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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS wistakia 



If uncared for, the branches and stems 

 in a few years become inextricably 

 tangled. To prevent this they should be 

 looked over carefally once a year, cutting 

 out such branches as are not wanted, and 

 training others to fiU up gaps as may be 

 required. 



W. brachybotrys.- -A tortuous Japan- 

 ese shrub 3-5 ft. high. Leaflets truncate 

 or rather heart-shaped at the base, ovate 

 lance-shaped, pointed, sUky, hoary onboth 

 sides. Flowers in April, violet-purple, in 

 short erect or loosely spreading clusters. 



Although known for many years this 

 is still a very rare plant, and only small 

 specimens are to be met with in cultiva- 

 tion. There is a white-flowered variety 

 alba also known. 



Culture dc. as above. 



W. chinensis {W. sinensis ; W. conse- 

 quana; Glycine chinensis ; G. sinensis). 

 Chinese Kidney Beam, Tree. — A beautiful 

 Chinese climbing shrub, with ovate- 

 pointed leaflets in opposite distant pairs, 

 covered with a thin silky down. Flowers 

 from AprU to Jime, before the leaves are 

 fully developed, pale purple, in long 

 conical clusters, and in great abundance. 

 There is a pure white-flowered variety 

 called alba, and a double-flowered form, 

 flore plena ; macrobotrys has white 

 flowers tinted with bluish -purple, in very 

 long clusters ; and variegata has silver and 

 green foliage, but it and flore pleno are 

 not particularly handsome. 



Culture dtc. as above. This is one of 

 the few cases where the botanical name 

 has found popular favour, and the Wistaria 

 is probably one of the best known plants 

 in cultivation. It is invaluable for cover- 

 ing houses and buUdings of all kinds, and 

 if the branches are trained round the 

 various sides, thus securing different 

 aspects, the period of flowering can be con- 

 siderably lengthened. Thus the shoots on 

 a north wall will be in bloom 2 or 3 weeks 

 even after those on a south wall have 

 faded. In August and September again, 

 it is not unusual for healthy plants to 

 come into blossom anew, but the flowers 

 are not in such great profusion as in the 

 earlier part of the year. 



W. frutescens {Glycine frutescens ; 

 Thyrsa/nthus frutescens). — American 

 Kidney Bean Tree. — A handsome decidu- 

 ous N. American climber. Leaflets 9-13, 

 1 in. long, ovate lanoe-shaped or oblong. 

 Flowers later than W. chinensis, dark blue, 



violet-tinted, in clusters 4-6 in. long. 

 Magnifica is an improved form with 

 flower racemes over 1 ft. long. There is 

 also a variety alha with white flowers, 

 but otherwise similar to the type. 

 Culture Sc. as above. 



W. japonica. — A smooth Japanese 

 shrub. Leaflets shortly stalked, ovate 

 lance-shaped, blunt or acute. Flowers 

 in summer, white, in simple nodding 

 racemes. This species may be grown as 

 a bush, in which state it shows little 

 tendency of a climbing nature. It is also 

 known as Millettia japonica. 



Culture dc. as above. 



W. multijuga (W. grandiflora). — A 

 beautiful Japanese species with pinnate 

 leaves, and numerous elliptic - ovate, 

 pointed leaflets. Flowers in summer, paJe 

 lilac-purple, with purple wings and keel, 

 individually smaller than those of W. 

 chinensis, but in racemes often 2-3 ft. 

 long. 



Culture dc. as above. 



ROBINIA (Locust Teeb). — A genus 

 with 5 or 6 species of clammy or bristly 

 deciduous trees or shrubs, with oddly 

 pinnate leaves, bristly or spiny stipules, 

 and flowers in axillary racemes. Calyx 

 teeth short, broad. Standard petal large, 

 reflexed ; wings sickle-shaped, oblong, 

 free ; keel incurved, blunt. Stamens 10, 

 the upper one usually free to the base, 

 or united with the others midway. Pod 

 linear, flatly compressed. 



Culture and Propagation. — Eo- 

 binias grow well almost everywhere, 

 except in stagnant wet soU, and from the 

 spring to late autumn are very ornamental 

 in appearance. They may be increased 

 by layers when obtainable, or the rarer 

 kinds by grafting or budding on M. 

 Pseudacacia. Seeds will also germinate 

 fairly well, especially if soaked in hot 

 water for a few hours previous to sowing. 

 Cuttings of the roots may also be inserted 

 in sandy soil in gentle bottom heat in the 

 early spring months. 



R. dubia (iJ. anibigua; B. echinata). 

 A supposed hybrid between B. Pseud- 

 acacia and B. viscosa. It is a pretty 

 tree about 25 ft. high, with ovate leaflets. 

 Flowers from June to August, pale rose, 

 sweet-scented, in loose drooping racemes, 

 followed by brown pods thickly beset 

 with prickles. 



Culture Ac. as above. This is also 



