VINES 55 



far. A shapely white column, for instance, is lovely when 

 ornamented by a green tracery that shows against it but 

 clumsy when obscured by a thick, verdant blanket that destroys 

 its outline. For, after all, though Nature is to be placated as far 

 as possible, we cannot allow her to obliterate our abodes. 



Generally speaking, all porch vines should be provided with 

 a trellis to climb on and right here let me say that the orna- 

 mental possibilities of various forms of trellis are rarely taken 

 advantage of as I should like to see them, and as they very 

 easily might be. There is permanent beauty in a well designed 

 and well constructed permanent support, that frankly takes its 

 place and makes no attempt to hide when the plant which it 

 supports does not conceal it. It is a feature that deserves 

 more consideration than it usually receives. 



Strings and chicken wire are not to be despised in their place, 

 but the dignity of heavy-growing and profuse-blooming hardy 

 climbers requires something worthier than these to support it 

 and this something should always be built. The architecture of 

 a building will usually suggest the form and the design to be 

 adopted, and some architects, indeed, include such suggestions 

 in their elevation drawings for a house. 



Vines over a porch, however, whether supported on a trellis 

 or climbing directly on the uprights which sustain the roof, 

 should always follow the lines of construction and should never 

 cross the open spaces between columns or uprights; nor should 

 they be allowed to fill these by hanging over them from 

 above. 



Primarily a vine is a drapery and should be treated as such. J 

 Where it is wanted for shade it should be trained out over a 

 horizontal, awning-like framework or extension to a porch root 

 rather than in a dense, vertical wall that closes the porch in from 



