146 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



been introduced, we doubt whether any 

 one of them all is equal in all respects 

 to the Jacknianni. 



It is not only as climbing plants that 

 these large flowering Clematis are use- 

 ful, but there are few things that will 

 equal them as bedding plants. It is 

 said that Mr. Jackman was indebted to 

 a severe wind storm that ])rostrated a 

 number of poles laden with these Cle- 

 matis for the suggestion of using them 

 for bedding purposes. For some reason, 

 perhaps press of woi-k, these Clematis 

 covered poles were sufiered to remain 

 for some time on the ground, and the 

 vines foi'med such a bed of foliage, gem- 

 med with brilliant flowers, that Mr. 

 Jackman determined to try the experi- 

 ment of planting some in a bed, jjegging 

 them down as they grew, so that they 

 should not be swept about by the wind. 

 The experiment was highly successful. 

 Different shades of color were planted 

 in some of the beds, their gi-owths 

 pegged down one over the other so that 

 they were completely interlaced, and in 

 the summer the bed was an even sheet 

 of flowers of varying hues that was ex- 

 ceedingly attractive. Other beds were 

 planted with only one vai'iety, these 

 were edged with Cineraria maritima 

 or some other suitable subject to give a 

 marginal color that would bring out the 

 beauty of the gorgeous mass of flowers 

 within the bordering. These Clematis 

 are not given to producing any super- 

 abundance of wood, each branch gives 

 forth a mass of bloom, so that the bed 

 is just radiant with purple and violet. 



If any of our readers are desirous of 



trying a bed of the large flowering 

 Clematis, we would suggest that trial 

 be first made by planting only C. Jack- 

 mauni in a bed of such size as may be 

 convenient, setting the plants about 

 eighteen inches apart each way, and 

 bordering the bed with Golden Pyre- 

 thrum or Cerastium tomentosum. Let 

 the bed be made very rich with well 

 decayed manure, and the growing shoots 

 pegged down often enough to prevent 

 the wind from swaying them about. 

 When the weather becomes very dry 

 water copiously at evening, and if the 

 growth be not sirSiciently vigorous, 

 stimulate with manure water. When 

 the V)loom begins to show symptoms of 

 decline, prune back the shoots somewhat 

 and induce a fresh start, keeping up 

 suflicient moisture by watering, if need- 

 ed, and you will be rewarded by con- 

 tinuous bloom until approaching winter 

 lays his frosty finger on pasture and 

 garden. 



But with all their gorgeousness of 

 display these showy varieties are scent- 

 less, and there may be readers of the 

 Canadian Horticulturist who would like 

 to add to their collection of Clematis 

 the sweet-scented C. flammula. The 

 late A. J. Downing, in speaking of this 

 variety, says, it is "the very type of 

 delicacy and grace, whose flowers are 

 broidered like pale stars over the whole 

 vine in midsummer, and whose perfume 

 is the most spiritual, impalpable, and 

 yet far spreading of all vegetable odoi-s." 



Narcissus. — At a recent exhibition of 

 the New York Horticultural Society last 

 month one hundred and sixteen varieties 

 of narcissus were on exhibition. This is 

 a much neglected flower, yet a beautiful 

 and attractive one, and valuable for forc- 

 ing for in-door decoration. This is the 

 largest display of the kind ever made in 

 America. 



