Beautifying the Farmstead. 53 



growth that helps to relievo the formality of buildings or fences 

 better than almost any other plants. (Fig. GO.) Care in their selec- 

 tion is necessary, however, as there are disadvantages in the use 

 of some vines under certain conditions. On brick and stone build- 

 ings some of the clinging vines are most appropriate. An erro- 

 neous impression that such vines are injurious to the walls or make 

 them damp exists in some quarters. This is true to the extent that 

 they may keep the wall shaded and cool later in the spring than 

 would otherwise be the case and so cause plaster applied directly 

 to such walls to '"sweat" in little used and insufficiently ventilated 

 rooms. The difference between vine-covered and noncovered walls 

 is in the time when this sweating process takes place. The leaves 



FIG. 60. Vines help to relieve the formalities of buildings. 



of such vines have somewhat the effect of a roof in keeping much 

 rain from reaching the wall, and the aerial rootlets have a tendency 

 to absorb the moisture that might get under the leaves. Where the 

 construction is defective they may at times find crevices between 

 bricks or stones and thus reveal poor workmanship, but rain and 

 frost will do that as surely as the vines. On wooden buildings the 

 problem is somewhat different. Many vines that climb by twining 

 will force their way through any joint that is not perfect and then 

 by continued growth force the woodwork apart. Many other vines 

 do not have this injurious effect and can be used appropriately. 



The great problem is so to train the vines that they may be re- 

 moved to permit proper painting of the woodwork when that is 

 necessary. This may be done by means of a trellis hinged near the 

 ground or a. chicken wire placed over hooks at the highest point, 



