The Canadian Horticulturist. 



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persons adopt the ready method of 

 reducing order out of confusion by cut- 

 ting off all the summer shoots of their 

 chmbers close to the wall ; but this a 

 mistake. Some plants will endure it 

 very well, but in the case of others it 

 simply amounts to cutting off the 

 flowers for next year ; many shoots are 

 removed on which flowers would be 

 Ixirne if the wood became hard and 

 ripened by exposure to sun and air in 

 autumn. Ripening of the growths is 

 an important matter in the production 

 of blossom. This may be seen with 

 fruit trees, which after a hot summer 

 are covered with " sheets of bloom " in 

 the spring ; but after a dull, wet summer, 

 blossom is sparse. It is the same with 

 plants of a woody nature, and climbing 

 plants therefore should not be allowed 

 to become so crowded with shoots now 

 that they cannot ripen, or there will be 

 few flowers next year. With plants 

 grown for the sake of foliage alone the 

 case is different, and they can be al- 

 lowed to ramble and intertwine accord- 

 ing to the taste of the cultivator. 



THE VIRGINIA CREEPER. 



This one (ampelopsis quinquefolia) is 

 the easiest and quickest wall-covering 

 plant in cultivation, and appears to 

 grow as well in cities as in the open 

 country, if it has fairly good soil to root 

 in. Plants are also grown in boxes out- 

 side, and the growths arched over win- 

 dows or trained as a green drapery to 

 balconies. It is necessary to see that 

 the chief stems of the plants arc well 

 secured to walls now, or the autumn 

 rains add so much to their weight that 

 the plants are liable to be dragged down 

 to the ground. This occurs every year, 

 and it is with the object of preventing 

 such disasters that this reminder is 

 given at a time when the hint may be 

 of service. The plant referred to is 

 known by many persons as the Ameri- 

 can vine. It is propagated by layers 

 and cuttings. 



A.MI'ELOPSIS VEITCHI. 



This is another species of the same 

 genus, but the species referred to, 

 \'eitch's Ampelopsis, is a native of 

 japan, and is one of the most beautiful 

 summer and autumn wall-covering 

 plants in cultivation. The leaves are 

 much smaller than those of the \'irginia 

 creeper, and the shoots cling to walls 

 like ivy. In sunny positions, and 

 where the soil is of a dry nature, the 

 leaves assume brilliant tints in autumn. 

 Many persons see and admire this 

 glowing autumn wall plant at this sea- 

 son, but do not know its name, and 

 are consequently unable to order young 

 plants for themselves. This reference 

 will enable them to identify what they 

 admire, and procure plants if they 

 desire to do so. Those who have them 

 in a young state should secure the 

 growths at first, directing them to the 

 space they are expected to cover, after 

 which they will require no furthej care. 

 This attractive creeper is perfectly 

 hardy, but casts its leaves in the winter. 

 l>eautiful specimens may be seen on 

 the South church and high school build- 

 ings, as well as other places in Spring- 

 field. In Boston, where it was first 

 l)lanted to any extent, are some magifi- 

 cent vines. 



HONEYSUCKLES. 



The long streamers should now be 

 affixed to walls where there is space for 

 them, arranging them six ''nches apart, 

 and those that cannot be secured may 

 be cut to about a foot in length. This 

 portion will then have a better chance 

 of ripening or getting firm, and in 

 winter the shortened shoot may be cut 

 still more closely, or within an inch or 

 two of the main branches from which 

 it springs. I'he young shoots that art 

 secured to the wall — that is, the growths 

 of plants that have not occupied the 

 sjiace they are desird to coAer, may be 

 topped now, and pruned back to where 

 the wood is firm, the soft portions being 

 of no use for producing flowers. — Farm 

 and Honw. 



