TENDER CLIMBERS FOR SUMMER PURPOSES. 113 
Having in various parts of our Magazine made detached observations on several 
species belonging to this class, we shall concentrate and extend them, and shortly 
depict the different methods of treating these plants, afterwards giving a list of the 
most ornamental. 
Tender climbers are valuable for covering a wall quickly and temporarily through 
the summer months. It often happens, from a variety of causes, that a wall or 
part of a wall is laid bare in a more or less conspicuous portion of the pleasure 
grounds; and as no permanent objects could clothe it so speedily, species are 
employed which soon extend themselves over it, and make what would otherwise 
be a disagreeable and unsightly mass, a most delightful and attractive surface. In 
other instances, a wall, perhaps distant from the mansion, and rarely seen in the 
winter, is mantled every summer with climbers of this description, in preference to 
more stationary plants, because the former are much more showy. The case, again, 
of conservative walls, or those appropriated to either hardy or greenhouse climbers, 
or both, usually demands for the first few years the aid of some temporary 
ornaments, to fill up the vacancies left by the more slow-growing specimens that 
are ultimately to occupy them ; and here the usefulness of the plants under discussion 
is further apparent. 
In many gardens, too, there are wall-like trellises traversing particular com- 
partments, — whether composed of wood or strong wire is of no moment, — and 
sometimes intended to act as lines of separation from other spots, though often put 
up solely with the view of supplying a place for ornamental climbers. To these 
trellises hardy and shrubby species may or may not be attached, in accordance with 
their design ; but when they are made use of, the introduction among them of a few 
tender herbaceous species will very much enliven their aspect, and if hardy kinds are 
not employed, of course the whole will be devoted to the subjects of our article. 
A sort of trellis has lately come into use in flower-gardens of an irregular 
character, or small ones that have been laid out with the express intention of adding 
such a thing, which is made to overarch one or more of the principal walks. It is 
usually constructed of thick iron wire, and rendered very durable, that all kinds 
of climbers may be supported by it. Where, however, only the summer species 
which we are now referring to are desired to be grown, thin and rustic wooden 
rods will be quite as serviceable, and may be taken away in the autumn. 
Trellises in the shape of baskets afford facilities for training a few climbers of 
the character herein indicated, and care should be exercised in selecting those, the 
colours of whose flowers will harmonize well with the prevailing tints in the beds 
beneath. 
Wire-trellises, again, in the form of parasols, balloons, simple barrels, a tuft of 
plumes, or any figure which may best suit the taste of the culturist, can be placed 
sparingly on lawns, among the shrubs or beds with which they are diversified ; 
and if covered with appropriate summer climbers, they will produce a very grateful 
variety in such a scene. 
vol. ix. — no. ci. o 
