36 



CLIMBERS. 



Of shrubs suitable for covering walls, trellises, and 

 arbours, and at the same time able to resist the dire 

 influences of smoke and soot, there are a few valuable and 

 well-tried kinds. 



The Virginian Creeper (Ampelopsis hedevacea) has few 

 equals as a town plant, succeeding perfectly in the midst of 

 our busiest centres of industry. Many instances could be 

 pointed out, as at Broad Street and Cannonbury, where this 

 handsome climber grows with the greatest freedom in the 

 most impure and smoke laden atmosphere, constantly 

 exposed to the foul air, heat, and dust. It grows freely in 

 any soil of ordinary quality, and soon covers a great extent 

 of wall. The deeply cut ornamental leaves change to a 

 bright red colour in autumn, and are then particularly 

 handsome and pleasing. 



The Common Ivy (Hedem Helix) is, perhaps, the most 

 valuable of all climbing plants for planting in smoke-infested 

 localities. In some of the courts near Ludgate Hill, a 

 district of London that is by no means free from smoke and 

 foul air, the ivy climbs the houses to a height of 60 feet, 

 and surprises one by its fresh appearance in such a locality. 

 It needs no training, and will succeed admirably in soil 

 composed largely of old mortar, stones, and the smallest 

 quantity of loam. 



The Evergreen or Trumpet Honeysuckle [Lonicera 

 sempervirens) is another shrub of great merit for town- 

 planting, as it thrives well in very confined spaces, and 

 where the atmosphere is very impure. It is one of the 

 handsomest of the honeysuckles, bearing a rich profusion of 

 sweet-scented flowers in early summer, and requiring no 

 special treatment or cultivation. It and the Virginian 

 creeper require their young shoots to be fastened to the wall. 



Crataegus Pyracantha is a most useful wall shrub for the 

 town garden. It is of free growth, stands smoke well, and 

 is one of the handsomest berry-bearing plants in cultivation. 

 The variety known as Lelandii is, however, preferable to the 

 normal plant, both for beauty of flowers and fruit. 



The Jasminum nudiflorum needs little description as it 

 is one of our commonest wall plants. For smoky districts 



