VISCUM. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



VITIS. 



86 5 



welcome in the pleasure ground or 

 orchard, and is not without beauty of 

 colour, but where abundant it is very 

 injurious to trees of all kinds, being a 

 true parasite and living on the sap of its 

 supporting tree. It grows on many trees, 

 both evergreen and summer-leafing 

 orchard trees, limes, poplars, elms, 

 willows, hornbeam, beech, acacia, horse- 

 chestnut, firs rarely on the oak in Britain. 

 In districts where the plant is wild, the 

 thrushes spread it about by wiping the 

 seeds off their bills on the bark. In 

 orchards or woods it is, where plentiful, 

 very injurious to both fruit trees and 



a, Male blossom, b, Female ditto, d, Berry cut through, e. Seed, showing- 

 embryos, g, kmbryo magnified, h. Two embryos, with radicles ger- 

 minating, i, Single radicle, k. Side view of two radicles. /, Section of 

 the single radicle. 



timber. As to the best way of increasing 

 this plant, Mr. F. W. Burbidge writes : 



" I find growth of the seeds certain if 

 they are placed on clean, fresh, smooth 

 bark in April or May, and then covered 

 with one thickness of black muslin or 

 lawn, so that birds do not peck them 

 away, as they do if unprotected. Many 

 make the mistake of putting on the seeds 

 at or about Christmas-time before they 

 have ripened enough to grow. Do not 

 cut slits in the bark in which to insert the 

 seeds ; the best way is simply to apply it 

 to the clean bark only. 



"Apart altogether from its botanical 

 interest or its antiquarian lore, the mistle- 

 toe, when well grown in dense masses on 

 either apple or pear, really becomes an 



effective plant in either garden or in the 

 winter landscape. The warm yellowish 

 sap-green or olive-green leaf masses 

 dangling from bare and leafless trunks 

 or branches are distinct and effective, 

 thickly set with the clustered berries that 

 glisten in the sunshine." 



VITEX (ChasteTree\V.Agnus-castus 

 is a very old S. European shrub, with 

 divided leaves, and in late summer, 

 clusters of small pale lilac flowers. It 

 grows 6 to 10 ft. high against a wall, but 

 even thus protected is liable to be killed 

 during a severe winter. 

 VITIS ( Vine). Woody climbing shrubs 

 of much interest and garden value, 

 owing to their luxuriant habit, 

 grace, and handsome foliage, which 

 in several instances affords the 

 richest of colours yellows, purples, 

 and crimsons. 



Whilst some are valuable for the 

 walls of houses, others may be used 

 for covering arbours, pergolas, the 

 pillars of verandahs, old tree stumps 

 or sloping banks. In the case of 

 the stronger, taller-growing species 

 they may be made to clamber over 

 living trees. They are moisture- 

 loving plants, and require liberal 

 treatment. Where space is limited 

 they can be kept at any required 

 size by means of pruning, but the 

 best effects are, of course, obtained 

 where they can ramble without let 

 or hindrance. W T here they are in- 

 tended to spread over living trees, 

 they should always be planted 

 sufficiently far away from jthe trunk 

 to allow rain and light" to reach 

 them, and with good rich soil to 

 start in. In the majority of the 

 species increase can be accom- 

 plished by means of cuttings or by 

 single " eyes " treated like those of 

 the common Grape Vine, though some, 

 however, can only be increased by seeds. 

 Layering will occasionally prove success- 

 ful with those that refuse to root from 

 cuttings. Grafting should only be resorted 

 to as a last resource. 



In the following enumeration the names 

 of Ampelopsis and Cissus are sunk under 

 Vitis. 



V. SBStivalis (Summe* Grape}. The 

 leaves are of a deep green colour when old, 

 but in a young state covered on the lower 

 surface with a reddish down. The leaves of 

 this measuring from 4 to 6 ins. across, the 

 berries small about the size of Black 

 Currants acid but edible. New England to 

 Florida and westwards. 



V. californica (Calif omian Vine]. This 

 if the best of the American Grape Vines, (ex- 



3 K 



