326 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE, 



of the leafage, whether it be green or variegated, as, for example, 

 the Pyracautha, the Japanese Honeysuckle, or one of the green or 

 variegated ivies. The Virginian Creeper is much too large, as also 

 is the Wistaria, and the Wild Clematis, for the latter must, to appear 

 to any advantage, hang about in a somewhat natural manner, and 

 the others when they have not a large surface to spread over, require 

 constant attention to keep them in proper trim. But for houses of 

 a large size, a mansion for example, there are not two finer climbers 

 in existence than the Wistaria and the Virginian Creeper. The 

 former, with space for its development, presents one of the most 

 magnificent sights imaginable when sheeted with its lovely racemes 

 of lavender blue flowers, and at other times is equal to any of the 

 other robust-habited plants of the same character, and surpasses 

 most. The latter is unequalled in point of lightness and elegance, 

 and when trained so that the young shoots are allowed to hang 

 down naturally over windows and all, tlie eflTect is indescribably 

 beautiful, as witness the magnificent example which covers a gen- 

 tleman's residence in Castle Street, Eeading. Evidently the owner 

 is well acquainted with the best system of m.anagement, for while 

 the branches fall over gracefully like the spray of a gigantic water- 

 fall, there is no approach to that raggedness which characterizes so 

 many specimens. 



In the case of the larger kinds, a certain freedom of growth 

 must be permitted, or the effect will be bad, but the smaller sorts 

 should be trained in a more formal manner, and be kept close to tlie 

 wall. Ivies more especially should not be allowed to hang about 

 loosely. Many good examples of ivy training could be mentioned, 

 but one of the best the writer of this has seen is at Wood Green, 

 near the termination of the Green Lanes, a district well known to 

 North London. There are two villas, and over the face of these the 

 ivy is trained in bands about two feet in width, and as those are 

 placed so as to bring out the architectural lines, the effect is exceed- 

 ingly pleasing to the eye. The ivy growing on Soutligate Church is 

 also effectively trained ; it is kept quite close to the wall, and al- 

 though it is trained quite close to the edge of the stone facing to 

 the windows, not a shoot is allowed to extend over them, and as the 

 stones forming the facings are arranged on the outer edge in the 

 usual zigzag manner, the effect is novel and striking. Walls that 

 are to be covered with plants unable to attach, themselves to the 

 surface, and require frequent attention to keep them in order, should 

 be " wired " on the system advertised frequently in the Flokal 

 World by Messrs. Barnard, Bishop, and Barnard, as the new shoots 

 can be trained quickly and without damage to the wall, or the irri- 

 tating noise that must be endured at intervals when they are 

 supported with nails and shreds. The cost of wiring the walls of a 

 moderate sized house is by no means heavy, as the materials are not 

 expensive, and the fitting can be done by a handy labourer. Ever- 

 green and deciduous climbers will require pruning annually ; the 

 former in the spring just before they commence to make new growth, 

 and the latter as tliey lose their leaves in the autumn. In the 

 course of the summer they should all have occasional attention, and 



