HARDY ORNAMENTAL VINES. 



389 



HARDY ORNAMENTAL VINES. 

 By James H. Veitch, F.L.S. 



From the standpoint of the gardener no genus is more important than 

 the genus Vitis ; no plant more commonly softens the hardness of 

 castle or cottage wall throughout the temperate zone than one of its 

 species, Vitis inconstans, erroneously known as Ampelopsis Veitchii, the 

 celebrated ' Boston Ivy ' of New England. 



From the earliest times and in every country, wherever the Grape Vine, 

 Vitis vinifera, would thrive, it has been cultivated with care, the fruit 

 being to other fruits what wheat is to other cereals, the most important 

 in Western eyes, as rice is in Eastern. 



On the merits and history of Vitis vinifera there is no need to dwell 

 here — the subject has been fully dealt with by many ; but there are a great 

 number of other species worthy of the closest attention from their elegant 

 contour, bold foliage, autumn tints, remarkable rapidity of growth, and 

 their power of attachment to almost any object within reach. 



It is difficult to conceive a difference of opinion on the ornamental 

 value of many species of Vitis when grown either on stout poles, pergolas, 

 or old trees, or when encouraged to ramble over walls and fences. 



The 250 or more known species are usually found in the woods of the 

 warmer parts of both hemispheres, more especially in the East Indies. 

 None are indigenous to Europe. The Grape Vine, Vitis vinifera, the 

 companion of civilised man in all parts, is now held to be a native 

 of the shores of the Caspian Sea, south of the Caucasus Mountains, 

 where it luxuriates, but too great faith may not be attached to this. Vitis 

 inconstans (Ampelopsis Veitchii) is rare in Japan, its native country, and 

 luxuriates in other lands. 



The homes of those hardy species with which we in England are most 

 interested are, with one or two exceptions, the United States of America, 

 and in the East, China and Japan. Of these the second edition of the 

 "Hand List of Trees and Shrubs cultivated in the Royal Gardens, Kew," 

 published in 1902, enumerates forty-three species and fourteen varieties as 

 being at that time in cultivation, but that number has now been con- 

 siderably added to by the introduction of several really remarkable types 

 from the mountainous regions of Central China. 



The treasures of this vast region have only within comparatively 

 recent years been brought to notice by Pere David and other French 

 missionaries, and more recently still by Dr. Henry and Mr. E. H. Wilson, 

 whose efforts have been crowned with great success. Amongst the mass 

 of material Mr. Wilson sent home are several Vines of the highest value, 

 referred to in the following pages. 



As at present constituted the genus Vitis includes Ampelopsis and 

 Cissus. which were formerly kept separate owing to slight technical 



