OLD CORNISH HEDGES 47 



the dark mass of foliage, the leaves were few and small 

 and far apart, so that viewing the wall from a little 

 distance away you would not notice that it had any 

 ivy growing on it, but would see that the more naked 

 portions were covered with a growth of rope-like 

 stems. The wonder is that with so few leaves it 

 can grow so much wood ! The stems, which are 



HEDGE AT ST. IVES 



not thick, are smooth and of a pale grey colour and 

 grow in and out of the crevices, and cross and re- 

 cross one another, fitting into all the inequalities of 

 the stony surface and in places where they cover the 

 wall looking like a numerous brood or tangle of grey 

 serpents. 



This snaky appearance of the almost leafless old 

 wall-ivy fascinated me, and I went often to look at it 

 on the same spot and was never tired of the sight. 



