GREEN DRAPERIES 253 



unimportant and the foliage too prone to mildew; and al- 

 together I should choose something else. 



Aristolochia sipho is a climber that I frankly dislike, 

 though my feeling is not shared by many, for I fre- 

 quently see it on porches, annihilating sunshine and air, 

 but forming an effective screen. Its leaves are large and 

 its growth dense, and the curious chocolate-coloured 

 blossoms somewhat resemble a pipe in shape, hence the 

 name, Dutchman's Pipe. 



A vine of fairly recent introduction and one of real 

 value, it seems to me, is Polygonum balshuanicum, a 

 slender climber, with masses of filmy white flowers in 

 the late summer. It makes a fairly heavy growth and 

 is a good climber for trellises and porches. 



Of vines grown largely for their foliage none is so fine 

 as the English Ivy, "the vine of glossy sprout," and 

 contrary to the suspicions of many we may have it in 

 a good deal of luxuriance in this country if a little 

 courtesy is extended to it. In the first place, we im- 

 patient Americans must be patient with the British 

 deliberateness of the Ivy. For two years after planting, 

 and sometimes three, it will do nothing but survey the 

 situation and venture a leaf or two, but after that given 

 time, good soil, and a north wall it will start a steady 

 ascent and very soon present a broad and beautiful sur- 

 face of dark and shining green. Mr. McCollom recom- 

 mends protecting the young plants in winter for a few 

 years with a mulch of manure and a screen of evergreen 



