42 THE BOOK OF CLIMBING PLANTS 



puniceus, the Parrot's Beak or Glory Vine, but, un- 

 fortunately, it is only hardy in some places, though 

 more frequent trials would probably prove it to be 

 satisfactory in districts where it is now considered 

 tender. It is a very ornamental plant when in bloom, 

 and the slight protection it requires is well repaid by 

 the effect it produces with its curious, brightly coloured, 

 scarlet blooms. It can be grown from seeds sown under 

 glass in spring or by cuttings in sand in bottom heat 

 under glass. Rather rough loam with some leaf-soil is 

 the most suitable compost. Pruning in spring by cutting 

 back the leading and lateral shoots is the most suitable. 

 The fine variety of C. puniceus named magnificus is 

 cultivated in a similar manner. Ercilla, or Bridgesia, 

 spicata or volubi is another attractive wall plant, which 

 clings to a building as closely as Ivy, and which has 

 thick leaves and racemes of purplish flowers. This 

 Ercilla is quite hardy, but is comparatively little culti- 

 vated. It will grow in common soil, and may be 

 propagated by layers or cuttings. 



The Smilaxes occasionally grown in our country are 

 principally S. aspera and S. rotundifolia, which are 

 slender evergreen climbers, which will stand our winters 

 in most localities unless exposed to strong currents of 

 wind. The flowers are of no importance, but the leaves 

 are fresh and attractive looking. The variety of S. aspera 

 named mauritanica is more tender than the typical species. 

 They like a rather light soil, and are propagated by 

 division. 



Bignonia capreolata, a very ornamental climber, is 

 hardy in warm localities only, but is well worthy of a 

 trial in many sheltered places for covering a wall or 

 training up a tree. It has handsome orange-coloured 

 flowers in racemes, likes a compost of loam and peat, 

 and requires thinning-out some of the shoots so as to 

 ripen those which are left. It is propagated by cuttings 



