142 HOW TO PLAN THE HOME GROUNDS 



them come the honeysuckles, which, though incapable 

 of climbing to comparatively high altitudes as rapidly and 

 in as effective a manner, have, nevertheless, unrivalled 

 aptitude for covering stone walls and the borders of 

 shrub groups in the thickest and most picturesque way, 

 besides having the faculty of living and growing almost 

 everywhere. 



Somewhat less rampant and wild-looking, we find the 

 common Virginia creeper, ampelopsis quinquefolia, per- 

 forming the most efficient work of all, in covering with 

 rapidity and perfection old stone walls, banks, and any 

 large objects that need herbaceous covering, and, withal, 

 presenting specially rich autumn coloring. Even more 

 decorative than the ampelopsis are the different hardy 

 grape vines. The native kinds, vitis labrusca and vitis 

 cordifolia, grow rapidly, and are very effective in the 

 way their leaves climb over stumps, but the Japanese 

 vine, vitis coignetias, seems to have equal vigor and 

 a magnificent and varied coloring of leaf in autumn. 

 For training along the eaves of houses, and piling up 

 in highly picturesque masses on the roofs of arbors, 

 nothing in the way of vines can surpass the wistaria. 

 It is a hardy climber, doing as well in crowded cities as 

 elsewhere, and is apt to grow to a comparatively great 

 age. There are several American species, but the 

 Chinese purple is the best known, although there are 

 several Japanese varieties, white, purple, and large- 

 clustered, that seem to be nearly as good as any on the 

 list. The wistaria is a little difficult to transplant and 

 establish, but in a year or two it generally starts off to 

 grow in the most vigorous manner. 



We must not forget the trumpet-creeper, bignonia, 

 which clings readily to rough walls and surfaces, and 



