HARDY EVERGREEN CLIMBERS 39 



leaves are only seen to full advantage when in front 

 of some dark-leaved evergreen plant. 



It is well to remark that some of those here named 

 may lose their leaves in winter, especially if exposed to 

 cold draughts, and that some of those in the list of 

 deciduous and herbaceous climbers retain them in very 

 mild places. 



The best and most useful of all our hardy evergreen 

 climbers is undoubtedly the Ivy, as it is universally called 

 by the British people, the botanical name of Hedera being 

 little used in gardens. The principal species, Hedera 

 Helix, gives us many varieties and, though greatly used, 

 might well be still more widely cultivated for the sake of 

 its many beautiful forms, a number of which are but little 

 known. Objection is taken to the growth of Ivy on the 

 walls of dwellings by some on the alleged ground that 

 it renders them damp and that the shoots enter any 

 crevices and destroy the walls. The former is a fallacy, 

 and Ivy has the opposite effect, not only throwing off the 

 rain, but drawing the moisture out by its aerial rootlets 

 which cling to the wall. Nor is there any danger of it 

 entering the joints of the wall if this has been properly 

 built and pointed, as all walls should be. In planting 

 Ivy it is often necessary to fasten it to the wall at first, 

 until it can attach itself to it. Cemented walls it dislikes, 

 and it is with some difficulty that it can attach itself to 

 them in the ordinary way. The annual clipping of Ivy 

 to keep it neat and tidy should never be neglected where 

 a trim appearance is desired. The best time for this 

 operation is the month of March, just before the young 

 leaves begin to make their growth. The clipping ought 

 to be thoroughly performed and the Ivy clipped in close to 

 the wall. It may look rather bare for a short time, but in 

 a month or two its appearance will convince all who see 

 it of the beneficial effect of the operation. At the same 

 time it should be trimmed off below the eaves, as it 



