i8o 



Gardening for Amateurs 



inches or more across. There is a white- 

 flowered variety, Constance Elliott. Cut- 

 tings root readily in a frame during late 

 summer and autumn. In warm gardens 

 the egg-shaped fruits are ornamental in 

 autumn. 



Periploca graeca (Silk Vine). This 

 is a rapid deciduous (leaf -losing) twiner, and 

 from July to September has curious purplish- 

 brown flowers. Interesting and pretty on 

 an arch. Propagated from cuttings and 

 layers. 



Polygonum baldschuanicum (Knot- 

 weed). One of the loveliest of all climbers. 

 It is of rapid growth, and delightful for 

 arbours and tall fences. A very pleasing 

 effect is secured when this climbing Knot- 

 weed is planted in a shrubbery and the 

 growth encouraged to ramble up a tall 

 Holly or other tree, which in a few years it 

 will effectively clothe with a profusion of 

 white flowers during summer. Increased 

 by cuttings. 



Tropaeolum speciosum (Flame 

 Flower). This is a brilliant climber that 

 requires a cool, moist position in which to 

 grow. When the plants are in congenial 

 surroundings the slender shoots are clothed 

 with scarlet flowers from July to September. 

 The plants die down annually in autumn. 

 Plant in leafy soil in partial shade. Pro- 

 pagated by division of the roots. 



Vitis (Vine). Everyone is familiar with 

 the Virginian Creeper, Vitis (Ampelopsis) 

 quinquefolia. It is one of the most rapid 

 growing and most popular climbers for 

 town and suburban gardens. Buildings 

 draped with the long slender growths are 

 especially pleasing in autumn, when the 

 leaves turn a vivid red. Veitch's Ampelopsis 

 (Vitis inconstans) has smaller leaves, and is 

 self-clinging, soon clothing a wall or fence 

 with its glossy green leaves, which turn to 

 many pleasing shades of red in autumn. 

 Both are readily increased by cuttings or 

 layers in September. 



Wistaria. This beautiful hardy climber 

 is a charming plant for clothing the walls of 

 houses, verandas, and arbours. The long 

 drooping racemes of mauve flowers are most 

 attractive. The Wistarias are of vigorous 

 growth, though slow for a year or two after 

 planting. They bloom in spring before the 

 development of the leaves, and a few flowers 

 are also produced by the Common Chinese 

 Wistaria in summer. Wistaria Sinensis 

 (Chinensis) is from China, and has lilac, 

 purple, or mauve flowers. There is a white 

 variety, alba. The Japanese Wistaria multi- 

 juga has blossoms similar in colour, but the 

 racemes are very much longer, 1 to 2 feet 

 in length. A white variety of this is pre- 

 ferable to the white Chinese Wistaria. Pro- 

 pagation is by layers, grafts, and seeds. 



Bone Meal. Ground bones or bone meal 

 form an easy and safe manure to use for 

 any plants which require phosphates, and 

 although its action is slower than that of 

 various chemical manures, its effects last for 

 a much longer time. For heavy ground it is 

 of special value, and anyone requiring a 

 dressing for a lawn where the grass is in 

 need of a fertiliser cannot go far wrong by 

 using bone meal. Nitrate of soda or sulphate 

 of ammonia are more rapid in their effect, 

 but the result is not so far-reaching, whilst 

 they are dangerous manures for inexperienced 

 people to handle. Too strong an application 

 may go far towards ruining instead of 

 invigorating a crop, and the amateur of 

 limited experience would be well advised 

 to rely upon bone meal. 



Carnation Cuttings. Most Carnations 

 may be increased quite as easily by means 

 of cuttings as by layers and much more 

 quickly. Tree Carnations are nearly always 

 raised from cuttings. Large growers insert 

 them by thousands in beds of sand in warm 

 and moist houses, but the amateur may raise 

 his plants quite well by taking cuttings any 

 time during spring or summer, and inserting 

 them in pots or a bed of sandy loam and leaf- 

 mould in a close but cool frame. Border 

 Carnations and Pinks may be increased in a 

 similar way. The frame must be shaded 

 from bright sun until the cuttings are rooted. 

 If no bottom heat is available either from 

 hot water pipes or a mild hotbed the 

 Carnation cuttings will take longer to 

 form roots. 



