AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 485 



climber, and to forget its fragrance, in which it is almost sin- 

 gular among our wild climbing shrubs. It is really one of the 

 very finest of climbers, perfectly hardy and vigorous ; and, when 

 left to the complete abandon of its natural growth, there is an 

 extreme wealth of picturesque beauty in its graceful convolu- 

 tions, as well as in the profusion and richness of its diversified 

 forms of foliage, while no perfume floats upon the summer air 

 more delicious than the odor of its blossoms. 



Its varieties, both fruit -bearing and fruitless, are numerous ; 

 and the wild, fruitless, gash-leaved vine ( Vitis riparia) is pe- 

 culiarly fragrant. 



12. WISTARIA, Blue Chinese, Wistaria Sinensis. A per- 

 fectly hardy and very rapid winding runner, having a peculiar 

 pair of hooks, turning backward, at each joint, which some- 

 times aid its ascent. It bears a perfect burden of large pen- 

 dent racemes of pale lilac or blue flowers, of a peculiar and 

 delicate fragrance, which come out before the foliage expands 

 in the spring. The absence of green leaves with the blossoms 

 is a drawback upon its beauty which in some localities might 

 be obviated by arranging it so as to intermingle its growth 

 with an evergreen, though its own foliage is fine when it ap- 

 pears. If the young shoots are nipped at about two feet long in 

 June or July, a considerable second crop of blossoms will be 

 yielded in August. 



Many of these climbers may be planted to run upon trees, 

 either deciduous or evergreen. They show finely in combina- 

 tion with either, but those which wind should not be set by 

 trees while young, lest they cut in and destroy them. They 

 may also be made to overrun rocks, or rough stone fences 

 which it is desired to blind. 



Artificial rock*-work is sometimes made for ornament by 

 throwing together loose stones or rocks in such forms as fancy 

 dictates, and mixing with them just enough of leaf-mould and 

 loam to afford support to small plants. For these the various 

 kinds of Stonecrop may be used, interspersed with Columbines, 

 Wood Anemones, &c. If it be desired to cover them, plant 

 some of the above climbers, or Petunias, Portulacca, &c., among 

 them. The plant known in European agriculture as Esparsette, 



