AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



337 



CLEISOSTOMA (from Icleio, to close, and ttoma, a 

 mouth ; in allusion to the month of the spur being closed 

 by a toothed process). OBD. OreMde*. . Stove epiphytes. 

 Flowers small, fleshy, with a pouched lip, and distinguished 

 from those of Saeeolabivm in having the orifice of the 

 pouch closed by a large projecting tooth. Leaves leathery, 

 narrow. Boots very long and tough. There are about 

 fifteen species belonging to this genus, but, with one or 

 two exceptions, they are not much groi 



grown. For culture, 



exceptions, 



(sfaiateX JL yellow, red. DujeeUng, 1879. 



Carpels numerous, aggi 

 try feathery, tafl. Lea, 



SYX. 



CLEMATIS (from klema, a Vine branch ; most of the 

 species climb like the Vine). Virgin's Bower. Ow>. 

 Ranunculace*. A genus of Jimbin g deciduous shrubs or 

 herbaceous perennials. Calyx of from four to eight 

 coloured sepals ; petals none, 

 gate, terminated by a long, mostly 



opposite, variously cut. For climbing up stumps of old 

 trees, training to trellises on walls, or planting to droop 

 over amongst rockwork, no plants are more suitable, or 

 will make a more gorgeous display, than many of the large- 

 flowered Clematises. Their habit and character alone are 

 suggestive of the many ornamental purposes to which they 

 may be put, and there are few places which may not be 

 adorned by them in some way or other. Not only are they 

 well adapted for running up all kinds of supports, but 

 many of the grand hybrid varieties are equally suitable 

 for trailing over the surface of the ground, and covering 

 beds, either alone or associated with a few distinct foliage 

 plants, such as Seyvndo fnzinifolium varicgatvm, with 

 which they look well, and produce a charming effect. 



General Cultivation. To get the Clematis to flower well 

 and continuously in dry weather, it must have a good depth 

 of rich loamy soil, and a fair share of manure, both above 

 and below the surface. Liquid manure is also a great 

 help to free flowering, and therefore good soakings of it 

 should be given from time to time, according to the state 

 of the weather. As Clematises are always kept in pots 

 for sale, the month of June is a favourable one to obtain 

 them and plant out ; but before doing this, suitable pre- 

 parations should be made, by deeply trenching the ground, 

 which, if at all stiff , wffl be greatly improved by having 

 plenty of leaf soil, refuse peat, or other rich vegetable 

 r, worked in, together with some road 

 which wffl keep the whole open 

 roots to ramify freely. When required for borders, the 

 best way of growing Clematis is to dig large holes, about 

 3ft. across and 2ft deep, and either fill in with fresh turfy 

 loam and dung, or add a good proportion of the same to the 

 sofl thrown out, before it is put back. Place one or more 

 plants in the centre of each hole, and also three tall stakes, 



Clematis 



adopt the more severe proceeding of cutting away the 

 whole of the tops, so as to force the plants to break again 

 from the crowns. This method answers for JacL-man*i 

 and the strong-growing series of which it is the type! 

 It is, however, not to be recommended in the case of 

 those of the lanuyinota type, which generally die back 

 quite far enough, and only require that such dead portions 

 should be cut away, as to do anything further only weakens 

 them, by restricting their growth. Neither is this treatment 

 desirable with any of the others, except such a. are eon- 

 fined to beds and have only limited spaces to filL Heading 

 back those used for covering old trunks of trees, gnarled 

 poles, or other similar supports, lays the latter bare for a 

 long time in spring and early summer, when they would 

 be covered with verdure. It also retards the period of 



Propagation is mainly effected by grafting any of the 

 varieties on portions of Clematis roots, early in the year. 

 Good healthy pieces of root, obtained from old plants out- 

 side, or those of Q. Flamm*l<i, answer the purpose welL 



triangularly, for the plants to climb up, which they wffl do 

 with very little assistance after they have had a tie or two 

 and made a fair start. These stakes should be driven in 

 firmly, about 2ft apart, and then brought together at the 

 tops, and secured by running a piece of wire round them, 

 so that the three, when fixed, form a graduated cone, the 

 shape and outline of which is always the most pleasing of 

 any kind of trellis or support that can be used. The 



... .. are best adapted for planting to 

 on verandahs or up trellises on dwellings, where, if well 

 fed, and otherwise left pretty much to themselves, they soon 

 cover a large space and produce an immense number of 

 flowers. Different growers of Clematises vary much in 

 their manner of treating them. Some, instead of thinning 

 or simply shortening back the shoots during the winter, 



FIG. 467. FLOWKKI>G BRA*CH OF CLEMATIS AROMATIC*. 



These should be split open, and the small scions inserted 

 and tied with matting; they should then be potted in 

 thimble pots, and placed in a propagating case, with a 

 warm, moist temperature, where they wffl readily unite. 

 They may afterwards be removed to cooler quarters, sad 

 be ultimately plunged outside. 



AU the different varieties of Clematis may also be readily 

 increased, either by cuttings, made of the young shoots, 

 which may be cut up to every eye, and placed in pots of 

 sandy sofl, in gentle heat, in the propagating case ; or by 

 layers outside, put in at any time. Layers wffl, in the 

 course of a year, if kept watered, be found to emit roots 

 at the joints covered, after which they may be severed and 

 planted, just before growth commences, in the spring. To 

 aid them in rooting, it is a good plan to slightly scrape the 

 bark before laving the branches in. 



2 x 



