THE BOOK OF CLIMBING PLANTS 



CHAPTER I 



INTRODUCTORY 



The Value and Beauty of Climbers — Cheapness of Some — Nature and 

 Habits — Plants Included — Nomenclature. 



Apart altogether from the interest which attaches to 

 their habit of growth and the processes and contrivances 

 by which they attach themselves to their supports, 

 climbing plants are entitled from their charms to the 

 appreciation of all who admire the beauty of plants in 

 their varied forms. Even our native climbers contribute 

 largely to the charms of our landscapes by the manner 

 in which they clamber over trees, hedgerows and rocks, 

 and none of us can see unmoved by admiration the wild 

 Roses which climb among our hedgerows, the fragrant 

 Honeysuckle which adornsmany a scene, or the Traveller's 

 Joy covering as with a cloud of foliage and flowers some 

 quiet or unfrequented spot. Nor can we be unapprecia- 

 tive of the part played by the Ivy in the adornment of 

 our ancient buildings, which owe much of their attraction 

 in many cases to the veil of green which covers up their 

 architectural or structural defects, and makes them assume 

 perfect beauty in our eyes. In their own way these 

 supply to our landscape the effects of the climbing plants 

 of the tropics, though, as befits our greyer atmosphere 

 and quieter landscapes, they are, it may be, less brilliant 

 in their colouring than the showy flowers which cover 



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