LITTLE GARDENS 



leaves, can be taught to clamber over sheds, rick- 

 ety walls and fences, stone-heaps, ash-heaps and 

 other disagreeable happenings, while it makes a 

 superb setting for a back door. Take one pump- 

 kin out of the corn-field, and let it have the run 

 of the back porch. 



The wistaria, beloved in the East, but in none 

 too common use in our country, is a pleasant vine 

 and an early bloomer, putting out compound 

 leaves that are light and graceful, and fine clus- 

 ters of white or pale-purple flowers that look 

 almost like bunches of ripening grapes, at a little 

 distance. These pendant masses of color are 

 particularly charming, and are unlike the bloom 

 of any other cultivated vine. The Japanese 

 make an effective use of the wistaria as an en- 

 hancement to the grace of arches and bridges, 

 the screening of rockwork, and in covering the 

 trellises of tea-gardens. Vines in full flower sug- 

 gest jets of water leaping from a fountain's lip, 

 or the shower of colored lights from a rocket. 

 The wistaria is of slow growth, and in our cli- 

 mate requires years to establish itself; still, once 

 with you, it means to stay. Its stem grows thick 

 and tough, it strengthens itself by gnarling its 



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