26 
Jan. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
The dry rot, I can remember more than forty- 
years ; and it always occurred in wet ground. 
Such in the early stage of decay, are not materi¬ 
ally injured for swine or cattle; but the fetid rot 
which came within the last few years, appears to 
be very different. David Thomas. Great field, 
Cayugo Co., 12 mo. 2, 1852 
Climbing Plants. 
11 As graceful as a vine,” is a very common ex¬ 
pression. Every one thinks the phrase quite po¬ 
etical, and that is the end of it. Grace and Beau¬ 
ty are well enough to talk about, and serve for 
excuses for writing fine sentences, say our utilita¬ 
rians; but were you to advocate that these are 
“ qualities as positive as electro-magnetism,” you 
would at once be set down as a hopeless sentimen¬ 
talist. 
Still, we are about to propose something which 
has no other recommendation than simplicity, 
beauty, and grace. It costs nothing, and will af¬ 
ford no pecuniary income; but it looks pretty. 
We wish to talk about the propriety of planting 
climbing plants to shade the windows, to relieve 
the monotonous color of the exterior of the house, 
to cover up every thing ugly, and to heighten the 
charm of every thing pretty and picturesque. 
No matter how rude and unarcliitectural may be 
your dwelling; vines will give it a new character, 
and make it look home-like and cheerful. There 
never was a grand old mansion or princely palace, 
that would not look grander and more kingly for 
a vine to twine about its great pillars, whose green 
leaves and bright flowers would relieve its stern 
and imposing appearance. 
A decoration of this kind, you have not to wait 
years to have completed; nor to consult with 
architects, or spend much time yourself to secure 
it. A wish will almost bring it. We quote Mr. 
Downing’s remarks as to the vines most suitable 
for cultivation in New-England and Middle states: 
Our two favorite vines, then, for the adornment of 
cottages, in the northern states, are the double Prairie 
Rose, and the Chinese Wistaria. Why we like these 
best is, because they have the greatest number of good 
qualities to recommend them. 1'n the first place, they 
are hardy, thriving in all soils and exposures; in the se¬ 
cond place, they are luxuriant in their growth, and pro¬ 
duce an effect in a very short time-after which they may 
be kept to the limits of a single pillar on the piazza, or 
trained over the whole side of a cottage; in the last 
place, they are rich in the foliage, and beautiful in the 
blossom. 
Now there are many vines more beautiful than these 
in some respects, but not for this purpose, and taken al¬ 
together. For cottage drapery, a popular vine must be 
one that will grow anywhere, with little care, and must 
need no shelter, and the least possible attention, beyond 
seeing that it has something to run on,and a looking over, 
pruning, and tying up once a year—say in early spring. 
This is precisely the character of these two vines; and 
hence we think they deserve to be planted from one end 
o the Uuion to the other. They -will give the greatest 
amount of beauty, with the least care, and in the great- 
ets number of places. 
Tlie Prairie Rose is of uncommonly rapid 
growth—shoots of twenty feet in a single year, be¬ 
ing a not uncommon sight. The Chinese Wistaria 
is of more compact growth, and its blossoms hang 
in large bunches, from eight inches to a foot long. 
A climbing vine in the garden, in the “ front 
door-yard,” and in pleasure-grounds, is particu¬ 
larly desirable. One great difficulty in the way 
of planting vines, is a want of some support. On 
the one hand, a lattice house # or arbor is too ex¬ 
pensive for persons of moderate means, and per¬ 
haps less taste, while on the other, ladders and 
stakes are forever rotting and breaking down just 
when they should not. The cut herewith given, 
illustrates a method of avoiding these difficulties 
in a very tasteful manner. 
It is simply procuring the trunk of a cedar tree from 
10 to 15 feet high, shortening in*the side branches to 
within two feet of the trunk, and still shorter near the 
top, and then setting it again, as you would a post, two 
or three feet deep in the ground. 
Cedar is the best; partly because it will last forever, 
and partly because the regular disposition of its bran¬ 
ches forms naturally a fine trellis for the shoots to fasten 
upon. 
