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THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[May. 



Climbing and crccping-plants, from their profusion of 

 blossom and their utility in covering disagreeable objects, as 

 well as the assistance which they aftbrd us in producing some- 

 thing of picturesque or natural appearances in gardens and 

 shrubberies, are often too much excluded fi'ora our gardens, 

 in consequence of the great confusion into which they are 

 too often allowed to run, from a want of training and support 

 while young ; whereas, when properly attended to, they even 

 of themselves give a degree of well-kei)t appearance to the 

 other parts of the grounds, producing pleasing associations and 

 atlbrding both shelter and shade. 



Such plants as are planted against walls or espaliers, should 

 be now examined, and their young shoots nailed or fastened to 

 the wall or trellis. When the object is to obtain a thick mass oi 

 tbliage, tlie leading or strongest shoots only should be nailed in, 

 and the lateral and weaker branches allowed to remain in their 

 natural position ; but when a profusion of bloom is desired, 

 and such is the case generally, particularly with rare or deli- 

 cate plants, pruning to a certain extent must be attended to. 

 Here, as in all other cases relating to pruning, a judgment 

 nuist be formed of what wood is likely to produce flowers and 

 what is not ; as much of the former must be laid in as can be 

 without confusion or crowding one another, and a supply only 

 of the latter to fill the naked parts of the wall or espalier, 

 and to provide a su})ply for the following season of such wood 

 as will, in its turn, produce flowers also. 



