6 THE BOOK OF CLIMBING PLANTS 



versation a number of plants which are devoid of any 

 climbing propensities, but which are largely used for 

 covering walls and other objects to which they can be 

 attached by nails or other means of support. It has 

 been thought advisable to include these plants, so as 

 to make this volume as useful as possible. 



On the other hand, some dwarf twining plants of 

 little use for climbing and only serviceable in the 

 garden for furnishing hanging baskets and such purposes, 

 have been omitted. 



In the preparation of this volume it has been my 

 desire to include not only the climbing plants and 

 wall shrubs commonly met with in private gardens, 

 which almost everyone knows, but also a few which 

 are rarely to be seen except in botanic gardens. Their 

 presence in a garden would help to render it more 

 interesting alike to its owner and his friends, and many of 

 these plants, from their intrinsic beauty, are of the highest 

 worth. Of course, a great number have been omitted 

 which would have been included but for the necessity 

 of keeping this work within moderate bounds. With 

 the same object in view a large selection of climbers has 

 been given in tabular form at the end of the volume, 

 with information regarding their colour, the temperature 

 they require, and the time at which they bloom. In 

 some cases these are not mentioned in the chapters 

 containing the general remarks for the corresponding 

 classes, and in these instances it is to be understood 

 that they are amenable to the ordinary treatment re- 

 commended in the chapter on soil, etc. 



The cultural directions, though necessarily brief, will 

 supply as much information as is absolutely necessary 

 for those possessed of a little knowledge of the 

 principles and practice of plant cultivation. These will 

 understand the necessity of varying the treatment under 

 diverse circumstances. 



