CLIMBING PLANTS AND CREEPERS 99 



larger-leaved varieties, such as hedera helix canariensis, or H. H. 

 dentata, to the exclusion of the many smaller, daintier, and more 

 variegated kinds which, if once they were introduced into the 

 garden, would never again be excluded. 



For the sake of those of my readers who are unfamiliar with 

 these choicer varieties I will give a brief description of them. To 

 begin with the silver-leaved kinds, there is first and foremost H. 

 marginata elegantissima, which, while being perfectly hardy, is 

 very free in growth. Its light green leaves flushed with white 

 have a margin of cream-white. Crippsii is a most attractive 

 variety. Its silvery grey leaves have prominent veins. The 

 leaves of marginata rubra turn to lovely shades of crimson in 

 winter. Yellow-leaved varieties are few in number, but among 

 the best of these is chrysomela, whose foliage alternates in colour 

 between a greenish and a rich yellow. Other satisfactory yellow 

 kinds are spectabilis aurea and angularis aurea. The very small 

 variety, H. H. minima, makes an ideal decoration for the rockery. 

 It rapidly covers large stones or small rocks and affords a most 

 effective carpet against which to display the myriad flowers of a 

 well-stocked rockery. 



Some ivies derive their names from the shape of their leaves 

 as, for instance, H. pedata, so designated because its leaves re- 

 semble the feet of a bird. The best varieties in this class are 

 taurica and himalaica. Their leaves are light green, and they 

 carry conspicuous silvery veins. A distinct variety with deeply 

 lobed digitate leaves is H. H. digitata, while lobata major is an- 

 other with deeply cut lobes. 



I have mentioned only a tithe of the innumerable varieties of 

 ivy which are worthy of the attention of the amateur gardener. 

 Most are perfectly hardy, and will grow anywhere in any moder- 

 ately good garden soil. There are one or two of the tenderer 

 kinds, however, such as the yellow chrysomela, which should not 

 be planted in too much shade. It is a good plan when ordering 

 from the nurseryman to inform him of the situations in which it 

 is intended to plant the various kinds, and to be guided by his 

 experience and advice. 



