STUDIES OF PLANT LIFE 
Yon tall dead tree that stands above the river’s brink is 
wreathed with a dense mantle of foliage not its own. The 
changing hues of the leaves, the deep purplish clusters of 
fruit, now partially seen, now hidden from the view, have 
given a life and beauty to that dead, unsightly tree. 
The ambitious parasite has climbed unchecked to the very 
topmost branch, and now flings down its luxuriant arms, 
vainly endeavoring to clasp some distant bough; but no, the 
distance is beyond its reach, and it must once more bend 
earthward or, in lieu of better support, entwine its flexible 
tendrils in a tangled network of twisted sprays, leafstalks, 
and embowering leaves and fruit. 
The fruit of the Frost Grape—our northern grape-vine— 
is small. The berries, round, blue or black, with little or 
no bloom, very acid, but edible when touched by the frost, 
and can be manufactured into a fine jelly and good wine of 
a deep color and high flavor. Whole islands in the Trent 
and Rice Lake are covered with a growth of this native 
Grape. There is not a lake in Canada but has its “ Grape 
Island,” and many persons cultivate the plants about their 
dwellings over light trellis work, under which circumstances 
they will yield an abundance of fruit. They are also very 
useful to conceal unsightly objects, such as outhouses. An 
old pine stump can be converted into an ornamental object 
by nailing cedar poles—fastened at the top—round it, and 
planting grape-vines about it, having first prepared a bed 
of good earth and large stones to bank the lower part; a 
few plants of the Wild Clematis intermixed with the Grape- 
vine, and a sprinkling of Morning Glories, make a lovely 
pyramid and convert a defect into a charming object during 
many months of the year. 
The Wild Grape seems to flourish best in its natural state 
near the water, but will grow and flourish well in gardens 
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