BRIGHT GARDEXS BEXEATH BLEAK SKIES, 



trus scandens), the most useful climber for 

 winter effects. This has clusters of orange seed 

 pods which, as they mature, break open and 

 disclose the scarlet fruit. The segments of the 

 pods do not fall off but curl back so that the 

 berry clusters present two pleasing colors side 

 by side. It will make a growth of ten or 

 twelve feet in a single season and takes forcible 

 possession of any young sapling that comes 



ogues, but Messrs. Ellwanger & Barry offer it 

 for sale at thirty-five cents a plant. It bears its 

 staminate flowers on one vine and pistillate on 

 another, so that to obtain a full crop of berries 

 care should be taken to procure stock by 

 division of plants. There is a Japanese variety 

 with smaller berries much more scattered along 

 the branches but still quite abundant. It grows 

 well over rough places and makes an admir- 



Fk;. 1719. Sumacs at "Benvenuto," Toronto, Dec, 1899. 



within its reach. A few trees here and there 

 should be given up to its tender mercies to form 

 trellises as it were, over which it may hang its 

 gay colored festoons. It grows wild pretty 

 generally throughout Ontario, twining over 

 bushes on river banks and in thickets. In the 

 country the easiest way to get it would be to 

 take it from the woods. In the city it would 

 be less trouble to procure it from the specimens 

 not uncommon under cultivation there. Our 

 nurserymen do not mention it in their catal- 



able mantle for a wall or rockery. It could 

 probably be obtained from some of the leading 

 nurseries of the Eastern States. However the 

 native plant is easy to get and thoroughly 

 satisfactory. 



The third element of our background, the 

 interesting shafts of white, will be supplied by 

 the stems of the graceful birch. How well the 

 birch contrasts with dark masses of evergreen** 

 in the wood ! Why should we do without it in 

 the garden ? The white birches should stand 



