POPULAR CLIMBING PLANTS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 1, 3 January 1912, Page 41

POPULAR CLIMBING PLANTS.

(By E. Ferris, N.S.W.} Climbers are plants which attach themselves to support by their natural appendages, such as tendrils, hooks, or other modes of attachment. These plants include some of the most gorgeous flowering species of plant lite to be found in the garden both of the mansion and the cottage. Climbers are largely used to cover unsightly walls or fences, and with a little care transform an eyesore-into a pleasing feature of the garden. They are mostly of easy culture, doing well in almost all kinds of soil, but ill many cases care must be taken as to the aspect in which they are planted. A prevalent mistake is made by training one stem up to the top of the fence. Or wall, or arch, and allowing the lower portion of the fence, etc., to remain bare, jvhich never gives a pleasing appearance, and largely defeats the object for which the plant was grown. Climbers should lie stopped and trained out from the be ginning, thus clothing the lower portions of the support before they are allowed to reach the top, it being much easier and quicker to cover the entire fence, etc., in this way than to try and produce low growth after the topis covered. Climbing roses on arches often fail to produce that pleasing effect wished for, solely on this account. The grower has been in too great a hurry to get the plant on top of the arch or pergola, With the result that the lower portions pf the sides are bare anil present an in complete appearance, and destroy what should be a pleasing feature of the garden.

Climbing plants are very useful in covering the trunks of dead trees; they may also be used to cover bare rocks, being allowed to grow over them. There is no hard and fast rule as to the pruning of these plants, but the majority should be cut back soon after the flowering season.

They are propagated in many different ways; cuttings, layering, and by seed are the most general, but this matter will be noted as we particularise the different- kinds in everyday cultivation. This diviaiou of plant life includes many sorts producing fruits and edible berries. In a paper of this size it will be impossible to enumerate all the different aperies met with in colonial gardens, bnt tbn time will not be wasted in studying

some of the principal ones, with their special -characteristics. Ampelopsia (Virginian Creeper).— Hederacea. large leaf variety. The true Virginian Creeper is a native of North America. Veitchii, small leaf -variety, a native of Japan. These two varieties are quick growing, ornamental, deciduous climbers, with fine foliage, having beautiful Autumn tints. Veitchii clings to a wall without support, and is of a very compact appearance. Antigonon leptopus is a native of Mexico; should be planted in a northern aspect; has ornamental foliage, with slender stems; produces abundance of soft, pink flowers; and is one of the best flowers grown fox - table decoration, the clusters of bloom, in conjunction with Asparagus pluraosus liana or Adiantuxn gracilimum, giving a most charming and graceful effect. Propagated by seed, or cuttings from the soft points taken from a plant grown in a cool house.

Bigonias are of easy culture, fast growers, and free bloomers.

Tweeiliana, a native of Buenos Ayres; small foliage, and clings to a wall or fence; it lias long racemes of yellow trumpet flowers. Propagated freely from seed.

Venusta. South America; orange flowers: is unrivalled as a winter flowering variety, making a most gorgeous display. Propagated by cuttings. Jasminoides has glossy foliage; flowers white, with dark eye; is a native of the Orinoco River, South America.

T.indleyana. Light lavender fllxwjers, veined with darker markings; a rather straggling grower, but forms a good contrast with either Jasminoides or Tweediana. This order includes some of the most beautiful climbers grown, but the four mentioned are. perhaps the favourites with colonial gardeners. Bougainvilleas are natives of South America: free flowerets, and should be planted in a northerly aspect. Glabra is of a rosy lilac colour, and a good grower. Conspicua has a purple flower, and is a magnificent sight in full bloom. Splendens is of a brick red colour.

These plants are strong growers, and continue jn flower a long time; will stand hard pruning, which should be done soon after the flowering season. They are general favourites. Dolichos lignosus is a free growing climber; very useful for hiding old fences, etc., as it forms a close screen; the flowers are pink, and are borne in great profusion; it is a native of East Indies, and seeds freely. Thex-e is also a white variety of this climber, which makes an effective contrast.

Ficus stipulata (Climbing Fig), from China, creeps and roots like the Ivy; very useful for covering walls, to which the small roots cling. Propagated by cuttings and layers. Hedera, Ivy.—Too well-known to require description; the variegated varieties are very pleasing; natives of Britain.

Hoya carnosa. —Wax plant, requires a warm position. Thick, fleshy foliage, flowers pinkish white. A native of Asia.

Ipomoea, Moon Flower, or Morning Glory.—The best of which Ipomoea Learii, a rapid grower, producing large bright blue flowers in great quantities; likes a north-eastern aspect, and requires plenty of room; propagated by seed and cuttings. Jasminums are found in most countries of the world; they are sweetly scented; white or yellow flowers, quick, strong growers, very hardy, and are universal favourites. Mina lobata, hardy climber, very free grower, flowers creamy white, turning orange to red; propagated from seed; makes a beautiful display in late autumn right up to frost. Lathyrus, Everlasting Pea. of easy culture, great favourite; succeed well in any ordinary garden soil. Pubeseens, pretty blue, a native of Buenos Ayres; vigorous grower covered with spikes of lovely bhxe flowers; a good winter flowering variety: very useful for decorative purposes; propagated by seed. Lonicera, “Honeysuckle,” very hardy climbers, producing sweetly-scented flowers, so well known that they require no description; suited for the cottage

garden or the mansion; great favourites for their old associations. Mandevil lea suavolens, a native of South America; a deciduous creeper, white trumpet-shaded flowers, very fast grower, likes a warm situation, protected frjom westerly winds; propagated from seed. Manettia glabra, a native of Rio Janeiro; a slender creeper, pleasing, small shiny foliage, suitable for front of verandah, likes warm northerly position; produces red and yellow flowers in great profusion. Maiiramlya, close-growing climber, white or blue; suitable for low fence or. trellis; flowers in great profusion nine months of the yean Medeolia.-smiljiK; handsome for vases or hanging baskets; very,.graceful, suitable for table decorations, for which it

be able to talk with Dr. Hawton and his feltow-explorers in the long Antaretie night. The half-way station will be or. Macquarie blanJ. 2000 miles from here, away down in the vast storm-swept Southern Ocean. This station, which will have a radius of 2400 miles, will be in touch with Hobart aim. It will be possible early next year to transmit the exact time, registered automatically by the clocks in the Government Observatory on KeTboume Hill, and thence signalled automatically at 11.50 each night to the Tlnakori station, right down to the exiled scientists in the South Tolas ice tamps, if that will do them any good. Thia will be but one of the many miracles within the power of the Tohunga of the Singing Spark sitting in his little stone house on Tinakori top. Like Mahuika the deity of fire in the Maori nature-myth, he can dart flames from his finger-tips; but he is far more Wonderful than Mahuika. for his wizard fire arrows cover whole oceans in their enchanted flight.