Chap. XIII.] 



IVY IN PARIS. 



189 



and brown airy twigs the green of the Ivy offers an agreeable 

 contrast. Ornamental Fir-clumps, too, with the stems of two or 

 three of the most inferior trees clad in Ivy, become thereby much 

 improved in appearance; but the Ivy rarely creeps among the 

 branches of the Fir ; when it has reached the foliage the dense 

 shade repels its further advance, and then it seems to retrace its 

 steps and forms pendent festoons. Lovers of creeper-clad trees 

 should, however, take care not to allow young growing trees 

 or any fine healthy ornamental timber to be taken possession 

 of by Ivy. It is an indisputable fact that when Ivy is permitted 

 to cling to and cover growing 

 young trees, it prevents de- 

 velopment of the stem ; while 

 its tightly-laced and inter- 

 woven mass of dense plaits 

 also excludes light, air, and 

 moisture. The production 

 of foliage, too, gradually 

 diminishes, and when Ivy has 

 established itself on young 

 trees, the result is often slow 

 but premature death." 



The Ivy may be readily 

 grown and tastefully used in 

 a dwelling-house, especia,lly 

 in making living screens for 

 rooms. This is usually done 

 by planting it in narrow 

 boxes and training it up 

 wirework trellises. The boxes being portable, a screen may be 

 formed in a few minutes in any part of a room. Sometimes, 

 however, it is permanently planted, and it is not unfrequently 

 used to embellish glass partitions between large apartments. To 

 make the Ivy-edgings which are so abundantly and well employed 

 in and around Paris, plants are easily procured in pots at the 

 markets, on the quays, or of the nurserymen at Fontenay-aux- 

 Eoses, who every year grow it in large quantities. 



When used as a screen. Ivy may often be combined with other 

 creepers so as to produce a variety of pretty effects. A happy 



4i»Mr^ 



/zy on High Window. 



