254 CALIFORNIA GARDEN FLOWERS 



which fail to make attachment. It presents an even surface of bright 

 green, changing to dark green and to various shades of red as the 

 autumn advances, and drops its leaves in winter that the sun may 

 warm and dry the walls during the rainy season. It seems to endure 

 the hottest sun of the coast region on brick or stone walls, but we 

 have seen it burned on board walls and fences, which may limit its 

 availability for frame buildings, and yet it is very commonly used 

 upon them. 



Akebia quinata. This is a strikingly pretty vine for a rather low 

 support over which it can clamber as it likes. It has clover-shaped 

 leaves and old rose flowers of unique shape. 



Wistaria. Wistarias of many hues and forms are domiciled in 

 California and are fully at home; they do not hesitate to envelop tall 

 houses in a wealth of foliage and bloom. The kinds grown are of 

 oriental origin and we err greatly in not growing them more widely in 

 an oriental way, which, by regular pruning and training, displays their 

 falling racemes most effectively. Wistarias, as we grow them, are 

 excellent, however, for heavy summer shade and entrance of winter 

 sunshine over great areas of courts or buildings. 



Climbing Roses. But all the vines above named, taken together, 

 probably do not equal in popularity and delightful service the climbing 

 roses, of which much is said in Chapter XIV. All that has been sug- 

 gested in the pruning and training of vines applies directly to the 

 treatment of climbing roses, and their success depends largely upon 

 treatment. There are so many climbing roses and they differ so 

 widely in their characters and behaviors cannot be enumerated. 

 Much of the satisfaction in climbing roses depends upon the freedom 

 of their foliage from blighting diseases during nearly the whole of the 

 year. Many roses have such freedom; others seem to be subject to 

 every ill that the rose plant is heir to; others still are healthy and 

 vigorous in one place and not in another. Therefore it becomes de- 

 sirable for the planter to study the roses he can find growing in his 

 district before making a choice for his house-cover. If he cannot 

 find dependable ones, he should plant twice as many bushes of differ- 

 ent kinds as he expects to finally retain; uproot the poor ones and 

 out-train the good ones to occupy wider space. In this way he will 

 free himself from disappointment without losing time in securing that 

 which is good. 



