270 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ Decembek, 
Tlie Ivy may be grown in three separate ways —(1), as pillars ; (2), to cover old 
roots, laid on tlie ground to form a screen ; and ( 3 ), in pots. Pillars of Ivy form 
beautiful objects, especially in tlie winter season. Those who have seen the 
gardens at Elvaston in winter will no doubt remember the pleasing effect of the 
masses of golden Ivy which abound there. When planted and trained on rochwork 
or old trees, it is curious and interesting to watch the shoots creeping and clinging 
to the surface, now losing themselves in the recesses, then emerging and spreading- 
to the light their broad masses of beautiful leaves of green, gold, or silver. A 
well-kept mass of Ivy, whether on w'all, or tree, or rock, is in winter a beautiful 
sight. When grown in tubs or pots as low pyramids, the varieties of this plant 
are also extremely useful for garden decoration. Of the many variegated kinds 
some only are completely happy as pillar plants, at least such is my experience ; 
but the most delicate are beautiful in pots, and even against walls, and are quite 
worthy of such positions. 
Further, the Ivy is not only valuable as a climbing and creeping plant, but 
also as an evergreen shrub. The tree or bush forms which it assumes, and of 
Avhich there are several, are first-class front-row evergreens for beds and borders. 
A little pruning keeps them as compact as Aucubas and Laurustines, and in tho 
green, gold, and silver leaves, and the black and yellow berries, there is infinite^ 
va,riety and beauty. The sweetness of the flowers, too, must not be forgotten. 
The following hints as to making selections for special purposes may be- 
useful:—For covering large spaces quickly, I would specially recommend the- 
following :— iminsylvanica^ crenata^ canariensis^ canariensis nova^ algeriensis^ and 
colchica^ among the green-leaved kinds; marginata minor^ marginata rohustcty 
margiiiata argentea^ canariensis latifolia maculata^ algeriensis variegata^ and 
rhornhea variegata^ among silver-leaved forms ; and Helix foliis aureis^ imlmata 
aurea^ canariensis aurea maculata^ and canariensis foliis aureis^ among gold-leaved 
varieties. Breadth or masses of any one of these three colours may be obtained 
by the use of the above varieties. For low walls or fences, basket handles, and 
margins of beds, the best green Ivies are— Helix^ Ghjmii^ taurica^ and waltham- 
ensis; the best silver-leaved kinds are— marginata elegans^ marginata pulchellay 
marginata elegantissima^ minor marmorata^ rhornhea variegata^ japonica ; the best 
gold-leaved varieties are— Helix foliis aureis^ marginata canescens^ canariensis 
aurea maculata. All the tree or bush varieties are worthy of a place as front- 
row evergreens. I append a descriptive and classified list of the best sorts of Ivies. 
§ Hedera Helix.—European Ivy. 
* Plants of climbing habit. 
t Leaves green. 
H. Helix. —Leaves small, dark green. Growth rapid. 
H. Helix palmata. —Leaves dark green, of medium size, very broad, deeply cleft; veins 
prominent. Growth very vigorous. 
H. Helix crenata. —Leaves gi'een, broad, regularly cleft; the veins very consi^icuous, similar 
to but larger than those of //. Helix palmata. Growth free and rapid. 
H. Helix digitata. —Leaves dark green, long and pointed, broad at the base, deeply cleft. 
Growth rapid, shoots less numerous than in most others. 
II. Helix digitata nova. —Leaves dark gi’een, of medium size, deeply cut. Growth rapid. 
