MY SHRUBS 



121 



by the pale lilac blossoms of the former. The other varieties of the 

 genus Vitex belong to the greenhouse or stove. 



The great race of Vitis, if even reasonably presented, would fill 

 my garden, for every year sees a few new beautiful ornamental vines 

 from China or Japan added to our cultivation. I have the familiar 

 V, Coignetice, Madame Coignet's superb monster from Japan, 

 whose autumnal colours are resplendent, and V, labrusca, the 

 American Fox Grape, which does not fruit with me. Vttis armata, 

 V. megalophylla, with huge bi-pinnate foliage, V, Henry ana — a 

 beautiful thing of Ampelopsis character — ^velvety and white veined, 

 and V. Titanea from Japan, which should fruit, but only flowers 

 abundantly, are also climbing here. V. heterophylla variegata is a 

 pretty little creeper, or climber, with foliage spattered cream and 

 pink, while V. purpurea, the Claret Vine, is a strong grower with 

 wine-coloured foliage and occasional clusters of purple berries. V, 

 Brandt, a hybrid, promises good grapes on a wall, though as yet I 

 have not seen them ; but my favourite vine is V, heterophylla humuli- 

 folia, the Turquoise-berried Vine from North China and Japan. 

 This hardy climber, given a south wall, or the roof of a garden 

 house, performs wonders. In autumn the foliage is a fine yellow, 

 and after a hot summer the plant, now grown huge, is covered with 

 clusters of dainty berries every shade of amethyst, purple, and sky 

 blue. This is a most precious climber, and none with a place to grow 

 it should deny himself the shrub. The fruits often germinate and 

 seedlings spring up round about, but cuttings strike readily and 

 soon make respectable pieces. 



The Weigela (which should be Dievilla by the way) is too familiar 

 to demand more than passing admiration. It has been a favourite 

 shrubbery plant since the time of our great grandfathers, and its 



