ORNAMENTAL CLIMBING PLANTS. 117 



place having a high wall that had to be covered in some waj' ; of 

 which I have taken occasion to speak more than once. As the 

 vines have grown very much in the meantime, I will again call 

 your attention to this covered wall. 



I used first of all what is well known to you all as the Virginia 

 Creeper (Ampelopsis quinquefolia) ; properly prepared places were 

 made for the plants about five feet apart, good strong vines were 

 planted at each place, and in four years the wall was well covered 

 to a height varying from ten to eighteen feet. In the fall of the 

 year the foliage, so richly colored in beautiful shades of scarlet 

 and crimson, whether grown by itself or intermingled with green 

 foliage of the trees before changing, is a very conspicuous orna- 

 ment. But judgment should be used in determining where it is to 

 be planted. It should not be planted with the idea of covering a 

 brick building, for it does not cling close enough — the brick is too 

 smooth. I know a church in Essex County where it had covered 

 the side entirely, and twice to my knowledge it was blown entirely 

 down, and many days' labor were required to replace it. 



Here the Ampelopsis Veitchii comes in ; once started it gives 

 little trouble ; indeed, it takes care of itself. We have continual 

 opportunity to notice how handsome it looks on Trinity Church 

 and the many fine residences on the Back Bay. No description is 

 needed to those who have seen it ; it describes itself. Let me, 

 however, invite you to Forest Hills Cemetery, where 3-ou can see 

 it in unsurpassed beauty on both sides of the entrance ; and if you 

 can come but once let it be in the latter part of September. I 

 have no words that can adequately describe the richness of these 

 masses of foliage. That on the south side has been thought to be 

 at all times the richer of the two in the color. Surely among the 

 many good things Japan has given us, we have received in this 

 plant one of our ver}^ best climbers. In a conversation which I 

 had with our late beloved friend and associate. Col. Wilder, he 

 repeated a remark made by Mr. Ellwanger — that it was worth 

 coming a thousand miles to see the entrance to Forest Hills 

 Cemetery. 



" About three 3'ears ago Ampelopsis Veitchii was planted at the 

 base of a ledge some twent}' feet in height, alternatel}' with what is 

 known as the English Ivy. The contrast between the rich changing 

 foliage of the Ampelopsis and the bright green of the Ivy was 

 very effective. I can recall in imagination how it looked as clearly 



