200 ON TRAINING ROSBS, &C. 



variety of showy flowers, and present an appearance at once beau- 

 tiful and interesting. The usual sheltered situation of shrubberies 

 or the protection which the shrubs themselves would afford, 

 render it probable that many half-hardy climbers too might be 

 grown within their boundary, provided the mode of growth were 

 congenial to their habits ; and even with no other variety than the 

 hardy species of Clematis &c. presents, these departments might 

 be converted into decided and lasting attractions. 



There is another description of climbing plants, however, which 

 from their natural disposition to branch, or in which such a tenden- 

 cy may be readily induced by pruning, possess peculiar adaptations 

 for training to detached poles ; and it is to these species, and the 

 mode of supporting them, that I am desirous more especially to 

 call attention. No person, but who has seen this system success- 

 fully practised, can possibly have any idea of the effect which a 

 pillar of roses, or similar plants produces, when all their branches 

 are bending to the earth, as it were, beneath the weight of the 

 multitudes of flowers with which they are laden. And when poles 

 are placed at a convenient distance apart so as to have festooned 

 cords to which the shoots are trained, the pendant shoots in pro- 

 fuse bloom, give to the uprights an additional interest. 



Their appearance, whether in the flower bed, around a flower 

 garden, in the lawn, or whether arranged opposite each other on 

 either side of a portico, an entrance, or a walk, or disposed soli- 

 tarily and irregularly over any part of the pleasure-ground, is most 

 interesting. Roses thus treated have all the concentrated beauty 

 of the head of a standard elongated into a pillar, without any 

 of the formality of its summit, or the bareness of its stem. When 

 growing climbing roses to poles &c, it is necessary that a situation 

 be chosen for planting them where they will be slightly sheltered 

 from winds ; but at the same time not to screen them from the full 

 influences of the sun, otherwise their shoots will be very liable to 

 suffer from cold during the winter, on account of not being 

 thoroughly matured. A strong loamy soil is the best for growing 

 them in, so as to flourish luxuriantly. 



Poles of the requisite size and strength may be easily procured 

 from the thinnings of larch plantations, and they will stand for 

 many years without renewal. It is best to leave some of the 

 branches about six inches long, as they will prevent the wind 

 tjvisting the shoots around the pole so as to damage them. The 

 bark should not be removed, both for durability and appearance, 



