ON THE DRAPERY OF COTTAGES AND GARDENS. 95 



sheltered for a few years, unless it be planted on a north wall, quite 

 out of the reach of the winter sun) ; and north of Albany, we think 

 it will not grow at all. But all over the middle States it should be 

 planted and cherished, wherever there is a wall for it to cling to, as 

 the finest of all cottage drapery. 



After this plant, comes always our Virginia Creeper, or American 

 Ivy, as it is often called (Ampelopsis). It grows more rapidly than 

 the Ivy, clings in the same way to wood or stone, and makes rich 

 and beautiful festoons of verdure in summer, dying off in autumn, 

 before the leaves fall, in the finest crimson. Its greatest beauty, on 

 this account, is perhaps seen when it runs up in the centre of a dark 

 cedar, or other evergreen, — exhibiting in October the richest contrast 

 of the two colors. It will grow any where, in the coldest situations, 

 and only asks to be planted, to work out its own problem of beauty 

 without further attention. This and the European Ivy are the two 

 climbers, above all others, for the exteriors of our rural stpne 

 churches ; to which they will giye a local interest greater than that 

 of any carving in stone, at a millionth part of the cost. 



The common Tnimpet Creeper all of you know by heart. It is 

 rather a wild and rambling fellow in its habits ; but nothing is het- 

 ter to cover old outside chimneys, stone out-buildings, and rude walls 

 and fences. The sort vrith large cup-shaped flowers (^Tecoma grandi- 

 flora), is a -most showy and magnificent climber in the middle 

 States, where the winters are moderate, absolutely glowing in July 

 witji its thousands of rich orange-red blossoms, like clusters of 

 bright goblets. 



We might go on, and enumerate dozens more of fine twining 

 shrubs and climbing roses ; but that would only defeat our present 

 .object, which is not to give you a garden catalogue, but to tell you 

 of half a dozen hardy shrubby vines, which we implore you to make 

 popular ; so that wherever we travel, fi-om Maine to St. Louis, we 

 shall see no rural cottages shivering in their chill nudity of bare walls 

 or barer boards, but draped tasteftdly with something fresh, and 

 green, and graceful : let it be a hop-vine if nothing better, — but 

 roses, and wistaria, and honeysuckles, if they can be had. How 

 much this apparently trifling feature, if it could be generally carried 

 out, would alter the face of the whole country, you will not at once 



