CLIMBING PLANTS 117 



silver-grey of the old oak or those that rested on the 

 warm-white plaster. It should be remembered that 

 of all Roses the pink China is the one that is more 

 constantly in bloom than any other, for its first flowers 

 are perfected before the end of May, and in sheltered 

 places the later ones last till Christmas. 



The Clematis montana in the court riots over the 

 wall facing east and up over the edge of the roof. At 

 least it appears to riot, but is really trained and regu- 

 lated ; the training favouring its natural way of throw- 

 ing down streamers and garlands of its long bloom- 

 laden cordage. At one point it runs through and over 

 a Guelder Rose that is its only wall companion. Then 

 it turns to the left and is trained in garlands along a 

 moulded oak beam that forms the base of a timbered 

 wall with plastered panels. 



But this is only one way of using this lovely climbing 

 plant. Placed at the foot of any ragged tree — old 

 worn-out Apple or branching Thorn — or a rough brake 

 of Bramble and other wild bushes, it will soon fill or 

 cover it with its graceful growth and bounteous bloom. 

 It will rush up a tall Holly or clothe an old hedgerow 

 where thorns have run up and become thin and gappy, 

 or cover any unsightly sheds or any kind of outbuilding. 

 All Clematises prefer a chalky soil, but montana does 

 not insist on this, and in my pictures they are growing 

 in sandy ground. In the end of May it comes into 

 bloom, and is at its best in the early days of June. 

 When the flowers are going over and the white petals 

 show that slightly shrivelled surface that comes before 

 they fall, they give off a sweet scent Uke vanilla. This 



