VINES AND CLIMBING PLANTS. 
Q 
The fine contrasts between the dark coloring oi the 
leaves of the Ivy, and the vernal and autumnal tints of 
the foliage of deciduous trees, are also highly pleasing. 
Indeed this fine climbing plant may be turned to advantage 
in another way ; in reclothing dead trees with verdure. 
Sir T. D. Lauder says, that “ trees often die from causes 
which we cannot divine, and there is no one who is 
master of extensive woods, who does not meet with many 
such instances of unexpected and unaccountable mortality. 
Of such dead individuals we have often availed ourselves, 
and by planting Ivy at their roots, we have converted 
them into more beautiful objects than they were when 
arrayed in their own natural foliage/’ 
The Ivy is not only ornamental upon trees, but it is 
also remarkably well adapted to ornament cottages, and 
even large mansions, when allowed to grow upon the 
walls, to which it will attach itself so firmly by the little 
rootlets sent out from the branches, that it is almost 
impossible to tear it off'. On wooden buildings, it may 
perhaps be injurious, by causing them to decay ; but on 
stone buildings, it fastens itself firmly, and holds both 
stone and mortar together like a coat of cement. The 
thick garniture of foliage with which it covers the surface, 
excludes stormy weather, and has, therefore, a tendency 
to preserve the walls, rather than accelerate their decay. 
This vine is the inseparable accompaniment of the old 
The Ivy is not a native of America ; nor is it by any 
means a very common plant in our gardens, though we 
know of no apology for the apparent neglect of so beautiful 
a climber. It is hardy south of the latitude of 42°, and we 
have seen it thriving in great luxuriance as far north as 
Hyde Park, on the Hudson, eighty miles above New York. 
One of the most beautiful growths of this plant, which has 
