Creating the Ruin it Loves 



climbers. If it is on the house the aspect should be 

 studied with a view to giving the more delicate the 

 sunlight and the protection the house affords. Nor 

 are all climbers suitable for planting on the house. If 

 it be a small one, eschew Ivy and all rank-growing 

 climbers that injure the fabric. Ivy on a grey ruin or 

 a massive stone building is picturesque and safe. On 

 a cottage it looks clumsy, and pulls the woodwork out 

 of the windows, the mortar from between the bricks, 

 and the tiles off the roof. Left to its own devices, it 

 will ensure that, sooner or later, it clothes the ruin it 

 seems to love, for it is quite capable of creating a ruin 

 for itself. There is, moreover, not the slightest reason 

 for planting Ivy, as there are plenty of far more beau- 

 tiful climbers. In a sunny, warm spot, perhaps where 

 a chimney runs up, plant the fiery Thorn, Cratzegus 

 pyracantha Lalandi. Nothing can be more beautiful 

 than this climbing shrub, with its orange-scarlet berries 

 when it is doing well, as it generally does in the posi- 

 tion I have described. Of course, Ampelopsis Veitchii, 

 with its glorious autumn colouring, is known to every- 

 one. If it has a fault it is that it resembles the Ivy in 

 its capacity for destruction of buildings, but it can be 

 kept within bounds much easier, and takes years to 

 achieve the disaster Ivy will bring about in a single 

 season. It will grow on any side of the house, not 

 the least of its merits being that it is self-clinging. 

 Then there are the Ceanothus, some of which are ever- 

 green, and all beautiful, with their flowers in varying 

 shades of blue, from pale lavender to deep indigo. 

 Ceanothus dentatus is excellent as a climber. For 

 winter berry there are several varieties of Cotoneaster 



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