77 6 



VISCUM. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



VITIS. 



and a dwarf variety, nana, about 9 

 inches high, are desirable. 



VISCUM ALBUM (Mistletoe). This | 

 on trees is often welcome in the pleasure j 

 ground or orchard, and is not without 

 beauty of colour, but where abundant ; 

 it is injurious, being a true parasite 

 which thrives at the expense of its 

 victim. It grows on many trees, both 

 evergreen and summer-leafing or- ; 

 chard trees, Limes, Poplars, Elms, 

 Willows, Hornbeam, Beech, Acacia, 

 Horse-chestnut, Firs rarely on the 

 Oak in Britain. Where the plant is 

 wild the thrushes spread it about by 

 wiping the seeds off their bills on the 

 bark, and where plentiful it is very 

 injurious to fruit trees and timber. 

 As to the best way of increasing this 

 plant, Mr F. W. Burbidge wrote : 



" I find growth of the seeds certain 

 if they are placed on clean, fresh, 

 smooth bark in April or May, and then 

 covered with one thickness of black 

 muslin or lawn, so that birds do not 

 peck them away, as they do if unpro- 

 tected. Many make the mistake of 

 putting on the seeds at or about 

 Christmas - time before they have 

 ripened enough to grow. Do not cut 

 slits in the bark ; the best way is 

 simply to apply it to the clean bark 

 only." 



VITEX (Chaste Tree). V. Agnus- 

 castus is a graceful shrub, with divided 

 leaves, and in late summer clusters of 

 small pale lilac flowers. It grows 6 to 

 10 feet high against a wall, but even 

 thus protected is liable to be killed 

 during a severe winter. I have never 

 seen it flower well except in Austria 

 and Italy. S. Europe. 



VITIS ( Vine) . Woody climbing 

 shrubs of much interest and garden 

 value, owing to their grace and hand- 

 some foliage, which affords the richest 

 of colours yellows, purples, and crim- 

 sons. Whilst some are valuable for 

 the walls of houses, others may be used 

 for covering arbours, pergolas, the 

 pillars of verandahs, old tree stumps, 

 or sloping banks. In the case of the 

 stronger, taller- growing species they 

 may be made to clamber over living 

 trees. Where space is limited they 

 can be kept small by pruning, but the 

 best effects are obtained where they 

 can ramble without hindrance. Most 

 kinds can be increased by cuttings or 

 by single "eyes" treated as in the 

 Grape Vine, though some can only be 

 raised by seeds. Those that refuse to 



root from cuttings can sometimes be 

 layered. Graftings should be a last 

 resource. It is worth noting that some 

 of the early kinds of European Vine 

 ripen well in some of our warm valleys, 

 all the more so if pruned and trained 

 as in France, but even without that 

 they sometimes fruit very well. Vines 

 of the north of France, such as Le 

 Chasselas, de Fontainebleau and La 

 Madeleine, may be tried for this with 

 any others. 



In the following list Ampelopsis and 

 Cissus are merged in Vitis. 



V. ^STIVALIS (Summer Grape). The 

 leaves are 4 to 6 inches across, a deep 

 green colour when old, but in a young 

 state covered on the lower surface with 

 a reddish down. The berries are small 

 about the size of black currants acid 

 but edible. New England to Florida 

 and westwards. 



V. ARMATA. Noble Vine from C. 

 China, with large heart-shaped or nearly 

 triangular bronze-green leaves set upon 

 spiny stems, by means of which the plant 

 climbs. In autumn the foliage assumes 

 fine tints of crimson-purple and yellow, 

 and it reaches a height of 10 or more feet 

 in three years from the seed. 



V. CALIFORNICA (Californian V.). This 

 is the best of the American Grape Vines 

 (excluding the Ampelopsis section) for 

 colour in autumn, and it is one of the 

 strongest growers, climbing over lofty 

 trees. Its leaves, which turn a deep 

 crimson in autumn, are rounded and 

 covered with down. 



V. COIGNETI.E (Crimson Glory V.). 

 A noble hardy Vine from the mountain 

 forests of the Island of Yezzo, N. Japan, 

 where it covers the trees from base to 

 summit with a gorgeous mantle in 

 autumn. It comes near V. Labrusca 

 in general appearance, but is more 

 vigorous, growing at a great pace when 

 fairly established, and displaying a pro- 

 fusion of leathery dark-green leaves with 

 several lobe - like points, and coated 

 beneath with a thick felt-like down which 

 varies in colour from rusty-brown to 

 yellow or nearly white. Their autumn 

 tinting is beautiful, especially in a dry 

 season and when the plant is not overfed. 

 Increase by seed or layers. 



V. CORDIFOLIA (Frost Grape). A vigor- 

 ous Vine with thin, three-lobed leaves, 

 measuring 3 to 6 inches in diameter, the 

 lobes ending in a long, fine point. The 

 berries are black and only eatable after 

 frost. A moisture-loving Vine, affecting 

 in a wild state the banks of streams. New 

 England to Nebraska and southwards. 



V. FLEXUOSA. A variable species from 

 China and Japan, with small rounded 

 leaves, toothed at the edges, and a velvet 

 surface, remaining fresh till late in 



