598 
VINES AND CREEPERS . 
such masses of verdure as in the British islands. In cities, on 
north walls, and sheltered corners of church towers and buttresses, 
it occasionally mounts and covers them, suggesting the beauty for 
which it is renowned in the moist mild climate of England ; but 
these instances are exceptional in the northern States. 
It is believed that all the varieties of the ivy may be grown as 
shrubs, and become quite valuable on account of the unusual 
purity of color of their evergreen foliage throughout the year. By 
planting an elm-post, say four feet above the surface of the ground, 
and ivies at the foot of it, they will cling to the post, and can be 
protected upon it for a few years in winter with straw. After they 
are well rooted, and form a mass several feet in thickness around 
the post, they will not need further protection in most parts of the 
northern States. No vine we have is so well adapted to cover the 
trunks of old dead trees which have had their tops cut off. 
The varieties do not vary widely. The English Ivy is known 
as H. vulgaris. The Irish Ivy, H. ca7iarienses, has a leaf a little 
larger. This is the variety most planted in this country, and usually 
considered the hardiest. Then there are the Gold-striped, H . 
folds aicris, the Silver-striped, H. folds a7genteis, the Giant- 
leaved, H. 7'ag7ie7'ia7ia^ and numerous others with some mark of 
difference from the normal form. 
The Poison Ivy, Rhus toxicode7idro7i^ is also a beautiful native 
creeping shrub with fine glossy leaves, but the plant is a fearful 
poison to some persons, and should not be allowed to grow in 
settled neighborhoods. It may be readily distinguished from the 
Virginia creeper when in leaf by its three instead of five leaflets, 
and by their smooth edges ; the Virginia creeper having strongly 
serrate leaves. Its wood is somewhat stronger and more stubby 
than that of the latter, and when the vine is attached to trees it 
sends out stiff shoots like branches, which do not fall gracefully 
like those of the Virginia creeper. 
The Grape-vine. Vitis. — No intelligent person needs to be 
reminded that grape-vines are among the most beautiful as well as 
valuable of climbers. There is much difference in the habitual 
