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7fOS£S AND CLIMBERS AT SHIP LAKE COURT. 



CLIMBERS— WALL PLANTS AND PERGOLAS. 



A HOUSE or wall is seldom beautiful without climbers to add a touch of colour ; not 

 that a beautiful old house should be hidden with foliage, but here and there 

 some charming flowering climber is welcome. There is a glorious list to select 

 k from : Roses, Clematises, and the handsome vines which bring rich colouring 

 into the garden in autumn. Annual climbers have been considered in the chapter upon 

 annual flowers in general, but there remain a host of perennial kinds which increase in 

 beauty with age. 



AmpelopsiS. — This is the name of the popular Virginian 

 Creeper which wearies one almost from its constant 

 repetition, hut it is valuable in every way, for covering 

 walls in towns especially. A. Veitchi unci muralis are 

 the most suitable for this purpose, the last-mentioned not 

 clinging quite so closely, and therefore more graceful. 

 Both these die off resplendent hues in autumn, and are 

 easily increased by striking cuttings of moderately ripened 

 shoots, taken off any time from October to March, in a 

 cold frame, or under a hand-light. By the following 

 autumn these cuttings will have made good plants. 

 Make the cuttings about 6in. long, not less. This is the 

 best and quickest way to increase them. Seed may be 

 sown in autumn, or very early in spring, in a prepared 

 cold frame, or in the open ground. After sowing, put 

 long straw litter, or other light material, on the bed to 

 protect young growths. Sow the seed in drills, and if il 

 is soaked in tepid water three hours before sowing il will 

 germinate more readily. 



Aristoloehia Sipho, or the Dm chimin's Pipe, so called 

 from the curious shape ol the flower and stem, is of more 



value for its foliage than its flowers. The leaves are 

 very large and effective. It will grow freely almost any- 

 where, and though usually planted against a wall, it is a 

 useful climber for arbours and the like. 

 Azara mierophylla is a glossy-leaved, shrubby wall 

 plant, with orange-red berries in autumn, but it is worth 

 growing simply for its abundant leaves. This must have 

 a warm position. 



Calystegia pubescens fl.-pl., now grouped w ith the 



Convolvuluses, is a pretty climber for arbours, walls, 

 pergolas, and similar structures, but it is not tall. Il is 

 of very quick growth, and a plant put in some time in 

 spring w ill quickly make headway, and bear a succession 

 of large double delicate rose flowers. It increase is 

 desired, divide the roots. A warm soil suits it 



Chimonanthusfragransgrandifloriisi Winter Sweet) 



is a precious plant lor a wall, scarcely a climber, 

 as it is almost loo shrubby, but requiring a wall for 

 support. The Mowers are borne upon the leafless 

 branches in winter, and are lemon yellow in colour, with 

 crimson calyces, and delightfully fragrant ; hence the 



