190 THE PARKS AND GAEDENS OF PARIS. [Chap. XIII. 



combination of Wistaria above and Ivy below in the same railing 

 often occurs, and the contrast of colour between the delicate Lilac- 

 blossoms and light green leaves of the "Wistaria and the deep 

 glossy green of the Ivy is so charming, that one could wish it 

 were far more extensively employed in such companionship. 

 Ivy also forms an admirable frame for windows, in situations 

 where little else will grow. The window framed in Ivy, as shown 

 in the sketch of " Ivy on high window," was a very high one (four 

 stories) and the effect was very good. A deep T)ox, filled with 

 rich light soil, suits these Ivies best. 



In some cases a green screen may be desirable far above the 

 ground-line. It can easily be formed of Irish Ivy, planted in deep 

 boxes of rich light earth or in a trough formed of stone or cement.; 

 in such positions the effect of the Ivy is all the more telling 



from its contrast, with 

 the . large expanse, of 

 stone. The high screen 

 represented in our illusr 

 tration was formed 

 about twenty feet above 

 the ground, and in a 

 position where it could 

 not be planted in the 

 earth on the ground 

 level. In preparing Ivy 

 for growing against the railings and trellis -work in the various 

 parks and gardens, it is trained carefully during the first one or 

 two years, so that it may cover spaces equably. At the end of 

 the second year the railings are completely covered, and it is 

 then only necessary to keep it properly trimmed. 



The Ivy used by the City of Paris for ornamenting the flower- 

 beds in the squares, the trunks of trees, etc., is grown at the 

 nurseries in the Bois de Boulogne. Towards the end of the 

 summer the propagation of the Ivy by means of cuttings is carried 

 on. Three or four leaves are left on each cutting, and they are 

 planted very thickly in lines in a half-shady position. When 

 they have taken root sufficiently, which generally takes place in 

 the following spring, they are transplanted into pots of four or 

 five inches in diameter. Afterwards stakes are fixed along the 



Ivy over high wall. 



