DECEMBER. 
265 
CLEMATIS RUBRO-VIOLACEA. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
We have already alluded to the plant which forms the subject of the 
present illustration in our remarks accompanying the figure of C. JacJcmanni, 
at page 123 of our present volume. Both these plants indeed had the same 
origin, being results of the happy experiment made by Mr. G. Jackman, jun., 
in crossing C. lanuginosa with some of the forms of C '. viticella. Both 
appeared in the same seed-plot, and in colouring may be taken as types of two 
series of variations occurring amongst the seedling plants, and both present such 
a gorgeous and magnificent breadth of colouring that they take a foremost 
place amongst hardy ornamental climbers. We scarcely know to which ought 
to be awarded the first position, for both are eminently beautiful, and we 
recommend our friends to be on the safe side, and secure the means by which 
they may both “ look on this picture, and on that.” 
While C. Jachnanni has flowers of the richest and deepest violet purple, 
those of C. rubro-violacea, our present subject, are of a deep reddish purple 
or plum colour, and remarkable for a richness or lustre of surface, which Mr. 
Fitch has been unable to impart to his otherwise beautiful and accurate figure. 
This reddish violet tint seems to indicate that C. viticella atro-rubens must have 
been one of the parents. 
The beauty of a plantation of these, and the numerous kindred seedling 
Clematises, as they appeared towards autumn in Messrs. Jackman & Son’s trial 
ground, must have been seen to be fully appreciated. Suffice it to say that 
there were presented to sight, in one picture, thousands magnificent blossoms, 
various in form, between the expanded type of lanuginosa and the convergent 
type of viticella , and of every conceivable shade of colour between deep violet 
blue and pale azure, between dark velvety maroon or plum colour and reddish 
lilac. Some of those approaching the viticella type have been exhibited during 
the present season in a cut state; but though decided acquisitions viewed 
simply as hardy flowering climbers, we do not think they will ever take the 
same rank in the public estimation as those forms, like our present subject, 
which have flat expanded flowers. 
Whether for walls, or verandahs, or rustic pillars, or trellis screens, or in 
fact wherever hardy climbers with gorgeous flowers may be appropriately intro¬ 
duced, these novelties must be regarded as most valuable acquisitions, and all 
the more so, as we learn that they are as perfectly hardy as the common 
Virgin’s Bower of our hedgerows. M. 
IVY SCREENS. 
(Continued from page 244.) 
From this arrangement of zinc duplicates we are able to change these 
screens at pleasure, moving on or replanting those taken out, for which a good 
stock of trained Ivy plants in 32-sized pots should always be kept on hand. 
It may be as well to remark in passing, that we find a good strong heavy loam 
much the best to plant in : it is also improved by being mixed with a little cow- 
dung, and laid up six months before using. 
We now come to the following plants used in front of these screens, keep¬ 
ing a supply for which all through the winter months is no easy task. They 
consist principally of such as Begonia fuchsioides, insignis, and nitida, 
grown to one stem; Euphorbia jacquiniaeflora, Cobcea variegata, Tropaeolums, 
vol. hi. n 
