TO BLOOM THE CLEMATIS SIEBOLDII. 117 
TO BLOOM THE CLEMATIS SIEBOLDII IN PROFUSION 
IN THE GREENHOUSE. 
BY A PRACTICAL FLOWER GARDENER. 
Few plants are so ornamental as the Clematis Sieboldii; when properly 
cultivated and in profuse bloom, it is invaluable for adorning the 
greenhouse or conservatory. I used to retain plants in the greenhouse 
all the year, but they bloomed sparingly after the first season; but by 
the following method the plants bloom in vast profusion, and the white 
in contrast with the dark centre of the flowers is highly interesting and 
handsome. The following is the method of treatment I pursue :— 
Towards autumn I place the plants out of doors, against the garden 
wall, when the pots are covered round the sides and over the surface 
with dry litter; the pots themselves are set upon slate to keep the 
worms from entering at the holes in the bottom. The stems of the 
plant, which are very slender, are of course by this time well ripened, 
and are trained over a wood trellis. ‘The whole of tle branches are 
securely tied, so that they do not receive any injury from the friction 
occasioned by the high winds. They remain here throughout the 
winter, and towards the end of March I take them into the greenhouse ; 
they are, however, first shifted into fresh soil, and are kept in the 
greenhouse about three weeks, and from this department I remove 
them to the forcing-house; where they receive a slight degree of 
excitement, in being submitted to a temperature varying from fifty to 
sixty degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature I keep my forcing- 
house, in which I bring forward my early flowers. I ought to observe 
here that with respect to pruning, I do not find that this plant requires 
anything more doing in this way, than merely cutting out the dead 
parts of the slender twigs or stems. I never do more than this, but 
always cut away the old ties, and replace them with new ones. In 
doing this I may observe, that I would not advise that the whole plant 
should be untied at once, but that a few ties only should be cut away, 
and again replaced before any more are undone. Unless this be 
attended to, the little slender stems become entangled ; and in replacing 
them, even with the greatest care, they are often broken and otherwise 
injured. This is an evil common to all plants of similar habits; and 
therefore I mention it with that view, as much as with reference to 
the plant in question. During the bright weather in summer, when 
this plant is come fully into bloom, it is removed to the greenhouse ; 
and if an airy situation, partially shaded, can be given to it, so much 
the better. There is seldom any great necessity either for much tying 
of young shoots or pruning, as the plant blooms so freely that the 
luxuriance of the shoots are greatly checked, and in full bloom there is 
scarcely either foliage or shoots to be seen. 
The compost which I grow my plants in is a strong rich loam, con- 
taining bone-dust, horn-shavings, and other stimulating manures ; these 
are mixed up with the earth many morths before it is used. The 
plants are grown in rather large pots, and very carefully attended to 
in watering. 
