AN ORNAMENTAL, CLIMBER. 119 



yellowish-green of those of the butternut and 

 sycamore. Most of the older writers speak of 

 the sycamore as the "plane-tree." To my mind 

 sycamore is by far the more expressive, better 

 fitted name. 



The Virginia creeper is one of the most com- 

 mon and ornamental of our native woody climb- 

 ers, often covering an old snag or dead tree with 

 a mass of foliage and thus rendering an un- 

 sightly object most pleasing to the eye. It is 

 by many confounded with the poison ivy, but is 

 easily distinguished by its compound leaves pos- 

 sessing five, instead of three leaflets. On my 

 way hither I passed an old stump, some twelve 

 feet in height, with a crown or leafy covert of 

 this vine. Its foliage, now a dense, dark green, 

 will, in autumn, change to a brilliant crimson 

 and scarlet, with here and there a purple tinge 

 to add unto its beauty. 



Since I was here last August the mulberry 

 tree on the crest of the slope above has been 

 felled for fence posts. Mulberry, locust and 

 catalpa are accounted the most lasting woods 

 for such purpose. Little difference did it make 



