow where any other plant will grow and 

 thrive, save and except under water, just in pro- 

 portion to the treatment it receives. It is not at 

 all fastidious as to soil or treatment, yet no plant 

 is more grateful or will respond more quickly to 

 kind and generous culture. The Clematis likes 

 best a deep, moderately light, but rich sandy 

 loam, well drained. After a plant has become 

 four or five years established it will make a growth 

 of 4 or 5 to 8 or lo feet in height in a season, ac- 

 cording as the plant is of a weaker or stronger 

 habit of growth ; and, if carefully trained, will 

 cover as much space in width. 



Many of the varieties of the Jackmanni and 

 Viticella types will throw their large umbels of 

 flowers so far above their foliage as to present one 

 complete mass of flowers, with, scarcely room for 



a green leaf to appear. These large umbels or 

 panicles of flowers are made up of six to ten indi- 

 vidual flowers, each 4 to 6 inches in diameter, 

 usually four to six sepals of, for the most part in 

 these types, the deepest and richest velvety pur- 

 ple to almost black. These types commence flow- 

 ering the lore part of July and continue on till the 

 frost kills their foliage in October or November. 

 The different groups give us about all the colors 

 that can be desired, from the purest white to al- 

 most black, from Azure-blue to yellow, and from 

 green to scarlet. It is true we could wish the yel- 

 low and the scarlet could be improved in size. 

 They are single, semi-double, rosettes and double ; 

 sweet scented and not scented. I have had them 

 in flower from 2 inches high to 10 feet high; and 

 also in size from 2 inches to 10 inches in diameter. 

 I have had Jeanne d' Arc measure a full 10 inches 

 across and Lawsoniana g]4 inches in diameter of 

 flower. 8 to g;4 inches are quite common, in 

 many varieties, when well grown ; and size ap- 

 pears to be now the prevailing fashion. The 

 flowers hold in perfection from twelve to twenty 

 days, usually fifteen to eighteen. 



I have said they are hardy. They are, and al- 

 most as persistent as a root of rhubarb, and should 

 their tops become winter killed, from very ex- 

 treme weather, they will start up in the spring 

 like a shoot of asparagus. 1 have compared them 

 to the rose. They are as beautiful in color and as 

 sweet in perfume. But, unlike our beautiful Tea 

 roses, which shrink and wither in the scorching 

 hot sun and have to be taken up and coddled 

 through the winter, the Clematis will glory in the 

 summer's heat and scarcely wince at the winter's 

 cold. 



Hardy as they are, however, no plant will be 

 more benefited by, or more grateful for, a little 

 winter protection with a little littery manure or 

 something of that kind. What varieties would I 

 recommend for general planting ? That is a 

 rather difficult matter to decide, and must depend 

 on the purpose for which they are wanted and on 

 the fancy of the cultivator. The family is divided 

 into sections or groups, not botanically, however, 

 but for the convenience of gardeners and amateur 

 planters. 



T/ie ATo7ttana Group — are strong growers and 

 will flower in abundance from January to May on 

 the old ripened wood of the previous year's growth ; 



I the flowers are only medium in size and in clus- 

 ters, and excellent for cut flowers ; but, of course, 

 in order to do tliis they require the protection of a 



I cool greenhouse. 



I 77ie Palcns Group — give us the earliest large- 



