756 THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



The first consideration, and one of great importance, is how 

 to plant climbers. Generally they are planted in the soil under 

 the stage, but this method has been found to be very unsatis- 

 factory, as they are then difficult to get at, and unless beds are 

 made before the house is built they cannot be made at all. 

 Proper drainage cannot be given, and it is a matter of great 

 difficulty to get at the surface of the soil to stir it up or to top- 

 dress ; also during the winter the surface is liable to be baked 

 by the heat from the pipes. The best method seems to be to 

 make a slate bed along the back of the shelf about i^ft. deep 

 and ift. wide, being 6in. above the level of the shelf and ift. 

 below, and having separate divisions for each plant, so that 

 their roots can be kept apart and each be given its own par- 

 ticular soil. This, although it does not give the root-run that 

 can be obtained when planted out under the stage, brings ' the 

 surface of the soil into the full light, and admits of easy access 

 for the purpose of top-dressing, &c, while it also allows good 

 drainage. When planted against pillars, a square slate bed may 

 be made at their base, but they must be well drained. If neither 

 of these methods is convenient large pots may be used, but they 

 are not to be recommended for strong-growing climbers, as they 

 cramp the roots too much. : 



When training climbers on the roof they should only be 

 taken along the rafters, using wires to train them on ; if it is 

 desired to spread any out this should only be done at intervals, 

 or they will shade the other plants too much. It must be 

 borne in mind that they are only auxiliaries, and for this 

 reason frequent thinning out of the strong growers must be 

 practised. It should be the aim to obtain long flowering 

 shoots, to hang down from the roof so that they will just be 

 above the head of a tall person standing beneath ; by this 

 means a very fine effect is obtained. Only good-sized plants 

 should be planted out, and when any have grown too large for 

 their beds it will be best to replace them with young plants, 

 at the same time renewing the soil. In the winter nearly all 

 may be cut back a little, and some of- the hard-wooded species 

 hard back, when they are at rest. It is also advisable, if a 

 stem has become big and knotted by frequent cutting, to take 

 up a young shoot in its place, cutting the old one out. 

 The climbers are mostly of easy cultivation, and do not present 

 many difficulties regarding propagation. Plenty of water should 

 be given during the growing season, and but little whilst at 

 rest. Care must also be taken to keep them free of insects. 



Abutilon megapotamicum and var. variegata make very 

 pretty climbers, having bright scarlet flowers, and the foliage of 

 the variegated variety is very effective. Propagate by cuttings 

 in spring, and grow in loam and sand. Cut back in autumn. 

 Many of the varieties already mentioned under "Soft-wooded Plants." 



