3 o THE BOOK OF CLIMBING PLANTS 



kind to such persons, though the writer handles it at 

 various seasons without any discomfort arising. Though 

 it has no tendrils to enable it to cling to a wall, the old 

 A. quinquefolia is very handsome, and may be made use 

 of in many ways, such as among the branches of a dark- 

 leaved tree to lighten it up with its fiery autumn tints, 

 or among some rambling early-blooming Roses, or even 

 over an arbour. Its large leaves and fine tints, 

 especially in a dry soil, make it valuable. A. aconiti- 

 folia, which has a number of synonyms, among them 

 being that of Vitis dissecta, is a pleasing plant with 

 reddish branches and pretty leaves. All of these 

 Ampelopsis will grow in any soil, but often colour more 

 beautifully on a dry, than on a rich one. They are 

 propagated by seeds, sown under glass in spring, by 

 cuttings under a glass, or by eyes like Vines. The 

 self-clinging species require little training except 

 keeping them within bounds, but the others may need 

 to be guided among the branches which are to support 

 them, and if trained to a wall will require to be fastened 

 to it. 



One of the most delightful and effective of our 

 flowering climbers is the Wistaria, whose bunches of 

 fine flowers are greatly admired, especially when the 

 plant has attained a considerable size and has been 

 properly attended to in the way of training. There are 

 not many species recognised by botanists as such, and it 

 is doubtful if some of these even are anything but 

 varieties of the one known as W. chinensis. However 

 this may be, all are worthy of being grown, and 

 intending purchasers may choose any from the table 

 at the end without scruple, though W. c. alba 

 generally flowers with rather less freedom than the 

 coloured forms. It is pretty to associate with the others, 

 and is always charming with its long racemes of drooping 

 flowers. The form called multijuga is one of the 



