GO 
THE PLOEIST AND TOMOLOGIST. 
[ ArniL. 
light and air for its nourishment, and it will 
grow so freely and rapidly, that it will soon 
screen from view any old or unsightly wall or 
building which it is desirable to hide away out 
of sight—and screen it, too, with a curtain of 
the richest vegetable drapery, which in its rich 
autumn tints will cause it to glow with a brilli¬ 
ancy of hue which is almost indescribable. For 
thus draping old walls, for garnishing balconies, 
for roofing in summer bowers and verandahs, it 
is one of the best creepers that can be planted, 
one qualification of no small importance being 
that it is utterly regardless of the rigours of 
winter. The only fault it has is that it is 
deciduous. 
One instance in which we remember to have 
seen it used with remarkably good effect is in the 
establishment of M. Van Houtte, where the ex¬ 
tensive range of offices, workshops, and other 
outbuildings are most symmetrically covered 
with it, and present a most charmingly ornate 
appearance. M. Eodigas, in one of the earlier 
volumes of the Flore de Serves, refers to a 
railway-station not far from Oassel, which, 
covered with this plant, excited the ad¬ 
miration of all who saw it; beautiful plants 
adorned the house, but its enchanting aspect 
was owing to the Ainpelopsis which clothed it. 
The Creeper is so adaptable in its habit, 
that it appears to constitute, according to 
the laws of architecture, an essential part of 
the construction. Nothing is more charming 
than its graceful festoons and its arabesques, so 
light that one might believe them to be painted, 
decorating the walls of red brick everywhere 
with their elegant curves. All the difficulty 
consists in maintaining the creeper within the 
boundaries which may have been traced for it. 
For that purpose, a single stock or stem only 
must be allowed to develope itself, and all the 
lateral shoots from this must be pinched off 
above their second or third leaves, for the whole 
length of the stem, so that it may form itself in 
reality into a beautiful garland of foliage. 
The lateral shoots may at length be allowed 
to throw down their branches. 
No doubt other free-gi'owing climbing plants 
might be treated in the same way. The 
newer more graceful Ampelopsis fricuspidata 
{Veitcldi), and the Wistaria sinensis, for ex¬ 
ample, might be so trained with very good 
effect.—M. 
VILLA GARDENING. 
Stpvth 
ARCH is proving what might be termed 
// a harassing month to Gardeners. It has 
been fine and open, and of a nature fo 
invite to active operations in the garden ; then 
comes a change to clouded skies, and cold, re¬ 
pelling winds, with snow, and indications that 
winter is by no means at an end. These con¬ 
trarieties may be but a part of the exemplifica¬ 
tion of the old saying that the best March is 
one that comes in like a lion, and goes out like 
a lamb. 
Greenhouse. —The changes in the weather to 
which we have just referred have made it 
necessary for Villa Gardeners to be very care¬ 
ful in giving air to their greenhouses. There 
have been such spells of bright sunshine, that 
the house could be thrown open, and full 
streams of balmy air admitted. The next day 
it was necessary to keep everything as close as 
possible, so great and opposite was the change 
outside. This caution will be necessary through 
April, and especially so in the case of plants 
putting forth their young growths. When 
necessary to give air, it should be admitted on 
the opposite quarter to that where the wind lies, 
as cold draughts will stunt the growth of young 
shoots. 
There are several things that can be had in 
flower in a greenhouse at this time of year. 
We lead the way with the Camellia, Azalea, 
and Epacris, of which latter there are several 
high-coloured as well as delicate-tinted varieties; 
Chorozema, Genista, Cytisus, Spiraea palmata, 
Iloteia japonica. Hyacinths, Deutzia, Cinerarias, 
Primulas, &c., follow, enough to make a charm¬ 
ing display. One plant deserving a place in 
every villa gardener’s greenhouses in spring is 
Primula denticulata, and its finer forms pul- 
cherrima eaApurptirea. We have some plants of 
these primroses in 7-in. pots that are masses of 
bloom, and charming objects when associated 
with the other flowers named above. Should 
the weather be warm and April-like, plenty of 
air and an abundance of water will be needed. By 
picking off dead blossoms and decaying leaves, 
the plants will be greatly improved in appear¬ 
ance, and a pleasing arrangement of the plants 
materially assists in giving an attractive aspect 
to the house. 
Seeds of Thunbergia, Balsam, Egg Plant, 
Lophospermwn, and Maurandya may be sown, 
to give a few successional plants by-and-by. 
These are good old things, that are always use¬ 
ful and welcome. Young plants coming on into 
size, such as Petunias, Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, 
Chrysanthemums, &c., should be now repotted 
as required, and grown on as quickly as pos¬ 
sible. The propagating-pit attached to the 
greenhouse will now be in full swing, especially 
as losses during the winter were the common 
lot, and vacancies have to be filled up. 
Eloveer Garden. —Many a promise of beauty 
in the spring garden has been nipped in the 
bud by the crnel winter. Where we looked for 
beds of Wedljloirers, Daisies, Eorget-me-Nols, 
Violas, Silene, &c., we have little else than 
stunted and half-killed, if not wholly destroyed, 
plants. Those who were fortunate enough to 
