THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 39 



that three could be planted in a group. The supports for the young 

 growth were purchased for a mere trifle at a wood-yard not far from 

 us, and stout pieces, with a few projecting arms towards the top, 

 were selected. They were branches of trees that were hardly 

 good enough for making up into rustic chairs, and averaged seven 

 inches in diameter at the base, and were from seven to nine feet in 

 length. The number of supports was the same as that of the plants. 

 They were firmly fixed in the ground, in the form of an angle, three 

 feet apart, then brought together at the top, and then secured in 

 that position by means of rather stout copper wire. They were of 

 course arranged so as to give the affair an air of rusticity, and towards 

 the bottom they were joined together by means of small branches 

 about an inch in thickness. Small larch poles, and a few laths, both 

 of which can be bought at any timber-yard, are well adapted for 

 this work, and are not so expeusive as the supports we bought. 



As soon as they were properly fixed, the ivies were planted care- 

 fully, and fastened to the woodwork. A dry summer followed, and 

 each group had a thorough soaking of water, suck as you usually 

 advise, and the foliage dashed overhead with clear water at the 

 same time to keep it clean. Since then the plants have been able 

 to take care of themselves with respect to moisture at the roots, but 

 during the summer of the last two years a few pailfuls of water 

 have been thrown over the foliage after I come from the counting- 

 house of a Saturday afternoon. 



All the plants, with but two exceptions, and they had the roots 

 injured in being taken up, have grown with remarkable vigour, and 

 four out of the six groups are a dense mass of foliage, and have a 

 most effective appearance, although not so beautiful as they will be 

 when they assume more of an arborescent character. It is very 

 certain that I could not have obtained such delightful masses of 

 evergreen foliage in such a short time for the same cost as those of 

 the ivy, and therefore have just cause to be proud of my work. 

 Much of the success is undoubtedly due to the careful preparation 

 of the soil, and the waterings the plants have had since they were 

 put out in their present quarters. 



The Maple Leaf. — The representative plant and badge of Canada is said by 

 the " American Horticulturist" to be the Maple Leaf, as is told in the national song 

 of that dominion : — 



" On merry England's far-famed land 

 May kind Heaven sweetly smile ; 

 God bless old Scotland evermore, 



And Ireland's Emerald Isle ; 

 Then swell the song, both load and long, 



Till rocks and forests quiver — 

 God save our Queen, and Heaven bless 

 The Maple leaf for ever ? 



The Maple leaf, the Maple leaf, 



The Maple leaf for ever ! 

 God save our Queen, and Heaven bless 

 The Maple leaf for ever !" 



