Some Beautiful Indian Climbers and Shrubs

Climbers and shrubs constitute a large and important sector of ornamental horticulture. The annual flowers of course are an indispensable component of gradens, contributing as they do, brilliance and an astonishing range of colours, while trees provide the natural backdrop and are part of nature’s precious gifts; some of these also are a brilliant spectacle when they flower. But coming between the annuals and the trees; it is the climbers and shrubs which provide the backbone of gardens and parks throughout the world. Mainly perennial in nature, they do not need continuous attention like the annuals and can go on for years providing not only a choice range of colours but, sometimes, fragrans also. "In the rather scanty literature on the subject, the book by Dr. N.L. Bor and Dr. M.B. Raizada, both of them distinguished botanists, published in 1954 has been a landmark of significance for all interested in flowers and gardens. In it they covered the very wide range of beautiful climbers and shrubs available in the subcontinent. The book was so planned as to be useful not only to the ordinary gardener or nature lover but to the botanist as well. Besides general descriptions suitable for the lay reader, detailed botanical descriptions are given, and the book is profusely illustrated with colour plates, half-tone plates and line drawings. Unfortunately, the book has gone out of print and the publishers, the well known Bombay Natural History Society, are to be commended for the decision to bring out a fresh edition.