ON REARING FLOWERS. 



123 



Jvy-M^e Ami^elo'psis (Ampelopsis Jiederacea) . Fl. in June. Green, 

 liussell's Rose {Bosa Busseliana). Fl. in July. Red. 

 Ruga Rose {Hosa Ruga). Fl. in July. Blush-coloured. 

 Vine-bower {Clematis viticella). Fl. in July. Purple. 

 Double Yine-bower (C viticella, plena). Fl. in July. Purple. 

 Officinal Jasmine and varieties [Jasminum officinale, et var.). Fl. ia 

 July. White. 



Rooting Tecoma and varieties {Tecoma radicans, et var.). Fl. in 



July. Orange and Scarlet. 

 Evergreen Honeysuckle {Caprifolium sevipervirens). Fl. in July. 



Scarlet. 



Flame Virgin's Bower and varieties {Clematis flammula, et var.). 



Fl. in August. White. 

 Common Ivy and varieties {Jledera helix). Fl. in October. Green. 

 Fragrant Chimonantbus and varieties {Cfiimonanthus fragraiis, tt 



var.). Fl. in December and February. Yellowish red. 



There is something so peculiarly graceful and attractive 

 in the appearance and habits of climbing plants, that, with 

 every lover of nature, they are acknowledged favourites ; 

 therefore a few general remarks on their culture w^ll 

 doubtless prove useful. Few persons seem to know and 

 understand the proper management of these plants ; and, 

 for this reason, they are usually seen either in a wild or 

 slovenly state, or, what is almost as bad, are pruned too 

 closely and trained too formally in the summer, and con- 

 sequently produce few flowers. These remarks apply more 

 pai'ticularly to the species of jasmine and virgin's-bower, 

 which are all very beautiful and ornamental, but which 

 are seldom seen neatly trained, and at the same time 

 flowering in anything like perfection ; as these two de- 

 sirable features very rarely accompany each other. To 

 render this part of the subject more intelligible, it will 

 be better to treat separately of such plants as are best 

 adapted for training against a wall, and afterwards of 

 those which show themselves to the greatest advantage 

 when fastened to poles, or the stems of trees. 



In training plants against a wall, it is necessary to con- 

 sider whether they are merely intended for hiding the wall, 

 or whether the beauty of their flowers is thus to be brought 

 advantageously into view, and the wall rendered an object 

 of ornament, instead of a dull and heavy feature in the 

 scene. Where climbing plants are desired for the purpose 

 of concealing an old and unsightly wall, no plant is so well 

 adapted for this purpose as the common ivy, which, 



