90 



however, are admirably suited for fences of tennis courts, provided, of 

 course, the erection be sufficiently strong to support their rapid growth 

 and consequent increase in weight. 



A good many gardens contain an old Durian or Mango tree which 

 is practically past the fruiting stage and therefore of not much value. 

 This seems to be an ideal support for such plants as — Honolulu cree- 

 pers, Allamandas and Bougainvilleas. When these become established, 

 they well repay the loss of a few durians or mangosteens which might 

 have been borne on the tree. 



To enable such climbers to get a fair start, it will be necessary to 

 provide them with something to cling to. Wire netting having a fairly 

 wide mesh is the most suitable for this purpose. The netting should 

 be fixed loosely round the base of the trunk, allowing fully 2 inches 

 between the wire and the bark of the tree. This gives the plant plenty 

 of room to develop and not suddenly checked by its trying to force a 

 way through too narrow an opening. Seven or eight feet of netting 

 will be sufficient, for, by the time the plant has reached that height it 

 will be able to look after itself as far as climbing is concerned. 



Tall growing palms whose stems are destitute of beauty are 

 common. With the help of a coil of wire netting they may be changed 

 into effective and practically permanent pillars. 



The height to which the creeper is to go can be fixed according to 

 the variety chosen; but for such creepers as Aristolochia eJegans good 

 results are obtained if they are only supported for about 6 feet by the 

 netting and then allowed to hang down naturally. 



The practice of making a flat wooden framework supported by 

 four posts, on which to grow the plants, is, to my mind at least, 

 neither very artistic nor natural looking, though it may rcecommend 

 itself to many and may certainly be said to have a few good points 

 about it. The one real disadvantage is that the supports are liable 

 to collapse at any time unless precautions are taken to renew any 

 which show signs of decay. 



In choosing plants for such positions as these, it must be borne in 

 mind that climbers and creepers are two different kinds of plants and 

 usually are adapted for different situations. 



Climbers are the names associated with plants having special 

 organs by which they attach themselves to their supports. Tendrils 

 [Passifiora laurifolia) hooks and spines {Bougainvilleas) and a peculiar 

 half-leaf half-tendril arrangement {Flagellaria) are some of the organs 

 used for the purpose, while again the whole plant may twist or twine 

 itself round the support {Clitoiia). 



On the other hand, creepers are plants which creep along the 

 ground over stones, or on trees by emitting roots from the stem. 

 These roots adhere to their supports, and it will therefore be easily 

 understood that generally such plants require shady and moist situa- 

 tions. Examples of creepers are Ivy and Ficus repens of which the 

 latter might well be termed the Tropical Ivy 



