28 o BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



as Gardenias. It is very bright and cheerful, and it is easily 



grown. 



Wistaria sinensis used to be a great favourite in years gone 

 by. It is perhaps less frequently planted now than it was once, 

 owing to the increase in the use of Roses for walls. The plant 

 grows too slowly in its early days to suit those people who 

 like quick effects. When thoroughly established it moves more 

 rapidly, and it is very beautiful when well furnished with its 

 long mauve clusters. Annual pruning to the old wood is good, 



as it encourages strong new breaks and 



|'ii tut" I "tn'/f } /"_'"_! I / 



large bunches of bloom. 



Of foliage plants for walls the most 

 popular is the Virginian Creeper not 

 the common, which sprawls all over 

 the place, harbours sparrows, and finally 

 casts its leaves late in summer and 

 presents an ugly array of long, bare 

 stalks, but Veitch's variety, popularly 



A, A, A, A, flowering shoots to be cut back . . . . . , 



to one or two basai buds ; B, B, B, B, B, known as Ampelopsis Yeitcriii> but now 



PRUNING WISTARIA 



cut ; C, C, C, C, 

 should be cut out. 



called by botanists Vitis inconstans. 



This valuable plant grows as well in 

 town as in country gardens, is of neat habit, clings tightly to 

 brick or stone walls by means of its own suckers, clothes the 

 walls in a pleasing mantle of green in summer, and changes to 

 a warm red in autumn. 



Ivy is, of course, seen on many old buildings, and on not a 

 few modern ones, but we doubt if it is as extensively planted 

 nowadays as it was in the days before Ampelopsis Veitchii came 

 to Great Britain. However, it is still a popular plant, and there 

 are many beautiful forms to choose from, nearly all varieties of 

 the common Ivy, Hedera Helix. Those who want a very quick- 

 growing sort might choose the Irish, canariensis, the leaves of 

 which are five-lobed. Those who want a very large-leaved 



