218 CLIMBERS 



new species of Ampelopsis and Vitis from China. At Coombe 

 Wood I had a feast of colour and form that I shall never forget. 

 And to American nurserymen and collectors I would say, Wake 

 up, try all the new species of Ampelopsis you can get. They may 

 make a great difference in the appearance of American homes and 

 gardens. 



CLIMBERS ON LIVING TREES 



Another line of effort in which England is ahead of us, 

 though still groping her way, is the art of growing climbers on 

 living trees. Nature suggested this, for the woodbine sometimes 

 drapes the hawthorn tree with a mantle of fragrant, purplish 

 flowers and Clematis Flammula often adorns the hedgerows in 

 August with myriads of white stars. The most famous case, 

 however, is ivy and oak. And in our own woods every one has 

 seen wild grape throwing up its strong ropes to the tops of the 

 highest trees, and Virginia creeper mounting the tallest elms. 



Whether this is the most artistic way to grow climbers, as 

 many believe, I shall not attempt to decide, but certainly it is 

 beset with the greatest and most interesting difficulties. If the 

 climber is too strong for the tree it suggests a most unpleasant 

 thought strangulation, murder. And this result is sure to 

 occur if wistaria or trumpet creeper are planted beneath small 

 trees. On the other hand, delicate and high-bred climbers are 

 likely to be starved by the roots of strong trees, so as to suggest 

 poverty and failure. 



The aesthetic dangers are also considerable. Nature does 

 this thing sparingly and so should we. To treat a whole avenue 

 in this style, or even a majority of the trees on a lawn, would 

 expose us to ridicule. Again, the English sometimes make a stupid 

 mistake in allowing ivy to grow on beech. It is a crime to let so 



