16 ON GROWING IVY IN PLEASURE-GROUNDS AND UPON LAWNS. 
itself equally through the whole ball, and that the inner roots will be less able to 
exert or elongate themselves. At every new potting, the central and original mass 
will assuredly be pressed closer, and made more solid ; and this process will as 
certainly be productive of harm. However it may be thought that the inner and 
main roots do not contribute to the nourishment of a plant, and that it is solely 
from the outer and fibrous roots that nutriment is obtained, it will be found, on 
examination, that there are lateral as well as terminal fibrous roots, and that those 
which grow at the sides of the stronger ones and almost around the stem of the 
plant, perform, or ought to perform, as many vital functions as those which are 
situated at the extremities. Hence, the mode of potting which provides for the 
uniform texture of the soil, and relieves it from any manual pressure beyond what 
is at first requisite to settle it in its place, must, if it ensure, in other particulars, 
the good results of that mode to which we are objecting, be decidedly and unhesi- 
tatingly substituted for it. 
To attain all these points, and realise additional benefits to which we cannot 
now advert, we shall have, next month, to detail a system which has been practised, 
with astonishing success, in one or two metropolitan collections, and of which we 
ourselves have had an opportunity of witnessing the operation. 
ON GROWING IVY IN PLEASURE-GROUNDS AND 
UPON LAWNS. 
The uses of ivy, as an ornamental plant, are generally confined to concealing 
old or boundary walls, mantling houses, rustic erections, or ruins, decorating the 
trunks of trees, or carpeting the ground in shrubberies and plantations. For all 
these purposes, it is singularly appropriate ; though there are two of them, at 
least, for which we think it is insufficiently employed. We refer to its being 
planted so as to cover, or partially cover, rustic summer-houses, arbours, &c., in 
wild or picturesque parts of the pleasure-grounds ; and to its forming an under- 
growth in ornamental plantings. 
Perhaps no plant accords better with the picturesque in building or landscape 
than the Ivy. If suffered to grow irregularly, it casts over any erection an air of 
naturalness and rusticity which is precisely what is wanted in the wilder portions 
of a garden. Indeed, it seems to give to any small and rude structure the 
appearance of a natural alcove, and thus contributes much to the enjoyment of 
those who use it, because, as it will be required mostly in the summer, the object 
then is to gain a leafy shelter and shade, and not the counterpart of one of the 
domestic apartments. Or if it be frequented even in the warmer days of winter, 
the verdure of Ivy leaves cannot fail to be grateful and refreshing. 
Besides, unless some thoroughly architectural erection be intended, one great 
