THE JASMINE. 



103 



grows on the hedges by the wayside. The develop- 

 ment of the stamens of the flower and its permanent 

 character, together with the beautiful cotton-like feature 

 connected with it, render it most conspicuous and well 

 worthy of notice as almost a curiosity among plants. 

 These feathery and persistent flowers may be cut from 

 the plant when they are just beginning to develop, 

 carried home, and placed in a vase without water or 

 anything else, and they will continue to develop 

 themselves for many days — in fact, until they have 

 perfected all their fine feathery parts in a most beautiful 

 and delicate manner. They may then be dyed all sorts 

 of colours, when they will make charming ornaments 

 for vases for many months. 



The Clematis produces its flowers on the current 

 year's wood — that is, the plant makes the growth on 

 which the flowers come at one and the same time. 

 All the ripened wood produces young growth at the 

 joints on which come the flowers. Therefore, when the 

 Clematis is pruned, cut it back to some well-ripened 

 last year's growth containing live buds. The time for 

 pruning is from February until May for the outdoor 

 kinds ; but for the indoor varieties, such as Sieboldii 

 (a most beautiful greenhouse sort), hidivisa, &c, it may 

 be done at any time during the winter, or as soon as the 

 flowering is over. But for the hardy outdoor sorts it 

 is not safe in some counties — e.g. for the northern 

 counties — to prune till after the danger of frost is 

 over, as sometimes severe and protracted frosts will 



kill them. 



The Jasmine. 



The J. Officinale is the most popular of this tribe, nor 

 is there one of all the genus better suited for a climber 

 or for pot culture. It requires a south wall and a 

 warm and dry soil. In the western counties about 

 Torquay it flowers profusely, and grows to a large size 

 on the south walls. It will be observed that the Jas- 

 mine bears its flowers on the young wood of the current 



