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PRACTICE OF GARDENING. 



wall, a close pruning is necessary in order to render them 

 stronger, and the shoots more abundant. This point 

 should especially be attended to while they are young, 

 otherwise their lower stems will remain bare and unsightly 

 — a very prevalent defect in plants of this description. 

 The Japan quince, and the climbing rose, will seldom 

 require their shoots shortening in this manner, and the 

 Japan kerria, and the China roses especially, will not bear 

 much pruning. The species of clematis and jasmine may 

 be freely pruned in the winter, but they should never be 

 deprived of their lateral shoots in the summer, as it is from 

 the extremities of these that the flowers are generally pro- 

 duced; therefore, instead of cutting them off, the principal 

 ones may be fastened to the wall, and the shorter ones allow- 

 ed to protrude themselves from the wall; by which means 

 their flowers will be exhibited to the greatest advantage. 



When the plants have attained the required size, it is 

 a good plan to prune the young laterals down to short 

 spurs in the winter, and these spurs will produce more 

 lateral shoots in the ensuing season, from the points of all 

 which there will be a cluster of flowers. The system of 

 spurring the young shoots in the winter, and of allowing 

 them to take their own course in the summer, imless they 

 become too straggling, is the chief point to be attended 

 to in the cultivation of these plants, and if this is duly 

 regarded, an abundant display of flowers will be ensured. 

 Soil and aspect are of comparatively little importance, as a 

 good rich loamy soil will be found suitable for all climbing 

 plants, but it is important that they should have a border 

 of such soil, full three feet wide, or, if practicable, four or 

 five feet, — and that the soil should be well dug and pre- 

 pared previous to placing the plants in it. A wall with a 

 south or south-western aspect is certainly preferable for 

 ornamental climbing plants, but this is by no means 

 indispensable, as they will flourish in almost any situation, 

 provided it is not too much exposed to cold winds; though 

 they will certainly produce their flowers in greater perfec- 

 tion when they are well exposed to the sun, as they would 

 be in the position first alluded to. 



That climbing plants contribute much to enliven and 

 embellish the walls of a cottage, every individual who has 



