Ill THE CHAEACTEKISTICS OF THE PLANT. 



" A wind arose, 



And overhead the wandering ivy and vine, 

 This way and that, in many a wild festoon, 

 Ran riot, garlanding the gnarled boughs 

 With bunch and berry and flower thro' and thro'." 



TENNYSON'S 



CBNONE.' 



HATEVEK may be wanting in the several 

 features of the Ivy, whether of colour, fra- 

 grance, changeableness, or simple usefulness, 

 to obtain for it an equal share of admiration 

 with plants that appeal with stronger em- 

 phasis to the senses, is amply compensated 

 by characteristics that afford gratification to 

 the spiritual vision. The plant does not, in- 

 deed, lack admirers ; but few, even amongst 

 the many who profess to be observers of 

 nature, have made themselves acquainted 

 with its life history ; that history may not, 

 indeed, even now be fully recited, but an 

 attempt will be made to gather a few ma- 

 terials for the purpose, and set them before 

 the reader in a manner which it is hoped 

 will tend to encourage a more general study 

 of the habits of the plant. 



The ivy is a climbing plant. Its nature is to rise above the ground by any 

 help it can obtain, and it is provided by nature with the means of rising in 

 the claw-like processes which are produced throughout the entire length of the 

 stem until it has reached the summit of the object with which, by means of 

 these holding- claws, it has become attached. It will be explained presently 

 that these holders are veritable roots ; but, for the present, let us observe the 



DENBIGH 



