HARDY CLIMBING PLANTS 81 



in the autumn are thickly hung with golden fruit in sheltered sites. 

 Propagated by cuttings inserted in cold frame in summer. Prune Passion- 

 flowers in February by shortening to about one-third the strong shoots, 

 but remove weakly growths. 



PolygOimm baldschuanicum. This is an uncommon climbing 

 plant of rare beauty. We have read disparaging paragraphs concerning 

 it, but the plant's failure occasionally to come up to expectations is due 

 probably to many seedlings having been raised, and these are not always 

 true to the original type. It has one merit, that of flowering in the 

 autumn. Planted against a pergola, pillar, or stout post, it quickly 

 makes growth, and in autumn the stems are clothed with misty masses 

 of pink-tinted flowers. Sometimes it gets cut down to the ground in 

 winter, but springs up again the following spring. The flowers last 

 well when gathered for the house. It bears some resemblance to 

 P. molle, but is quite distinct. 



Solanum jasminoides is a beautiful climbing plant that is covered 

 with white flower-clusters through the whole of the summer and autumn. 

 It is not strictly hardy, but does well in the south of England, and has 

 withstood the winter as far north as Derbyshire. 



Tropaeolum speciosum (The Flame Nasturtium). This is an 

 exceptionally brilliant flowering climber, which dies down each winter. 

 It succeeds better in the north than in the southern counties; and, 

 where it is established, affords a marvellous display of colour, draping 

 the boughs of evergreens with its scarlet flower-trails. Propagated by 

 division of roots. It loves to run through shrub growth. It may be 

 frequently seen in the Highlands of Scotland covering the cottages with 

 a crimson dress of flowers. 



Vitis. For beauty of leafage the Vines excel all our deciduous 

 climbers. They may be used for covering pergolas, arbours, trellised 

 walks, or for garlanding the trunks of old trees. There are many 

 ornamental species, of which the following form a good selection : 

 Vitis Coignetids, a recent introduction, which bears leaves, often one 

 foot across, that assume a rich bronzy crimson in the autumn. V. cali- 

 f arnica, V. Labrusca, V. Romaneti, and V. vinifera purpurea, all of 

 which are characterised by rich autumnal tinting. V. laciniosa bears 

 very deeply-cut leaves, while V. heterophylla humulifolia, the Turquoise- 

 berried Vine, in addition to its handsome foliage, has the further merit 

 of producing a profusion of pale-blue fruit. The Japanese Vines are 

 glorious climbing plants ; their big leaves are a blaze of colour in autumn, 

 and every one knows how graceful the Vine is beautiful, not merely 

 for its foliage and tendrils, but for its fruit-clusters too. The Virginian 

 Creepers, formerly known as Ampelopsis, are now included in the Vitis 

 family, the common Virginian Creeper being entitled V. quinquefolia, 

 while the clinging Ampelopsis Veitchi, so largely used for covering house- 

 walls, is named V. inconstans. Ampelopsis, or muralis, is a very 

 beautiful form, which does not cling so closely as Veitchi, and turns to 

 brilliant autumn colours. 



Wistaria Sinensis, with its long tassels of scented, lavender 

 flowers, is one of the choicest of our spring-blooming climbers, and is 



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