112 THE FRUIT-TREE AND SHRUB PRUNER. 



successfully, for it must be remembered that it comes 

 from the East Indies, where Melons will grow among 

 the stones in the streets. 



The Abutilon. 



This is a most beautiful class of fast-growing plants, 

 being neither climbers nor twiners, but they may be 

 utilised as such in various places. At the back of a 

 conservatory the Abutilon is quite at home. It is most 

 ample in its foliage, this being of a fine feature also. 

 It flowers freely on all the young wood. Age is 

 necessaiy for an abundance of these when it is grown 

 as a pot plant. 



In pruning the Abutilon spur in the laterals to a 

 few buds, or cut out old limbs and lay in moderately 

 well-ripened young wood. This may be done annually 

 at any time in the autumn, or if the plant is out of 

 doors prune it in the spring. 



The Sollya. 



This is a small family of very pretty dwarf, blue- 

 flowered climbers, fit for training on the back trellis of 

 a conservatory or up the pillars of it. In the first 

 instance induce the plants to grow strong, and then 

 select one or two of the main leaders to twine round 

 the pillar. Prune all the laterals produced on these to 

 a few buds on each spur, and continue to do so annually. 

 Do the same also by a plant trained on a trellis on the 

 back of the house or elsewhere. By this method of 

 treatment an abundance of the pretty little blue, salver- 

 shaped flowers will be produced, forming quite a display 

 for manjr weeks, and, indeed, for most of the summer. 



The Plumbago Capensis. 



This is not, strictly speaking, a climber, but it may 

 still be utilised as one for conservator} 7 decoration, and 

 is a most beautiful thing when trained in that way. 



