VINES AND CREEPERS. 599 



healthiness of different varieties which bear good fruit. The 

 Clinton and the Concord are probably the most healthy and pro- 

 ductive vines in the northern States when left to grow naturally ; 

 and their fruit, though not of the best for table use, makes a fine 

 wine when carefully made and kept long enough. The Isabella, 

 Catawba, Diana, Delaware, and a host of newer sorts, all do well 

 in the middle States, but require more care than the two first 

 named. In the southern States other varieties are more esteemed. 

 We believe that all our native vines are usually trimmed too much, 

 and their healthfulness impaired by it ; and that if their roots have 

 a deep dry soil their tops may be allowed to cover a great space. 



The Periploca. Feriploca grceca.~K shrub from France, also 

 known as the Virginia silk-vine, which is a vigorous twining vine, 

 with large clean-cut, glossy, wavy leaves. The flowers are small, 

 of a rich velvety brown ; in July and August. Their odor is said 

 to be unwholesome to those long exposed to it, and the vine should 

 not therefore be planted on porches or near to windows. 



Climbing Roses. — See roses in Chapter V, Part II. 



The Periwinkle, or Running Myrtle. Vinca.—K trailino- 

 evergreen that covers the ground rapidly, and is adapted to make a 

 deep mat of verdure in shady places under trees where grass will 

 not grow. It bears blue flowers which appear constantly from 

 March to September. 



The Wistaria. Glycine. Wistaria.— Tv^vmng vines of great 

 vigor, indigenous in our country, and in Asia; with compound 

 pinnate leaves, and long racemes of blue or lilac flowers. 



The American, or Shrubby Wistaria. W. (G.)fnitcscens.— 

 A free-grower, indigenous in the middle and southern States. Leaves 

 composed of nine to thirteen leaflets. Flowers bluish-purple in 

 shouldered racemes about six inches long, and borne from July to 

 September. 



The Chinese Wistaria. W. (G.) sinensis. — This most 

 vigorous of twining vines was introduced from China to England in 



