and covered in fall. The climbers ought also to have protection. The other varieties will stand our northern winters quite well without protection, but they will

do so much better if it is given that I would always advise giving it. In preparing Roses for winter, I heap earth about the base of the plant, and over this

FIG 68 CRIMSON RAMBLER ROSE

I bend the stalks until they touch the ground. If bent squarely over the stiff stalks often snap off, or split, but the heap of earth makes it easy to bend them in a curve, which prevents accidents of this sort. Lay sods on the branches to hold them down and cover with leaves or litter to the depth of five or six inches. In spring, when the plants are uncovered and lifted, cut back well.

CHAPTER XLVII

VINES

Nothing gives a more graceful finish to the porch or veranda than the vine you train up its posts and along its eaves. No house is what it ought to be, in the sense of the beautiful, without some vine trained about its windows and up its walls to break up all stiffness of outline and soften the effect of broad surfaces of painted wood.

One of the best vines we have is, I am glad to say, a native plant. I am always proud to read of the popularity of the Ampelopsis abroad. It is a rapid grower, has beautiful foliage at all times, and especially so in autumn, when it takes on its rich crimson and scarlet and maroon colors, and is so hardy that the severest weather fails to injure it in the least. It is to America what the Ivy is to England. It is quite as beautiful, in a different way. It clings to smooth surfaces by means of little discs at the end of its tendrils.

Ampelopsis Veitchii comes to us from Japan. It has smaller foliage than our native species and is not so rampant a grower. It forms a dense mass of foliage. It is a charming plant, but really not so desirable as the American species.

Akebia quinata is a Japanese vine with very pretty foliage, and brownish flowers. It is a rapid grower.

Aristolochia, or Dutchman's Pipe, is a very rapid grower, perfectly hardy, with immense leaves, and flowers of peculiar shape, somewhat resembling the old-fashioned German pipe. Hence its common name. our most desirable climb

The Bignonia is one of ing plants. It has beautiful foliage of a rich, bright,

glossy green. Its flowers are tubular in form, borne in clusters, and of a brilliant orange-scarlet.

The Honeysuckle is a prime favorite, as it well deserves to be. It is beautiful in foliage and flower, hardy, a most profuse bloomer, and something that everybody can grow with very little trouble. The following varieties are all excellent:

Halleana, pure white flowers, changing to yellow; fragrant.

Scarlet Trumpet, constant bloomer; flowers scarlet outside, with yellow lining.

Japan Golden-veined, small leaves, covered with a network of bright yellow; flowers white and fragrant.

Celastrus scandens. This is Our Bittersweet, another native of great merit. It has bright green foliage produced in great profusion. Its flowers are inconspicuous, but they are succeeded by clusters of berries. These berries are inclosed in orange capsules, which burst and turn back, exposing the red fruit within. The berries are quite as ornamental as flowA clean, strong growing plant, very useful for training over old trees.

ers.

Perhaps the most popular of all climbing plants just at present is the Clematis. It is really a magnificent plant. It grows with wonderful rapidity. It blooms with the greatest profusion. It is rich in color. It is hardy. Having all these good qualities it ought to be popular.

The following are among the most desirable varieties:

C. paniculata grandiflora—A comparatively new variety, but one of the most meritorious members of the family. Flowers small, but borne in such profusion, all over the plant, that it has the appearance of being covered with snow. Color, white. Fragrant. Foliage, rich dark green. Especially valuable

because of its late-flowering habit. Blooms until cold weather. One of our very best vines, if not the best.

Jackmanii, flowers of violet-blue, five or six inches across; a charming plant for training on screens, trellises and lattice.

Lanuginosa candida, very similar to Jackmanii in all but color; being white, it can be used to fine advantage with that variety, the contrast in the color of their flowers being very fine.

Countess Lovelace, double, lilac.

Duchess of Edinburgh, double white; free bloomer and fragrant.

Venus Victrix, pale lavender; double; very fine. Coccinea, scarlet; quite unlike the other varieties named, the flower being somewhat bell-shaped.

Virginiana-This is a native, known in some parts of the country as Virgin's Bower; in other sections. as Traveler's Joy. It is exquisitely beautiful. Its flowers are produced in wonderful profusion. They are small, but are borne in large, branching clusters, pure white in color, and fringe-like in appearance. A plant, when in bloom, seems to be covered with newlyfallen snowflakes. One of the best plants in the whole list for growing about verandas and porches.

The Clematis dies down to within a foot or two of the ground each season, but sends up new stalks in spring, which make an exceedingly rapid growth.

The Wistaria is one of our most satisfactory climbing plants after it becomes well established. During the first four or five years of its existence I find that it must be laid down and covered during winter at the North. If this is not done, a large proportion of the season's growth will be killed. After a few years it seems to acquire hardiness, and