XI 



ON CLEMATISES 



DEAR old ramblers, these. We love them when we 

 see them tumbling about the hedgerows almost as 

 much as when they are covering our own summer- 

 houses and pergolas. 



It is curious to learn that the name comes from the 

 word klema, a vine growth, in reference to their habit. 

 The purists complain that the popular pronunciation 

 of Clematis is wrong ; but what is the popular pro- 

 nunciation ? As many people say Klem'-a-tis as Klee- 

 may'-tis, but perhaps no more. The former is the 

 better of the two, and I do not think that any flower- 

 lover need be diffident about using it. The purists 

 themselves oscillate between Klee'-ma-tis and Klee- 

 mat'-is, and we must leave them to enjoy playing 

 pendulum. Klem'-a-tis is good enough for us, and 

 Klem'-a-tis, therefore, it shall be. 



Lovers of old English folk-names may say : " Why 

 Clematis at all? Why not Traveller's Joy? Why 

 not Virgin's Bower ? They are charming names, and 

 simple." True, but they belong to certain old species, 

 and do not fit the new hybrids with their great brilliant 

 flowers. You could not very well call Clematis Jack- 

 manii blue Traveller's Joy or blue Virgin's Bower, 

 though it may be assumed that travellers and virgins 

 alike have fits of the blues. We may continue to call 



