DESTRUCTIVENESS OF IVY 193 



ground and select for ourselves from what we see 

 before us rather than to run our eyes down long lists 

 of names in his catalogue. Should we design to 

 cover a wall surface or trellis a little nailing or tying 

 will be necessary at first, or, if our ivy is intended to 

 cover the ground, a little pegging down, but so soon 

 as our plants are thoroughly rooted they will need 

 no further assistance. 



There is a sentimental objection to the removal 

 of ivy from our venerable abbeys and castles : we 

 are told that it forms a charming veil to the ruins 

 beneath, Nature's kindly screen to shield from our 

 eyes the mischief wrought by man or the ravages 

 of time, but it is really an element of destruction, 

 contributing its share, and that a very active one, 

 to the downfall of the building, its stems, yearly 

 increasing in stoutness, forcing the stones apart, 

 making opening for the inlet of rain and the 

 devastating action of frost, until presently the 

 historic pile is disintegrated and becomes but a 

 mere mass of stones. Even if no mischief accrued 

 from the ivy growth it would surely be a better 

 thing to preserve to the eye these ancient buildings, 

 to cherish what remains in them of architectural 

 interest, than to allow them to become mere masses 

 of shapeless greenery. 1 



1 u The English Parnassus " was published in 1657, an d, as 

 we have already indicated, was intended by its author, Poole, 

 to assist the would-be poet with a choice of epithets, so that 



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