186 THE PAEKS AND GARDENS OP PARIS. [Chap. XIII. 



to the margin ; but, with the bare earth more conspicuous than 

 the bedding-plants, as is so often the case early in the summer, 

 the belt of fresh Ivy, rising as it does several inches above the 

 level of the earth, effects great improvement. Near at hand this 

 is not so evident, but when a little way off, the nakedness of the 

 earth is hidden by the Ivy, and the flowers peep above it. The 

 best kind for this purpose is the Irish Ivy, but where many 

 edgings are made, it would be very desirable to produce some 

 variety by using other healthy green-leaved kinds ; and the 

 variegated ones, too, should be attractive, though no charm'of 

 theirs can ever equal the unmatched verdure of the green Ivies 

 in early summer. It should be observed that an Ivy-band of the 

 width of an ordinary edging is not at all so desirable as when 

 its sheet of greea is allowed to spread out to a breadth of more 

 than a foot. In nearly every courtyard in Paris the Ivy is 

 tastefully used. Scarlet Pelargoniums are seen to great advantage 

 when grown in boxes placed against a wall densely covered with 

 Ivy, and with it also planted along their front edges so as to 

 hang down and cover the face of the boxes. One of the floating 

 baths on the Seine has its entrance embowered with Ivy, which 

 looks as much at home as if no river were gurgling beneath. It 

 is secured by placing deep boxes filled with very rich light soil here 

 and there on the bare space ; then planting the Ivy at the ends of 

 each box, devoting the remainder of the space to flowers. The soil 

 is kept well watered, and the shoots of the Ivy are trained to a light 

 trellis overhead. In the garden of the Paris Exhibition of 1867, 

 a pretty circular bower was shown perfectly covered with Ivy, 

 the whole springing from a large tub. Imagine an immense 

 green umbrella, with the handle inserted in a tub of good soil, 

 with boards placed over it, so as to form a circular seat, and the 

 whole arrangement will be understood in a moment. Such a bower 

 could readily be made on a roof, or on a wide balcony. 



An illustration here given of " rocky caves covered with Ivy," 

 shows a successful attempt to hide with graceful vegetation 

 some caves for storing tools, and also serving as a shelter to passers- 

 by in showers. These caves are almost completely covered with a 

 mantle of Irish Ivy, which also spreads into the bushes and grass 

 around. Where the rocky masses forming the grottoes are seen, 

 the effect is good, owing to the rock being well formed. The 



