572 
THE GARDENING WORL'D. 
CLIMBING PLANTS FOR WALLS, &c. 
No plants are more admirably adapted for beautify¬ 
ing a small garden than hardy climbers. When 
dwarf plants are used, the whole extent of the plot 
of ground can be seen at a glance; but with the 
judicious use of hardy climbers, the garden may be 
made to appear much more extensive and be 
screened off from those of the neighbouring houses, 
thus giving it more privacy. If a lattice work trellis 
is put all round the gardeD, no trouble will be ex¬ 
perienced in keeping it covered with luxuriant 
creepers, even if the garden is situated close to 
London. Rustic arches may be cheaply built, also 
summer houses, and covered by a variety of easily 
grown climbing plants in an incredibly short time. 
Unsightly walls may be masked by coverings of Ivy, 
which can be obtained in great variety. 
Ivies are pretty coverings for high positions, 
where other plants requiring the frequent use of the 
knife, hammer and shreds, &c., would be difficult to 
attend to, but they should not be used to cover low 
walls, or only a few plants, as many handsome 
plants can be grown in their place. I do not mean 
to infer that the Ivy is not a pretty plant, indeed, we 
have not a more effective hardy plant for climbing 
purposes, but it is seen much too frequently, 
monopolising the whole of a nice open wall that 
could be covered by a magnificent tapestry of flower¬ 
ing plants or ornamental foliage plants of different 
kinds. Often Ivy is used to cover an unsightly tree 
trunk, but if the tree is valued it should not be 
covered by it, as it causes ill health by slowly 
strangling it. Lonicera (Honeysuckle) is preferable 
to Ivy, but it, too, will twist its stems round the 
younger branches if not attended to, and cause 
injury. SiDgle Roses and Clematises are the plants 
best suited for growing up trees as they do not 
strangle and suffocate their supporter like plants 
that climb by means of suckers or by twisting their 
stems round the branches. 
Clematis Yitalba, the wild British species known 
as Travellers’ Joy, ought to be in every garden, and 
nowhere will it succeed better than when climbing over 
the branches of trees and bushes as may be seen 
when growing wild, climbing up the trees and fall¬ 
ing in graceful folds, giving quite a tropical aspect. 
In the early part of the year it is covered by a pro¬ 
fusion of small sweet-scented flowers which produce 
the heads of feathered fruits in the autumn, which 
are such a conspicuous feature on the borders of 
most country woods. There is no need to buy this 
plant as it is so easily procurable in the country. 
They should be transplanted in the autumn or early 
in the spring. It will succeed in any garden soil if 
not too dry. It requires no art in pruning, as the 
knife should only be used to cut it back when it gets 
anywhere where it is not required. For growing 
over a mound it should not be allowed to lay on the 
ground but be raised a few feet on bushy sticks. 
Clematises in General.— A good position in which 
to grow Clematises for an effective display 
is on arches, or up poles. They will grow very 
freely, and produce a profusion of flowers in London, 
where most other plants fail. Clematis Jackmanni, 
the purple one, should be chosen for positions where 
it is subjected to a large amount of smoke, as it seems 
to thrive better than the others. It flowers on the 
young wood, so must be pruned early in the spring, 
but do not be too free with the knife as it likes to 
grow unrestricted. C. montana, which flowers in 
May, requires a little different treatment, as it pro¬ 
duces its blooms on the old wood. It should not be 
cut about much, only cutting out the weak growths 
annually. 
Wistarias.—Owing to their rampaDt habit they do 
best when afforded a large space of sunny wall, 
which a small plant will very soon cover, as it 
often makes shoots 20 ft. long in a year. They 
bloom early, W. frutescens producing its 
flowers in April and May, which hang in dense 
racemes from the almost bare branches, as the 
blooms are produced earlier than the leaves. It will 
grow freely in most soils if they are not too heavy. 
It is easily propagated by what is known as layering. 
This is a very simple process ; some of the shoots 
have a slight incision made in them, and then are 
pegged down into some light soil and kept moist. The 
May 4, 1901. 
shoot soon endeavours to make up the diminished 
supply of nutriment, occasioned by some of its 
vessels being severed, by putting out adventitious 
roots from the wound. By the end of the season 
sufficient roots will have been made to support the 
shoot without the aid of the old plant, from which 
it should then be severed completely. In the spring, 
the shoot should be cut back to within about 2 ft., 
and then carefully transplanted to where required. 
This variety is known by the common name of 
" American Kidney Bean Tree." W. sinensis does 
not bloom until a little later, when there is a little 
more foliage. A white variety can be obtained, but 
it is not such a good grower as the purple one. 
Wistarias can be grown as standards if properly 
pruned. 
Aristolochia Sipho, commonly known as the 
“ Dutchman’s Pipe,” is an extremely ornamental 
climber, but for some unaccountable reason it is not 
often to be seen out in the open, but may be seen in 
many large conservatories. It is a native of North 
America, and was introduced into this country as 
long ago as 1763. It is perfectly hardy, with¬ 
standing the severest of our winters, and may be 
seen flourishing in many places in Aberdeenshire. 
The flowers are not conspicuous and are hidden by 
the remarkable amount of foliage, which is of a 
dark green colour. It does not require any special 
soil, growing freely in any garden soil. It requires 
plenty of water, as the abundance of leaves present 
a considerable area from which evaporation takes 
place. It is deciduous and should be pruned well 
back every winter. 
Jasminums.—These are very beautiful and 
desirable flowering climbers. The two most com¬ 
monly grown are J. officiDale, a species introduced 
into this country from Northern India about 1550, 
and J. nudiflorum, the naked flowered Jasmine, 
which was brought from China in 1844. Both are 
perfectly hardy and well adapted for wall culture 
or for growing on stumps. J. nudiflorum produces its 
flowers very early in the year, some time before the 
foliage makes its appearance; from this character¬ 
istic habit it derives its p^ular name of '‘Naked- 
flowered Jasmine,” the flowers are of a sulphur- 
yellow colour. J. officinale has a very free habit, 
and produces an abundance of dark green foliage. 
The flowers are pure white, and very fragrant, as all 
know who have been near a plant when in bloom. 
It stands the heavy atmosphere in the neighbour¬ 
hood of large towns better than most plants. 
Passiflora caerulea. —This is not perfectly hardy, 
being killed by very severe frosts, but it deserves a 
place in every garden for it grows freely and produces 
large quantities of its beautiful and interesting 
blooms every year. It is commonly known under 
the name of "Passion Flower.” If the district is 
net too cold, it may be easily carried through the 
winter by cutting it down nearly to the ground, and 
putting a sack round it, and a little long dry dung 
round the roots. The plants may be procured at a 
very low price at any nursery. 
Escallonias — For making a grand display on a 
low wall these are an acquisition in every garden. 
Their habit is very neat and graceful and they 
Sower profusely, and vary in colour from pure 
white to red. They do best in a rather light soil 
with plenty of sand in it. They are easily propa¬ 
gated by taking cuttings. 
Tecoma radicans, often known as Bignonia radi- 
cans, was brought to this country from North 
America as long ago as 1640, but after all these 
years, the public do not seem to be aware of the 
beauty of this easily grown wall plant. The flowers 
are scarlet-red and trumpet shaped. The flowering 
period extends over a considerable time in the 
middle of summer. It will cover a wall to the 
height of 20 ft. In the southern counties and in 
sheltered positions it may be employed for covering 
arches, pergolas, &c. It requires a light, rich soil, 
and is greatly benefited if a little well decayed 
dung is mixed with the soil. 
Hops.—These are very effective if grown on 
poles, in the same manner that they are grown in 
the hop districts. They may be easily obtained, 
either by sowing seeds, or buying plants from the 
hop nurseries. There is a variegated variety, 
Humulus japonicus variegatus, but it is not such a 
free grower as the common Hop. 
Cobaea scandens is a half hardy climber which 
may be raised annually from seed. It is very useful 
for making a high screen quickly. 
Correspondence. 
Questions asked by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
t) gardens or gardening mil be answered on this page. 
A nyone may give additional or more explanatory answers 
to questions that have already appeared. Those who desire 
their communications to appear on this page should write 
“ Amateurs' Page " on the top of their letters. 
Eucalyptus .—Malaria : The power of this plant 
as a specific against fever, &c., is supported by the 
large plantations that are made in hot swampy dis¬ 
tricts where fevers are prevalent On a swamp near 
Rome it has been planted for this purpose with very 
good results, for what was once a fever stricken dis¬ 
trict, is now one of Rome's healihiest suburbs. We 
are not prepared to say whether a few plants grow¬ 
ing in the house would ward off influenza, but we 
have no doubt they would help. It is not as you 
suppose merely a herbaceous plant, but is identical 
with the Giant Blue Gum of Australia. From its 
seeds Eucalyptus Oil is extracted, which is so well 
known as an antiseptic in the case of fever. 
India-rubber Plant —Housekeeper : The variegated 
form of this popularjhouse plant is not so amenable 
to house decoration as the plain leaved one, as its 
constitution does not seem so strong. They require 
a large amount of water, but see that the drainage 
does not get stopped up, for stagnant moisture is 
worse than not having enough. 
Geraniums.— 0 . K. : To get your plants to 
flower in the winter you should not let them flower 
now. As soon as the weather is fit, place them out¬ 
side in the brightest and openest place possible, so 
that their growth may become sturdy, and keep 
every piece of bloom picked off as soon as the buds 
appear. Do not stimulate them too much with 
manure, or the wood will not ripen sufficiently. On 
the approach of cold nights take them indoors and 
give them a light airy position. If you require 
young plants, strike your cuttings now and grow them 
along, giving them their final shift into 6 in. pots 
when strong enough, and treat the same as the others. 
See that your pots stand on a good bottom of ashes 
to prevent the worms from getting iD, and also keep 
a sharp eye for the depredations of slugs. 
Fern. —Potter : It is not too late to pot your plant 
if it has only just commenced to grow. Give it good 
soil, and be careful not to overwater it after the 
operation. 
Campanula isophylla. -Amateur-. Your plant 
may be divided with safety, as it will stand a fair 
amount of pulling about. Cuttings may be struck 
easily if pricked into a light sandy compost. We 
should scarcely recommend it as a plant for the 
edging of the stage, as it is very fragile, and would 
not stand the knocking about. It is best grown in 
pots or baskets, and hung from the roof or in a 
light window. 
Carnations. —Layer : Layering is not generally 
started until July, after the blooming is past its 
best; the same applies to Pinks. To prevent -slugs 
attacking your plants there is nothing more 
efficacious than lifting up the growth and dressing 
the soil with soot. This will be found to serve a 
double purpose, for soot being a good manurial 
agent acts as a stimulant. 
Arum Lily. — Z.: The weakness of your plant is 
undoubtedly due to its dark position. If it cannot 
be removed from where it is, nothing we can recom¬ 
mend will make it flourish. It requires a good light 
window, and to be turned round every day to pre¬ 
vent it drawing towards the glass. 
Florists' Flowers.— Inquirer : A florists’ flower is 
one that has been improved by careful selection and 
systematic hybridisation, as Orchids, Dahlias, 
Chrysanthemums for instance, especially the latter, 
which has risen from the tiny insignificant C. in- 
dicum to the massive "mops” to be seen at our 
autumn shows. 
Crocuses attacked by Sparrows.— G. D : There 
are always many complaints about this in the spring, 
but we think this year they have been more frequent 
than ever. It is impossible to say what their object 
is in pecking them to pieces. Many people say that 
they are attracted by the saffron. It is strange that 
