Given this treatment the plant will, hopefully, recover. It is worthwhile spraying all clematis plants with a copper fungicide in the autumn and again in the spring when the shoots are developing, concentrating particularly on the base of the plant in an effort to prevent attacks by this disease. A short list of reliable cultivars with a wide range of colours might include 'Comtesse de Bouchaud', one of the best pinks; 'Daniel Deronda', a very beautiful violet-blue cultivar with a paler centre; and 'Hagley Hybrid', an exciting newish cultivar with deep shell-pink flowers with purple anthers. 'Henryi' is the finest white with very large flowers; 'Jackmanii Superba', strong growing and free flowering with rich violet-purple flowers, and a form of the original large-flowered hybrid between C. lanuginosa and C. vitkella, produced in 1860 at Jackman's Nurseries, Woking, Surrey; and 'Ville de Lyon', perhaps the best red with the beautifully veined crimson flowers having prominent golden anthers. All the above cultivars are effective between June and October. CLIMBING AND WALL SHRUBS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES Those mentioned are suitable for general planting and are usually available from nurserymen and garden centres. A few of those listed are less frequently planted and may be available only from nurseries specialising in unusual plants. Many such plants are worthy of wider recognition.Hedges and screens define a garden and special areas within a garden. They are often needed to exclude intruders, and may be useful in restraining children and family pets from wandering. They can, when properly maintained, provide a background of uniform green-or yellow in the case of a conifer like X Cupressocyparis leylandii 'Castlewellan'-against which plants and plant groupings can appear to better advantage than when distracted by unwanted views. Most important, in many gardens they provide shelter from wind and thus improve the micro-climate in whicn favoured, but perhaps rather tender, plants can be grown without damage and to better advantage. A hedge, screen or fence is almost essential around every garden and is desirable within all but the smallest. The effect of wind is an underrated aspect of the environment in which we garden. We water plants to combat droughts, and drain soils to remove surplus water. We protect plants from frost and give shade to those that dislike too much sun. Winds are equally damaging to plants. Even light breezes reduce temperatures, remove moisture and disturb growth. Stronger winds break leaves and branches, rock and damage roots, prevent pollination and produce windfalls of fruits. 'Windfall' is one of the few gardening terms indicating damage by this ever-present aspect of the climate. A windswept garden is almost always untidy and less attractive than one with adequate shelter. In gardens with adequate shelter its value is rarely appreciated until a large tree disappears in a gale or a sheltering hedge becomes overgrown and sparsely furnished at the base, letting in strong winds.