THE CLEMATIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22628, 20 July 1935, Page 24

THE CLEMATIS

The large family of clematis is divided into several well-defined sections. It is well to realise this fact, for the methods of pruning required are widely divergent. The montana, patens, and florida groups, containing the earliest or spring-flower-ing divisions of the family, are pruned in early spring, say, August or September, and, in the case of the strongergrowing kinds, a thinning-out of weakly and - overcrowded shoots is all that is necessary. The lanuginosa type blossoms in summer and early autumn, and comprises many of the most showy forms. The pruning necessary in their case is very slight. Indeed, many of these plants die back almost sufficiently to render pruning unnecessary. The viticella and Jackmanni types call for much harder treatment, and should be cut back in Alay or as soon as the frosts have disfigured them, to within a few eyes of the base, thus assuring the production of vigorous growths in the ensuing spring. A description of these is out of the question on account of exigencies ot space, but actually it is of little importance, so long as the need for individual treatment is realised. For present pmposes each variety mentioned has appended in brackets the initial letter of the section to which is belongs, such as L. lanuginosa, J. Jackmanni, F. florida, P. pateins, and V. viticella; there are also others.

THE BEST SOIL. Equally important are the questions of soil and position. The plants delight in a deep soil, for preference of a loamy nature, and where a number is to be set out at the base of a wall or fence it is an excellent plan to trench the site, or, at any rate, to dig it as deeply as possible. Very heavy soils may be helped by the free use of such friable material as good leaf mould, light loam, grit, and sand, while in the case of light soils, plenty of good loam will go far towards bringing the site into suitable condition. A liberal allowance of well-rotted manure should certainly be worked in, and it is always as well to include some lime, preferably in such form as mortar rubble or plaster from an old ceiling. Nor must an annual top-dressing with halfdecayed manure in early spring in later years be omitted. This will have a material influence upon the size of the blooms and the vigour of the plants. Sunshine is another essential clematis should never be deprived of, and copious supplies of water should be given whenever the weather is dry. Most varieties are seen to best advantage when planted to clothe rustic poles, arches, arbors, walls, or trellis-work, while the vigorous C. montana and some of its varieties will cover a prodigious amount of space on a building or tree. The usual planting times are during autumn and spring, but, as a matter of fact, they may be planted out of pots at almost any season, providing due provision is made for their after-care.

Ville de Lyon, a member of the viticella section, flowers from January to May, producing its charming crimson-red flowers in glorious profusion. Jackmanni alba, with the same flowering season, is simply a white-flowered counterpart of the purple clematis, inseparable from the porches and walls of cottage homes, and one of the most generally popular of all garden plants. The third variety is a charming lanuginosa, Lord Neville. Its rich, dark plum blossoms are a typical example of the soft and never-strident hues for which the family is noted. From a large , number of varieties, all more or less lovely, it is not an easy task to make a selection, but there are a few sorts which command, instant recognition. Nellie Moser (L.) is one. This is a remarkable flower, each segment or petal having a central bar of carmine, while the white ground colour is softly suffused with delicate pink. Marcel Moser (L.) has deep carmine bars laid upon a giound colour of mauve-violet; these two varieties, with Lord Neville, flower from December to May, ns, indeed, do most of their class. William Kennett (L.) is another universal favourite, in a nice shade of deep lavender, while Princess of Wales (L.) has petals reminiscent of nothing so much as finest satin, in a shade of bluish-mauve.

Other interesting varieties include Gipsy Queen, a dusky Jackmanni, which is free growing, free flowering, and justifies the description of a good garden clematis. One of the very best pure whites is alba magna (L.), a large and broad-petalled flower, while Duchess of Edinburgh (F.) is, perhaps, the best Variety with double white flowers. In most eyes, these double-flowered forms lack the appeal of the beautifully-shaped single blossoms.

MORE FAVOURITES. An old favourite is Beauty of Worcester (L.), an attractive tone of violet, and Star of India (J.) finds a host of admirers for its reddish-plum salvers, with each petal barred in red. Lord Londesborough (P.) is a splendid deep mauve, while King George V, a novelty of the viticella group, has blossoms of light flesh, shading at the centres to a bright pink. Even deeper than the firstmentioned of this set is King Edward VII (L,), a strongly-coloured rich violet, with the petals crimson-barred; while Crimson King *(L.), which has gained high honours at the leading shows, is one of the finest varieties yet introduced. Its bright red colouring is vivid, and running down the centre of each petal is a paler streak, which enhances the beauty of the flower. Lady Northclilfe is a splendid member of the lanuginosa section, with large lavender-coloured flowers that are tinted a brighter blue, and have a central purple bar. A kind we are very fond of is Miss Bateman, a member of the patens type. It is an early flowerer, blooming in December, with moderate-sized circular white flowers, with chocolate anthers. It is always much admired.

The blue-flowered Ascotiensis (V.), the silvery-o;rey Belle of Woking (F.), and the delightful satiny-rose Comtesse de Bouchard (J.) are others outstanding. The kinds we have been considering are hybrids developed in nurseries. Though more showy than the species, the latter have charms and uses all their own. Our wild clematis, or Virgin’s Bower, is fine for covering arbours and the like, or scrambling over derelict trees of moderate height. With this may be associated C. montana and C. paniculata. C. flammula is a moderate grower, with small white fragrant flowers. C. viorna coecinea yields fleshy scarlet, bell-shaped blooms. C. Davidiana is dwarf and upright, and so is G. recta. —R. E. A. in Amateur Gardening.