MAY. 213 



divided foliage, none excel the Virginia creeper. It runs with 

 great luxuriance, and for covering a wall or fence, or for 

 clothing some disagreeable object with rich verdure, nothing 

 can compare with this vine. In the autumn, with the first 

 frosts, its leaves begin to assume the richest tints, dying off a 

 brilliant crimson scarlet. Against a brick or stone wall it 

 flourishes finely, inserting its little tendrils into the crevices, 

 and clinging to it without any other support. It is just the 

 vine for a stone church or rural building of any kind, and one 

 of the best things to wreath the bare trunk of some tall elm, 

 rendering it a column of the deepest verdure in summer, and 

 a perfect kaleidoscope of tints in October. It will grow 

 anywhere and on any soil. There is a new variety with 

 variegated foliage, but whether it will prove hardy, we have 

 not yet ascertained. 



The Trumpet Flov/er, (Bignonm radicans). A well 

 known and remarkably showy climber, with clusters of large 

 orange red flowers, which are conspicuous among its luxuriant 

 pinnate foliage. It attains a great height, grows rapidly, and 

 except in very bleak situations, is quite hardy ; suffering in 

 this respect more than either of the preceding. It attaches 

 itself by little rootlets to whatever supports it, and cannot be 

 easily detached. It flowers late in Jhe season, and its large 

 trumpet-shaped corols in profuse clusters, are at that period 

 exceedingly ornamental. 



The Ivy, (Hedera. ) This most desirable of all climbers is 

 too tender to be recommended for general cultivation in the 

 latitude of Boston. It should always be planted on the 

 North side of buildings or walls ; except in Very severe win- 

 ters, like the last, it there does tolerably well, though much 

 browned in its foliage. We intend to devote an article to its 

 culture at some future time. 



These are the most desirable and attractive of the hardy 

 climbers, growing freely in almost any soil, and under ordi- 

 nary treatment ; adapted to a variety of situations, flourishing 

 in exposed or sheltered places, though not always with the 

 same vigor. All except the Virginia creeper, the Bignonia 

 and the ivy, require a trellis or support of some kind, to which 



