190 OUR ROCK-GARDEN 



bruised, is reputed to have done good service in 

 asthmatic and paralytic cases. It is a near relative, 

 botanically, to the yam that is eaten so freely in 

 tropical countries, but we must not too hastily 

 assume that because certain plants in a bota- 

 nical order are harmless, the others are equally 

 open to our use. The carrot and the hemlock 

 are closely related, but are by no means inter- 

 changeable when culinary matters are under con- 

 sideration. 



In the introduction of all climbers we must pause 

 to consider how far we are prepared to go on their 

 behalf, what amount of sacrifice we are willing 

 to make. Whether it be convolvulus, clematis, 

 bryony, hop, or honeysuckle, its first and only 

 thought is self-interest : the survival of the fittest 

 and it will make very strenuous efforts to be the 

 fittest. We have seen a tree, some twenty feet in 

 height, a mass, to the eye, of bryony, and very 

 beautiful it looked ; and one may see yards of 

 hedgerow in the close embrace of the bindweed, 

 and very charming the long festoons of great 

 white bell-flowers look ; but both tree and hedge 

 are much the worse for playing host, and when 

 Summer is over, and the long trails of creeper 

 have withered away, what remains is often but a 

 sorry sight. 



Another climber that it is essential we should 

 make room for is the honeysuckle, or woodbine, 



