DECORATIVE VINES 207 



fully realized. Never let them obscure entirely 

 the object which they depend upon, even though 

 that may be only a little common arbor ever so 

 crudely built. Here and there a line to show 

 structural definiteness should always remain 

 uncovered; if it does not, a shapeless lump 

 is all that in time will be discernible — a kind 

 of elephantine monstrosity without grace or 

 beauty. When any garden retreat gets thus 

 deeply buried, it ceases to be a pleasant place 

 to loiter, which is of course the very worst thing 

 that can happen to it and to the garden wherein 

 it stands. For usableness is above all else the 

 one attribute which must never be lost. 



Flowering vines generally are more advan- 

 tageously placed away from the dwelling than 

 against it, both for the full enjoyment of them 

 from its windows and porches, and for the better 

 care of the vines themselves, especially those of 

 certain species. Honeysuckle and wistaria are 

 exceptions to this, but of these only the latter 

 is at all showy in flower. Climbing roses es- 

 pecially are not good subjects for house planting 

 because practically all roses, to be kept in prime 

 condition, must be sprayed frequently. Of 

 course spray cannot reach both sides of a plant 

 which is exposed only on one; and equally of 

 course spray applied to the rose against the 



