VINES AND CLIMBING PLANTS. 277 



The fine contrasts between the dark coloring ol the 

 leaves of the Ivy, and the vernal and autumnal tints of 

 the foliage of deciduous trees, are also highly pleasing. 

 Indeed this fine climbing plant may be turned to advantage 

 in another way ; in reclothing dead trees with verdure. 

 Sir T. D. Lauder says, that " trees often die from causes 

 which we cannot divine, and there is no one who is 

 master of extensive woods, who does not meet with many 

 such instances of unexpected and unaccountable mortality. 

 Of such dead individuals we have often availed ourselves, 

 and by planting Ivy at their roots, we have converted 

 them into more beautiful objects than they were when 

 arrayed in their own natural foliage." 



The Ivy is not only ornamental upon trees, but it is 

 also remarkably well adapted to ornament cottages, and 

 even large mansions, when allowed to grow upon the 

 walls, to which it will attach itself so firmly by the little 

 rootlets sent out from the branches, that it is almost 

 impossible to tear it off. On wooden buildings, it may 

 perhaps be injurious, by causing them to decay ; but on 

 stone buildings, it fastens itself firmly, and holds both 

 stone and mortar together like a coat of cement. The 

 thick garniture of foliage with which it covers the surface, 

 excludes stormy weather, and has, therefore, a tendency 

 to preserve the walls, rather than accelerate their decay. 

 This vine is the inseparable accompaniment of the old 



The Ivy is not a native of America ; nor is it by any 

 means a very common plant in our gardens, though we 

 know of no apology for the apparent neglect of so beautiful 

 a climber. It is hardy south of the latitude of 42, and we 

 have seen it thriving in great luxuriance as far north as 

 Hyde Park, on the Hudson, eighty miles above New York. 

 One of the most beautiful growths of this plant, which has 



