USE OF HARDY CLIMBING SHRUBS 291 



In planting both walls and pergolas there is 

 danger in planting too thickly, and in planting too 

 hurriedly or without sufficient preparation. We all 

 must perforce often do the best we can rather than 

 the best we know. Large - growing, permanent 

 shrubs, such as Cydonia japonica, Wistaria, and Mag- 

 nolias, which may remain in the same spot for 

 twenty years or more, often fail through starvation, 

 and in any case never attain their full luxuriance 

 and beauty if cramped and stunted during the first 

 few years after planting. Again, it must be re- 

 membered that both wall and pergola creepers 

 often suffer from dryness during the summer and 

 autumn months, and provision should be made for 

 necessary mulching and watering. 



There is one important point that must be at- 

 tended to in the planting of anything of which the 

 general hardiness is not fully assured, and that is, 

 never plant late in autumn. The golden rule with 

 all half-hardy things is to plant well in April or 

 May, after all danger from severe frost, &c., is over, 

 so as to allow the plants a long summer and autumn 

 season of root and top-growth before the stress and 

 strain of winter weather come upon them. In this 

 way many plants will succeed perfectly in establish- 

 ing themselves that would at once die off if planted 

 out in October or November. 



Abelia. — A. floribunda is a Mexican plant. Mr. 

 Burbidge writes in the Garden, April 14, 1900, p. 

 272 : "I have seen it very handsome in flower on a 

 low wall at Mount Usher, county Wicklow. Its 



