42 WOOD AND GARDEN 



But the best of all climbing or rambling plants, 

 whether for wall or arbour or pergola, is undoubtedly 

 the Grape- Vine. Even when trimly pruned and trained 

 for fruit-bearing on an outer wall it is an admirable 

 picture of leafage and fruit-cluster ; but to have it in 

 fallest-. beauty it must ramp at will, for it is only 

 when the fast-growing branches are thrown out far 

 and wide that it fairly displays its graceful vigour 

 and the generous magnificence of its incomparable 

 foliage. 



The hardy Chasselas, known in England by the 

 rather misleading name Royal Muscadine, is one of 

 the best, both for fruit and fohage. The leaves are of 

 moderate size, with clearly serrated edges and that 

 strongly waved outline that gives the impression of 

 powerful build, and is, in fact, a mechanical contrivance 

 intended to stiffen the structure. The colour of the 

 leaves is a fresh, lively green, and in autumn they are 

 prettily marbled with yellow. Where a very large- 

 leaved Vine is wanted nothing is handsomer than the 

 North American Vitis Zabrusca or the Asiatic Vitis 

 Goignettii, whose autumn leaves are gorgeously coloured. 

 For a place that demands more delicate foliage there 

 is the Parsley-Vine, that has a delightful look of refine- 

 ment, and another that should not be forgotten is the 

 Claret- Vine, with autumnal colouring of almost scarlet 

 and purple, and abundance of tightly clustered black 

 fruit, nearly blue with a heavy bloom. 



Many an old house and garden can show the far- 



