GENERAL REVIEW. 



partakes most strongly of its mother-parent, flowering also at 

 the same season from the middle of July onwards. This will 

 be a fine acquisition amongst hardy climbers, and will be wel- 

 comed not only for its well-marked purple colour, but also for 

 its delicious perfume. It is quite unlike the fragrant C. ctzrulea 

 odorata both in habit and flowers, being a true Flammula in its 

 growth and leafage. 



A dwarf variety of Clematis viticella, named nana, was raised 

 at the Paris Museum. Its flowers resemble those of the species, 

 but are larger, and of a rosy lilac. The plant is only from 16 to 

 20 inches high, and is not only very floriferous, but perpetual- 

 blooming. In fact, its shoots as they are developed are termi- 

 nated by flowers, in such a manner that the plant is almost 

 constantly provided with them. This dwarf C. viticella, ob- 

 serves M. Carriere, shows us how new characters appear con- 

 sequently how species are formed. Proceeding from a climbing 

 plant which flowers but once, this is dwarf and not climbing, 

 a*nd its flowers are brought forth in succession during the 

 summer. 



C. viticella, var. venosa, is a hybrid variety which originated 

 in French gardens, and is interesting as an illustration of that 

 sudden development of certain unsuspected characteristics, of 

 which Mr Meehan and others have given examples. This 

 plant was grown in French gardens for twenty years, and during 

 all that time was never known to bear seeds, when all at once 

 one plant out of several bore a copious supply of fertile seeds, 

 the other individuals remaining barren as heretofore. This 

 singular fact should teach us to hesitate before pronouncing 

 any hybrid or seminal variety to be sterile (see 'Revue 

 Hort.') 



In the 'Gardeners' Chronicle,' 1844, p. 587, the advisability 

 of crossing the different species of Clematis is pointed out by 

 Professor Lindley, from whom in all probability some of the 

 earlier hybridisers of this genus took the hint. In the article 

 cited, this distinguished philosopher says : '' Clematis will cross 

 most readily in the following order i. C. Flammula, vitalba, 

 and cylindrica ; 2. C. florida, azurea, viticella, balearica, and 

 Montana ; but there is no apparent reason why they should not 

 all also intermix in skilful and patient hands." 



There is yet an ample field, not only in improving the cross- 

 bred forms now known, but especially in originating new races. 

 The following species, among others, are worth improving : C. 

 calydna this plant was introduced to our gardens in 1783 (see 

 ' Bot. Mag.,' t. 959), and bears four - sepalled, creamy - white 

 flowers, spotted with purple, among elegantly-divided leaves. 



