CLIMBERS AND BASKET PLANTS 35 



C. indivisa, or its variety, C. indivisa lobata, the foliage 

 of which is better in form, though the flowers are the 

 same. The latter are pure white borne in panicles in 

 April where cool treatment is given, but the plant is 

 amenable to forcing, and may be had in flower at any 

 time during the first four months of the year. The 

 plant requires no special treatment. Only the weakest 

 growths should be thinned out during winter, the rest 

 being left their full length, as this Clematis flowers on 

 the young wood of the previous year. If growing out 

 of bounds it may be cut back reasonably hard immediately 

 after flowering, and then allowed to grow away freely, 

 the new growths being induced to ripen by keeping 

 them well up to the light. 



Cobaa scandens. This remarkably free growing 

 plant is a favourite with gardeners because of its 

 hardiness and general thriftiness under difficulties. 

 The typical plant has green leaves, but the most orna- 

 mental form is the variegated one in which the leaves 

 are heavily margined with yellow. The Cobaea delights 

 in a rich soil in which it grows almost too freely, but 

 it may be kept within bounds by an occasional use of the 

 knife or scissors. Once a year, either during autumn or 

 winter, it should be pruned well back both for its own 

 good and for the good of things growing beneath it. 

 It has the merit of keeping fairly free from insects. 



Ficus repens. This is grown as a covering for bare 

 walls to which it clings like ivy, and forms a complete 

 flat mass of small deep green leaves. It grows best in 

 good loam with which some leaf mould or fine peat may 

 be mixed, and lime rubble or finely broken brick makes 

 a good addition to keep it porous. Small plants are 

 sometimes stubborn in starting away into growth, but 

 once they begin, they grow rapidly and soon cover a 

 large space. Once or twice a year shoots that hang 

 loose should be cut away, leaving a flat surface. 



