THE IVY. 



The profusion of the climbing stems results in their overlying and crossing 

 one another to an extent which produces, in time, a curious resemblance to 



a network of rough cordage. The 

 closeness with which they cling to 

 the wall or tree, owing to the con- 

 traction of the claws after they have 

 taken hold, compresses those which 

 happen to lie undermost where the 

 outer stems cross them, and in many 

 instances the branches are by this 

 means closely grafted together, or are 

 so completely joined by their respec- 

 tive rough surfaces as to be in a 

 condition resembling veritable grafts, 

 so that no ordinary force, as that of 

 the human hands for example, is suf- 

 ficient to separate them. Natural 

 grafts are occasionally met with in 

 trees of large growth, such as oaks, 

 elms, beeches, sycamores, and limes, 

 but they are exceptional occurrences. 

 On the other hand, the ivy may be 

 said to graft its limbs together as a 

 pastime, for we shall never fail to 

 find natural grafts where a wall or 

 tree has been clothed for some 

 years. 



The second question arises out of the first. Is the ivy a parasite ? The 

 poets declare it to be such ; the botanists say it is not. In Johnson's Dic- 

 tionary it is described as " a parasitick plant, sending forth roots or fibres 

 from its branches by which it is fastened to other trees, walls, or plants 

 which are near it, and from thence it receives a great share of its nourish- 

 ment." l To the belief in its parasitic nature we are indebted for many fine 

 images and comparisons in the poets. In "The Tempest," Prospero describes 



Nature-grafted ivy stems. 



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