THE GARDEN AT HOME 



ing them, and show by their healthiness that each is 

 suited as to soil and aspect, then one may look to the 

 garden beyond in simple faith that is not likely to be 

 disappointed in its hopefulness of good things to come. 



The fault most frequently made in planting the house 

 wall is in the choice of climbers, generally those of luxuriant 

 growth are chosen with the result that in a very few years 

 the house from roof to base nay, from chimney to door- 

 step, is a mass of monotonous green. Few houses are 

 improved by being altogether hidden beneath a mass of 

 leafage ; the charm of most of them is enhanced when 

 the red brick or grey stone shows through the foliage here 

 and there. There is scarcely a more charming garden 

 scene than that presented by the delicate tracery of the 

 trails of Ampelopsis Veitchi or the newer Lowi, two 

 creepers of exquisite grace and miniature foliage ; but 

 if trail is allowed to overlap trail and branch to grow into 

 branch, all charm is lost. 



One might take a lesson from Nature's wayside teach- 

 ing before rashly planting the walls of one's house. How 

 exquisite is the scene when some stone wall, hoary with 

 age, green with moss, and grey with lichen, is screened 

 yet not smothered by Ivy, grown gnarled and stunted 

 in its vain endeavour to reach unattainable heights ! Or, 

 again, how exquisite when ruined castle, crumbling from 

 weight of years, furrowed and seared by the hand of 

 Time, shows its weather-beaten stone between great masses 

 of Ivy green, that now top the dizziest height, now 



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