December  28,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
strain  will  not  only  be  kept  from  degeneration  but  will  continue  to 
mprove. 
There  are  other  good  strains  of  Poppy  Anemones  besides  that 
recommended.  That  known  as  the  Victoria  Giant  is  a  capital  one. 
The  Chrysanthemum-flowered  Anemones  are  also  deservedly  favourites 
with  some,  but  tubers  of  these  should  be  purchased.  Those  whom 
these  notes  may  induce  to  grow  these  beautiful  flowers  are  not  likely 
to  regret  the  little  care  they  require  in  return  for  their  plentiful 
harvest  of  beautiful  flowers. — S.  Arnott. 
GREENHOUSE  CLIMBERS. 
Thr  cultivation  of  suitable  plants  as  climbers  in  greenhouses  and 
conservatories  is  a  phase  of  gardening  which  does  not  receive  the 
attention  it  should  in  the  case  of  many  structures.  It  is  frequently 
the  case  that  the  house  may  be  convenient  for  training  the  growths, 
but  the  plants  must  be  grown  in  pots,  tubs  or  boxes,  there  being  no 
provision  for  planting  out.  The  growth  of  climbers  is  always  more 
vigorous  and  free  when  the  roots  have  the  run  of  a  border,  the  only 
disadvantage  being  that  the  plants  are  not  portable, but  are  necessarily 
fixtures.  When  grown  in  pots,  tubs  or  boxes,  these  and  the  plants 
they  contain  may  be  moved  outside  for  cleansing  the  growths  or 
ripening  the  wood. 
Many  climbing  plants  furnish  bare  and  lofty  positions  with 
graceful  growth,  and  some  produce  flowers  as  well.  Asparagus 
tenuissimuB  is  adapted  for  a  moist  shady  position,  and  does  well  in  a 
large  pot  in  a  compost  of  peat,  loam,  leaf  soil,  and  sand.  The  growths 
all  start  from  the  base,  and  grow  rapidly  under  good  conditions, 
branching  into  delicate  and  finely  divided  foliage,  which  when  cut  is 
very  decorative  and  lasting.  The  shoots  should  be  tied  lightly  to  a 
trellis.  Portions  or  whole  lengths  of  growth  may  be  cut  as  necessary 
without  spoiling  the  remainder.  It  is  propagated  by  division  of  the 
roots  in  March  and  by  seed. 
Clematis  indivisa  lobata  is  excellent  for  growing  as  a  greenhouse 
climber.  It  produces  a  large  quantity  of  white  flowers  in  spring  and 
early  summer.  It  must  have  a  sunny  position,  and  will  succeed  if 
planted  in  a  large  pot,  not  being  such  a  vigorous  grower  as  to  need 
unlimited  rooting  space.  A  good  compost  consists  of  two  parts  of 
loam,  one  part  of  leaf  soil,  one  part  of  decayed  manure  and  sand. 
Train  the  growths  on  wires  on  the  roof  of  the  greenhouse.  The 
principal  pruning  may  he  done  after  flowericg,  cutting  out  the 
flowering  growths,  and  thinning  the  other  shoots.  Afford  the  plants 
abundance  of  water  during  growth,  also  liquid  manure  when  well 
established. 
Ficus  repens  is  extremely  useful,  though  only  a  foliage  plant.  It 
is  splendid  for  covering  a  wall,  whether  of  cement  or  bricks.  It  will 
also  cling  to  woodwork,  and  does  so  as  tenaciously  as  Ivy  or  Virginia 
Creeper.  Plant  in  a  border  of  almost  any  kind  of  soil,  and  it  will 
succeed.  The  foliage  forms  a  mass  of  dense  green,  but  the  growing 
tips  are  brown  in  colour.  After  first  nailing  the  growths  no  further 
trouble  is  required.  Water  freely  in  summer,  and  occasionally  use 
the  syringe.  It  is  a  plant  which  does  not  soon  suffer  lrom  dryness, 
and  is  admirable  for  furnishing  out  of  the  way  corners  as  well  as 
conspicuous  places.  There  is  a  variety  with  smaller  leaves,  which  may 
be  grown  as  a  contrast. 
Habrothamnus  elegans  is  a  good  plant  for  training  on  the  roof  or 
wall  of  a  conservatory.  It  produces  annually  long  slender  shoots, 
which  may  be  trained  to  occupy  the  space,  and  shortened  in  spring 
after  the  flowering  is  over,  thinning  out  useless  wood.  Plenty  more 
will  be  produced  by  the  summer  growth.  The  flowers  are  purplish 
red.  It  thrives  best  when  planted  out,  but  succeeds  in  more  restricted 
confines,  such  as  a  large  box  or  pot.  Peat,  loam,  and  sand  form  a 
good  compost.  Afford  ample  water,  as  the  growths  are  subject  to 
green  fly  if  the  plant  is  dry  at  the  roots.  This  Habrothamnus  makes 
an  admirable  pillar  plant,  and  might  be  grown  on  a  wire  arch  in  a 
conservatory. 
Lapagerias  take  rank  as  among  the  choicest  of  climbers.  The 
flowers  are  superb,  and  have  the  appearance  of  white  and  red  wax 
bells  hanging  gracefully  from  slender  stems  furnished  with  dark  green 
leathery  foliage.  A  semi-shady  position  should  be  chosen,  as  the 
fierce  midday  sun  is  rather  trying  for  the  plants  growing  under  a  hot 
roof.  If  planted  in  a  border  this  must  be  well  made,  and  drained 
efficiently.  A  large  deep  box,  made  of  strong  wood  or  slate  so  as  to 
last  some  time,  is  suitable.  It  may  be  placed  near  hot-water  pipes  in 
a  greenhouse.  The  new  growths  start  from  the  base,  and  form  a 
delicate’’ morsel  for  snails,  so  a  protection  of  cotton  wool  is  usually 
fixed  a  few  inches  below  the  growing  point  to  prevent  injury  from 
this  source.  Good  fibrous  peat  and  sandy  loam  mixed  with  charcoal 
and  broken  bricks,  adding  also  a  little  coarse  sand,  form  a  most  suitable 
compost.  Plenty  of  water  is  required  in  summer,  but  less  in  winter, 
maintaining  the  compost  just  moist.  Both  the  red  variety,  L.  rosea, 
and  the  white,  L.  alba,  should  be  grown,  allowing  the  growths  to 
intermingle. 
f>69 
Roses  are  indispensable  climbers  if  they  can  be  grown  in  a  sunny 
well-ventilated  structure.  The  best  Roses  to  cultivate  as  climbers  in 
greenhouses  are  Marechal  Niel,  W.  A.  Richardson  (Noisettes),  Gloire 
de  Dijon,  Cheshunt  Hybrid,  Belle  Lyonnaise,  Climbing  Niphetos, 
Perle  des  Jardins,  and  Climbing  Devoniensis  (Teas).  They  should  be 
planted  in  good  material,  whether  in  a  border  or  established  in  pots  or 
boxes.  Substantial  turfy  loam  with  one-fourth  of  decayed  manure 
and  a  little  bonemeal  will  be  found  suitable.  Train  the  growths  on 
wires  under  the  roof  or  on  a  back  wall,  but  the  growth  must  receive 
plenty  of  light.  Remove  useless  wood  after  flowering,  shortening 
back  the  shoots  of  Marechal  Niet  to  within  a  foot  of  their  base  for 
encouraging  th8  production  of  long  growths.  The  other  Roses 
mentioned  should  have  weak  wood  removed  and  all  strong  young 
growths  retained,  though  the  plants  will  make  further  growths  of  this 
character  in  the  course  of  the  summer. 
Attention  must  be  given  when  the  wood  has  been  produced  to 
freely  ventilate  and  ripen  it.  Plants  established  in  pots  and  boxes 
may  in  most  cases  be  taken  out  in  the  open  air  to  ripen.  This  is  the 
advantage  connected  with  portable  receptacles.  Plants  under  glass 
which  cannot  be  moved  may  be  kept  rather  drier  at  the  roots,  and  the 
doors  and  lights  of  the  house  kept  as  wide  open  as  possible  to  complete 
the  ripening,  for  on  this  depends  the  freedom  with  which  the  plants 
will  eventually  bloom.  From  every  bud  on  the  ripened  growth  flowers 
ought  to  be  produced.  The  extreme  tips  may  be  cut  away,  as  they 
will  not  be  ripe  enough  to  retain. — E.  D.  S. 
YUCCAS. 
In  many  gardens  there  is  a  lack  of  plants  of  distinct  effect. 
There  is  often  a  monotonous  sameness,  which  might  be  relieved  by 
the  judicious  use  of  such  a  noble  plant  as  the  Yucca.  It  has  been 
justly  said  that  it  has  grace  and  elegance,  although  among  the 
stiffest  looking  of  our  garden  plants.  This  is  proved  by  the  admira¬ 
tion  it  often  calls  forth  in  gardens  where  it  is  used  with  judgment. 
Yuccas  are  adapted  for  several  positions.  In  groups  on  grass  they 
are  very  effective;  for  growing  in  tubs  they  have  few  rivals  of  the 
same  habit ;  in  the  flower  border  or  on  the  large  rock  garden  they 
may  be  used  with  great  advantage,  while  the  variegated  varieties  and 
the  more  tender  species  can  be  made  use  of  in  the  conservatory.  In 
any  of  these  positions  their  fine  leaves  and  flowers  add  a  decidedly 
ornamental  effect,  not  easily  given  by  any  other  hardy  plant. 
The  cultivation  of  the  greater  number  of  the  Yuccas  presents  few 
difficulties.  They  do  best  in  good  soils,  and  those  of  a  light  nature 
are  not  so  suitable  for  bringing  them  to  their  perfect  beauty  and 
stateliness.  I  prefer  to  plant  in  spring,  and  for  this  object  healthy  young 
plants  should  be  selected  rather  than  older  specimens.  In  a  few  years 
the  young  plants  should  equal  or  surpass  in  size  those  removed  when 
large. 
The  most  reliable  of  the  Yuccas  is  perhaps  Y.  filamentosa,  a 
handsome  free-flowering  plant,  whose  merits  are  not  easily  done 
justice  to.  When  well  grown  and  in  bloom  it  can  be  seen  up  to  6  feet 
high.  When  a  large  plant  reaches  this  stature  it  is  very  imposing. 
This  height  is  sometimes  much  exceeded  by  the  variety  named 
maxima.  Unlike  most  of  the  others,  Y.  filamentosa  will  thrive  well 
on  sandy  soil.  It  is  a  native  of  North  America.  The  variegated 
form,  which  is  often  seen  under  glass,  is  more  tender  than  the  type. 
Yucca  gloriosa  is  another  well-known  plant,  one,  too,  which  well 
deserves  the  admiration  it  receives  when  in  bloom.  Its  great  stems, 
7  or  more  feet  in  height,  with  its  great  panicles  of  almost  white  flowers, 
are  of  the  most  impressive  aspect.  This  noble  species  does  not  bloom 
so  freely  as  that  already  named,  but  it  is  so  fine  at  any  season  that  this 
failing  may  be  condoned,  and  we  may  rest  satisfied  with  the  effect 
produced  by  its  foliage  in  gardens  where  it  seldom  or  never  blooms. 
It  requires  a  stronger  soil  than  the  foregoing. 
Perhaps  even  better  than  either  Y.  filamentosa  or  Y.  gloriosa, 
although  not  so  noble  as  the  latter,  is  Y.  flaccida,  a  fine  plant  not 
unlike  Y.  filamentosa,  but  not  growing  so  tall,  its  height  being 
3  or  4  feet.  The  flowers  are  in  panicles,  and  the  leaves  are  distinctly 
margined  with  filaments,  after  the  style  of  those  of  Y.  filamentosa,  but 
not  similar. 
One  seldom  sees  any  specimens  of  Y.  glaucescens,  although  it  is 
a  fine  variety,  and  woith  growing  for  its  sea-green  leaves  and 
yellowish-green  flowers  slightly  tinged  with  pink.  It  grows  about 
4  feet  high. 
Yucca  recurvifolia  is  met  with  also  under  the  names  of  recurva 
and  pendula.  It  is  also  said  to  pass  under  the  name  of  Y.  japonica. 
This  species  is  very  desirable  on  account  of  the  fine  habit  of  its  foliage 
when  the  plants  have  reached  some  height.  The  upper  leaves  stand 
almost  upright,  looking  like  a  centre-piece  of  sharp  spines,  while  the 
lower  recurve  and  sweep  the  soil  with  their  points.  It  grows  about 
6  feet  high.  There  seems  to  be  some  confusion  regarding  this  plant, 
as  the  “  Index  Kewensis  ”  gives  it  as  synonymous  with  Y.  gloriosa. 
