284 GARDEN PLANNING 



for the gardener. For the pergola, walls and 

 fences, arches, and for special effects amongst 

 trees and shrubs, they are indispensable. As 

 subjects for the house walls they have their 

 best opportunity for full development, because 

 of the height and extent of the wall surfaces. 

 With so many charming examples of climber- 

 covered houses around us it is remarkable 

 that the gardener so often overlooks the possi- 

 bilities of creating a beautiful picture on the 

 house walls. The oft-repeated fallacy that 

 growth of this kind causes damp walls has 

 already been refuted. It doubtless accounts 

 for the studied neglect of this part of the garden 

 picture. In my opinion nothing helps to bring 

 the house into harmony with its garden sur- 

 roundings so effectually as the treatment of 

 its walls with creepers, particularly those which 

 tend toward a full and informal habit, clus- 

 tering in rounded masses as they ascend and 

 benignly concealing the angles and straight 

 lines of the brickwork. There should be 

 creepers to flower at all seasons and for every 

 aspect. Of purely foliage ones I should not be 

 lavish, particularly of such subjects as Boston 

 ivy {Ampelopsis tricuspidata) ^ which hugs the 



