44 THE BOOK OF CLIMBING PLANTS 



and likes loam, sand and peat. Mitraria coccinea has 

 handsome scarlet flowers and appears to be hardier than 

 is generally supposed, even in the north near the sea. 

 It flowers from May onward, likes a peaty and sandy 

 soil, and is propagated by division in spring, or by 

 cuttings any time before autumn, struck under a glass. 

 It thrives better near the sea than elsewhere. Eccre- 

 mocarpus scaber, which is referred to among the annual 

 climbers, is really a perennial, and in very mild localities 

 remains evergreen. Vitis striata, frequently called 

 Ampelopsis sempervirens, is a pleasing evergreen climb- 

 ing plant, reputedly hardy, but the writer's experience 

 with it is that a hardy winter may prove fatal. It is 

 propagated by cuttings under a hand-light or bell-glass 

 and grows in any common soil. Billardiera longifolia 

 is also a little tender, but is rather pretty with its 

 greenish flowers, followed by blue berries. It may be 

 propagated by seeds or cuttings. 



