18 ON GROWING IVY IN PLEASURE-GROUNDS AND UPON LAWNS. 
woods, and those in the smallest as much as in the largest gardens ; provided the 
shrubs or trees are not so dwarf or so distant from each other as to be interspersed 
with flowering herbaceous plants. Thus, in little villa gardens, there is commonly 
a shrubbery walk, bounding a paddock, or extending round the garden. And 
since this is often used for winter exercise as well as summer recreation, the 
appearance of the ground beneath the trees would be very greatly enlivened by a 
covering of Ivy ; and this would at once save a good deal of trouble, and be more 
appropriate than a dug border, a few imperfect flowers, or a mass of uninteresting 
or decaying weeds. The common Periwinkle is alike useful, and yet more 
interesting for its beautiful flowers. Yet, as it cannot be largely obtained, it must 
be reserved for the more conspicuous shrubberies, and those nearest the house. 
That use of Ivy, however, which we principally seek to enforce in the present 
article, is one which we have only observed in two or three gardens, but which 
deserves to be far more extensively practised. It may be varied a little, according 
to taste or circumstances. The first mode of adopting it is to plant a strong 
specimen of the Irish Ivy on a lawn where an evergreen shrub, four or five feet in 
height, is desired. It may be supported, for a while, by a tolerably stout stake, 
of the requisite height; and not more than two or three stems should be allowed to 
rise from it. When these have reached the top of the stake, they must be stopped, 
in order to induce them to branch ; and after the branches have been developed, 
they may be again pruned. This will serve to strengthen the stem or stems, and 
also produce a branching condition. The plant may then be left to nature ; and 
it will, in a few years, form a fine strong shrub, with gracefully weeping shoots, 
which will sweep most agreeably over the turf with the least agitation of the 
atmosphere. As soon as the stems are sufiiciently thick to support themselves, 
the stake may be removed ; and it is then difficult to imagine a more elegant or 
interesting object. 
The main point to be attended to in the early management of such a plant, is 
to prevent young shoots forming at the base of the stem, and assuming the ordinary 
trailing character. If this be permitted, not only will the leading growths be 
weakened, but the peculiarity of the specimen will be destroyed. At a subsequent 
period, when the wished-for form of the plant is thoroughly taken, a slight 
pruning may now and then be needful, to repress any shoots that evince an 
inclination to ramble too much ; but it will be seen that, when the drooping 
character is once established, it will continue, without any tendance or assistance, 
for a great number of years. 
An idea may be gained of the appearance of a plant so treated by comparing it 
to a weeping ash, or a weeping willow- Only, the Ivy will be so much more 
graceful in consequence of the greater length and sweep of its branches, and so 
transcendently interesting on account of its being a comparatively low shrub, and 
likewise an evergreen. It will have all the elegance of a climbing Rose, trained to 
a pole, and never pruned ; and this elegance will be maintained throughout the 
