Creating the Ruin it Loves 
climbers. If it is on the house the aspect should be 
studied with a view to giving the more delicate the 
sunlight and the protection the house affords. Nor 
are all climbers suitable for planting on the house. If 
it be a small one, eschew Ivy and all rank-growing 
climbers that injure the fabric. Ivy on a grey ruin or 
a massive stone building is picturesque and safe. On 
a cottage it looks clumsy, and pulls the woodwork out 
of the windows, the mortar from between the bricks, 
and the tiles off the roof. Left to its own devices, it 
will ensure that, sooner or later, it clothes the ruin it 
seems to love, for it is quite capable of creating a ruin 
for itself. There is, moreover, not the slightest reason 
for planting Ivy, as there are plenty of far more beau- 
tiful climbers. In a sunny, warm spot, perhaps where 
a chimney runs up, plant the fiery Thorn, Crategus 
pyvacantha Lalandi. Nothing can be more beautiful 
than this climbing shrub, with its orange-scarlet berries 
when it is doing well, as it generally does in the posi- 
tion I have described. Of course, Ampelopsis Veitchu, 
with its glorious autumn colouring, is known to every- 
one. If it has a fault it is that it resembles the Ivy in 
its capacity for destruction of buildings, but it can be 
kept within bounds much easier, and takes years to 
achieve the disaster Ivy will bring about in a single 
season. It will grow on any side of the house, not 
the least of its merits being that it is self-clinging. 
Then there are the Ceanothus, some of which are ever- 
green, and all beautiful, with their flowers in varying 
shades of blue, from pale lavender to deep indigo. 
Ceanothus dentatus is excellent as a climber. For 
winter berry there are several varieties of Cotoneaster 
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