38 CLEMATIS CJDRtTLEA. 



more slender than in mruka. The habit of growth is, however, similar, and, like 

 florida, our plant is better suited to culture in pots than in the open ground, though 

 it is sufficiently hardy to bear complete exposure.- It succeeds very well, however, 

 against a trellis, and requires a good relentive loam, in which its growth is of a 

 more robust character than in soils of a sandy nature. It may be readily propa- 

 gated by layers, or seeds, which should bo sown as soon as ripe in a shady place, 

 and the seedlings afterwards potted separately, and preserved from frost while young. 

 The appearance of the plants may bo improved by occasionally cutting it down 

 nearly to the ground, as the stems frequently become naked towards the bottom. 



Several of the more free-growing species of Clematis are old favourites in our 

 gardens, particularly the C. flammula, or white sweet-scented, which is of so rapid a 

 growth that in a single season it will cover an arbour or trellis of some extent ; 

 and the purple C. viticella, a still older species, which, when well managed, is one 

 of the most elegant and ornamental of hardy climbers. Among other interesting 

 species worth cultivating arc the C. crispa, recently introduced from North America, 

 with pale fragrant blossoms ; C. graveolcns, from Chinese Tartary, with yellow flowers; 

 C. montana, and its variety, grandiflora; C. cirrhosa, an evergreen species from Spain, 

 with whitish blossoms, produced very early in the spring; and C. austriaca, C. 

 sihirica, and C. vcrticillaris, three species formerly known under the name of 

 Atragcnc, but now united to Clematis. Perhaps the most showy species yet 

 introduced is the C. indivisa, variety lohata, with pure white blossoms, three inches 

 across, and bright red anthers. In its native climate, New Zealand, it quite festoons 

 the trees for fiteen or twenty feet from the ground, with its dense foliage and large 

 panicles of flowers. It is said to require a green-house, a statement we shall regret 

 to see confirmed. Certain it is that some of the plants introduced into England from 

 New Zealand require with us but little protection, unless in very severe weather ; 

 for example, Linum monogynum, Clianthus puniceus, and Plagianthus divaricatus. 

 Facilities will, however, soon be afforded for testing this statement by experience, 

 and should the plant prove capable of living in the open air in this country, we shall 

 take the earliest opportunity of giving our readers a figure of this strikingly beautiful 

 species. 



There arc, in addition to the above, two or three species of more restricted habit. 

 The best are tulidosa, a recent introduction from China ; erecta, and angttstifolia, both 

 from Austria, with white blossoms; ochrohuca, from North America, with pale 

 yellow flowers; and integrifolia, a native of Hungary, one of the earliest species 

 introduced to this country. These are most of them easy of attainment, and well 

 deserve a place in the mixed border. 



The genus Clematis is rernarkahfe for containing the only shrubby plants known 

 in the order Eanuncidaccm, the other genera, if we except the Moutan Paeony, and 

 XmthorMsa, being all herbaceous. It is further to be noticed, that the corolla is 



