Thk Canadian Horticulturist. 135 



to confine their selection to the Lanuginosa, Viticella and Jackmanni types, as 

 certain to give satisfaction. Clematis will grow in any good, deep garden soil ; 

 it cannot be too rich if the manure is well rotted, any plant that for months gives 

 hundreds and hundreds of flowers from four to eight inches in diameter must be 

 well fed, and have plenty of moisture. Lime or chalk or potash is said to be 

 necessary ; the first can be given in old lime, rubbish pounded fine, which will 

 also help to keep the soil porous, the latter can be supplied by unleached ashes, 

 and every fall give a coating of six inches thick of manure, not so much for 

 winter protection (they are very hardy) but that the snow and rain may carry 

 the nourishment to the roots and prevent heaving by frost. In purchasing get 

 pot-grown plants, and have the ball of earth kept entire. This is very essential for 

 the roots of young plants are easily injured, but if the ball is not broken success 

 is almost certain. Propagation is mostly from seeds or by grafting, but as it is 

 not suitable for us amateurs we will not discuss it. Old, well-established plants 

 with good roots can be divided safely, if done in spring as soon as growth has 

 commenced ; transplanting should always be done in spring, layering in late sum- 

 mer or fall is easily done, then leave them alone the next summer and they will 

 throw up shoots and root readily — and in this way a plant can be extended as 

 far as there is room. Regarding situation, Mrs. Lambert, of New Edinburgh, 

 an enthusiastic amateur, and probably the best authority on clematis in Canada, 

 says they must have the morning sun, and, while this is very essential, it is not 

 absolutely necessary, and being unable to get the best of everything we must 

 make the best of what we have. You all know my house faces the north-west, 

 and is very much exposed, yet I grow excellent clematis on the front verandah, 

 where they do not get the sun until 3 p.m , and the frost remains there in spring 

 long after other places, but only the hardiest succeed, " Jackmanni," " Jack- 

 manni Alba," " Lady RedclifFe," and " Modesta,'' thrive there, but are at least 

 two weeks later than those in more suitable positions, but 1 had to remove 

 " Miss Bateman " to a more congenial situation. This will serve to show, that 

 even if our situation is not the best, with a knowledge of the differences in vari- 

 eties, care and intelligence, we may still be successful. As to which has been 

 the most satisfactory, the purple Jackmanni has long been considered the 

 standard, and is a grand plant, but " Modesta," a little lighter in color than 

 " Jackmanni." has really been the best grower and a more profuse bloomer. 

 " Lady Redcliffe" as a bloomer is not easily beat, but the flowers are of a lighter 

 color than " Jackmanni," are a trifle smaller and do not open out so flat, incline 

 to be a little cup-shaped. " Mrs. Baron Veillard " is a grand plant, and its color, 

 a lilac rose, makes a fine contrast to the purples, blues and whites, " Rubelia " is 

 an excellent plant, a dark, velvety claret, while " Velutina purpurea " is the 

 darkest of all, a rich, blackish mulberry, and " Viticella rubra grandiflora " is 

 the nearest a red, but the flowers are small. Of the whites, the " Jackmanni 

 alba " is a good grower, the flowers are smaller than the purple variety, about 

 half the flowers have two rows of petals, the inner row much smaller than the 



