CLIMBING PLANTS FOR THE GREENHOUSE. 



given : B. Carderi, pink ; B. frondea, yellow ; B. oli- 

 gantha, reddish orange ; B. patococensis, crimson. 



Clematis indivisa. — The starry while blossoms of this 

 New Zealand evergreen Clematis are borne in the greatest 

 profusion in early spring. There is a variety, lobata, that 

 differs only in its lobed leaves. Both of them are among 

 the finest climbers for the greenhouse or conservatory, 

 and will succeed well in a border if well drained. 



Cobsea SCandenS. One of the mosl vigorous of all 

 climbers, bearing large purple bell-shaped blossoms 

 throughout the summer months. Sown in the spring, the 

 young plants will cover a considerable space the same 

 season. There is a variety in which the leaves are beauti- 

 fully variegated. 



Eeeremoearpus (Calampelis) seabra. — This has prettily 



divided leaves and spikes of orange-coloured blossoms, 



borne in summer and autumn. In mild climates it will 



succeed out of doors. 

 FiCUS, The. F. falcata, F. minima, and F. repens are 



useful little climbers that attach themselves to a wall 



after the manner of Ivy. A damp shady wall, instead of 



being an eyesore, may by means of these Ficus be trans- 

 formed into an unbroken mass of tiny deep green leaves. 

 Hardsnbergia. A group consisting of two species — H. 



Comptoniana, with three or five leaflets, and II. mono- 



phylla, in which the leaves are not divided. Both have 



dense clusters of small purple Pea-shaped blossoms, 



produced in the spring. 

 Hibbertia detltata. This j s a bright yellow climber 



with leaves about 3m. in length, oblong, of a deep green 



when mature, but of a pretty bronzy 



tint when voung. The flnweis, rr'y—. 5 r 



which are 2111. in diameter, are \<% • 



borne during the fust three months 



of the year. 

 Ipomtea. — An extensive genus 



related to Convolvulus, some mem- 

 bers of which are hardy, others 



require a stove, while a few will 



succeed in the greenhouse. They 



are : I. Jalapa, pink ; I. purga, 



purplish rose ; I. Quamoclit, red ; 



I. versicolor, orange. 

 Jasminum. - Of the Jasmines there- 

 are J. grandiflorum, somewhat like 



the common hardy kind but looser 



in growth and with larger flowers, 



which are tinged on the exterior 



with purple — the deliciously fragrant 



blossoms of this occur more or less 



throughout the year — and J. odoratis- 



simum, from Madeira, producing 



golden yellow blossoms during the 



summer, and very fragrant. 

 Kennedya. — Nearly related to 1 far- 



denbergia, but with larger flowers 



and fewer in a cluster. The two 



best are K. Marryattse, with light 



scarlet flowers borne from January 



to June, and K. rubicunda, dark 



red flowers, in April and May. 

 Lapageria. — The Lapagerias are 



among the most beautiful of all 



greenhouse climbers, their wax-like 



bell-shaped blossoms being seen to 



very great advantage when clothing 



a roof or conservatory wall. To 



succeed in their culture the plants 



should be placed in a bed prepared 



for their reception. The soil should 



be removed to a depth of 3ft., and 



at least lit. of drainage material 



placed in the bottom. Over this 



may be spread a layer of turves w ith 



the grassy side downwards, and on 



this a compost consisting of peat, 



sand, rough charcoal, and a little 



brick rubble, the whole being 



pressed down moderately firm. If good healthy plants 

 are chosen they will in such soil grow away rapidly, and 

 soon cover a considerable space. The Lapageria dis- 

 likes exposure to full sunshine, so that it must be grown 

 in a shaded structure, and during the summer freely 

 syringed. Slugs are partial to the young growths just 

 as they are pushing through the soil. 



L. alba has pure white flowers, while in L. rosea they 

 are of a reddish rose tint. Some varieties of this last are 

 much superior in colour and size of flower to others, the 

 best being known as Nash Court Variety and superba. 



Mandevilla SUaveoleilS. — A deciduous climber of quick 

 growth that during the summer bears a profusion of 

 large pure white fragrant Convolvulus-like blossoms. 



Manettia. — This family consists of several species, by 

 lar the best being M. bicolor, with small bright green 

 lanceolate leaves and tubular blossoms, scarlet, tipped 

 with yellow. It will flower nearly all the year round. 



Maurandya Barelayana. This is best treated as an 



annual. Sow the seed in a gentle hot-bed in the spring, 

 and if grown on freely the plants will produce their purple 

 Foxglove-like flowers throughout the summer. 



Myrsiphyllum asparagoides. — A slender climber 

 with small heart-shaped leaves of a bright shining green. 

 It is the plant commonly known as Smilax, whose long 

 sprays clothed with their pretty leaves are so much used 

 in table decorations. 



Passiflora {Passion-flower'). — An extensive group of 

 climbing plants of vigorous growth, with ornamental foliage 

 and a great profusion of beautiful flowers. Several of 



PASS IF 1, R A CONST A NC E 



ELLIOT 



