CLIMBEKS. HAEDY HANDSOME FOLIAGE PLANTS. 37 



wanted to climb, they must be helped to mount (like 

 aspiring man), and afterwards they will cling by their 

 own stalks, and root from the stem like ivy. Besides the 

 tall kinds there are several dwarfs. 



The Clematis, or Virgin's Bower, has many varieties, 

 among which the common white is a general favourite 

 for its extreme fragrance, and the bat's-wing clematis for 

 its deep-coloured abundant flowers of large size and 

 peculiar form. Most of the clematises like a dry situa- 

 tion. They may be increased by cuttings of firm side 

 shoots under a glass in summer, or by layers in Sep- 

 tember. 



The Honeysuckle deserves a place in the flower garden, 

 on account of the sweet scent of the flowers. It is very 

 hardy, and thrives in any common garden soil. The best 

 way to increase it is to put down layers in autumn, after 

 the leaves begin to fall. 



The Hop is a good plant for training over an arbour, 

 on account of the quickness of its growth, and the shade 

 given by its bold foliage. Its pale green flowers are very 

 ornamental. It likes a rich loamy soil, and can be in- 

 creased by division of the root. There is a variety with 

 variegated foliage. 



CHAPTER VI, 



HAEDY HANDSOME FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



THE beautiful variety and rich colouring in the garden 

 is not dependant solely on flowers. The heavy green of 

 some evergreens, " deuil de 1'ete et parure de 1'hiver," 

 forms a rich background for spring flowering trees and 

 shrubs. While they sober down the rampant green in 

 summer, they give a verdant screen in winter, when the 

 eye hungers for green, and when the shrinking form of 

 man, animals, and plants delights in its warm shelter. 

 Foremost in beauty of foliage must therefore ever stand 

 our evergreens. 



