CLIMBING ROSES 19 



ful roses of scandent habit fifty years ago, memories of them 

 as seen clothing cottages in country places in England 

 are cherished by most people. They were of the type of 

 Flora, Ruga, Dundee Rambler and Fe'licite' Perpetue, and 

 they are among the best of what are popularly known as 

 rambler or pergola Roses to-day. No more need be said 

 here of the qualities and uses of climbing Roses. Their 

 relations the Brambles (Rubus) have jumped the garden 

 fence owing to the introduction from China of a number of 

 promising climbing species (see Plates IV and V). There 

 is a good collection of them near the Pagoda at Kew, and 

 some appear to have qualities which should prove attractive 

 horticulturally. Distinctly climbing in habit, they have a 

 wide range of leaf variation, and as they appear to be quite 

 hardy there should be no difficulty in proving their worth. 

 Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, who introduced most of them 

 through their collector Mr. Wilson, believed in them, for 

 they exhibited collections of them periodically at the shows. 



A useful climber, whose merits have been overlooked, 

 is Hydrangea scandens ; it clings like Ivy, and has bright 

 green, heart-shaped leaves, which are deciduous. The 

 flowers are not of much account ; indeed, they are rarely 

 produced. It has decided merit as a wall climber, as it 

 covers a large area in a comparatively short time, and is 

 quite hardy. 



The claims of certain annuals as climbers must not be 

 overlooked. The Scarlet Runner Bean, though considered 

 too vulgar by some people for a place among decorative 

 plants, is as beautiful as it is useful. The climbing Tro- 

 paeolums are general favourites. They are capable of doing 

 a great deal in a short time towards blotting out unsightly 

 objects, and they are in themselves full of attractions. It is 



