VINES AND CREEPERS. 



[ Written, for tlie Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.] 



With the advent of spring our interest in indoor life decreases. The 

 bright, sunshiny days which occasionally vary the monotony of our dull 

 winter weather give us a foretaste of what we may expect in the future, 

 and we now begin to picture to ourselves the pleasures of life in the open 

 air, of rambles in our garden, among the fruits and flowers, and, with the 

 pleasantest recollections of the past summer yet fresh in our minds, the 

 question naturally suggests itself : What can we do to make our gardens 

 more beautiful and enjoyable than before? 



The long winter evenings afford ample time to consider and discuss this 

 important question, and to arrange a programme for the spring work. In 

 these times, when so much study and thought are bestowed upon the 

 ornamentation of our dwellings, the grounds which surround them should 

 not be overlooked. An equal share of enthusiasm and interest should be 

 manifested in both. This would lead to a proper consideration arid appre- 

 ciation of home surroundings. We should remember that our garden may 

 be compared to a pictuie, of which we are the artists. Exposed as this 

 picture is to public view at all seasons of the year, it should be our en- 

 deavor to make it as attractive and beautiful as possible. In fact, we should 

 aim at being able to give intelligent direction to all garden operations, 

 thereby sparing ourselves the annoyance which those must surely experience 

 who, having no knowledge of the gardening art, depend entirely upon the 

 gardener. To accomplish this, we should profit of the knowledge and 

 experience of others, obtain and read thoroughly such treatises on fruits, 

 flowers, and gardening as " Barry's Fruit Garden," " Scott's Suburban 

 Home Grounds," and the catalogues of the various nurserymen and seeds- 

 men. The abundance and variety of valuable material which we find at 

 our disposal almost perplexes us ; but, having given the subject due con- 

 sideration, and with a correct idea of the requirements of our garden, we 

 can undoubtedly make a selection of such trees and plants as we fancy the 

 most, and which appear the best adapted to the purposes we have in view. 

 A perusal of these works will not only afford us much pleasure, but at the 

 same time supply a delightful subject for study. Those who desire to 

 pursue their inquiries still further should procure the handsomely illustrated 

 works entitled " The Parks, Promenades, and Gardens of Paris," " Robin- 

 son's Sub-Tropical Gardening," and Shirley Hibberd's " Amateur's Rose 

 Book," all of which will be found instructive and interesting. I would 

 like, if space permitted, to name several other valuable horticultural works 

 and periodicals which merit a place on the library table. But those who 

 read carefully the publications which I have suggested will not be satisfied 

 to limit their horticultural' reading to them. Their interest in horticulture 

 once awakened, they will, of their own accord, seek the best mediums for 

 more extended information. Then will we have the gratification of noting 



