THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
439 
USE OF CLIMBING PLANTS ON BUILDINGS 
There cannot well be any difference of opinion with regard to the 
beauty of climbing plants, and their usefulness in the garden; but 
there is room for a diversity of views on the manner in which they 
should be used on the walls of public and private buildings. This 
diversity is greater than might have been expected, and it finds 
expression in walls bare of greenery, that would be greatly improved 
by a liberal use of plants of scandent habit; and in the covering up 
of buildings remarkable for their historic interest or architectural 
beauty, in such manner as to hide from view their distinctive features. 
This difference in opinion as to the manner in which climbing 
plants should be used on the walls of dwelling houses and public 
buildings is difficult to understand, and probably a more useful pur¬ 
pose will be served by stating a few of the principal points that 
should have attention in the planting of climbers against walls than 
in endeavoring to give an explanation of the diversity of views that 
are held. It is important to give first consideration to the fact that 
buildings, whether public or private, are not erected specially for the 
purpose of displaying the charms of vigorous roses, rampant ampe- 
lopsis, or rapidly running ivies. They are designed for other pur¬ 
poses, and the clothing of their walls with climbers has for its object 
the enhancement of what beauty they may possess, or the softening 
down of objectionable features. The walls of outhouses are not now 
being considered, but it may be advisable to mention in passing that 
those which come into view from the garden or mansion should be 
wholly covered with plants that grow to a suitable height, and thrive 
in the aspect they afford. 
5 The planter of climbers must be largely governed by the style of 
architecture represented by the building whose walls he is desirous 
of clothing. If it possesses the baldness which found so much favor 
among builders in the early Victorian days, the whole of the walls 
might, with advantage, be covered by climbing plants suited to their 
height and aspect. In these bare, barrack-like structures there is 
but little of beauty, and well-kept climbers will soften their lines and 
render them pleasing to the eye. In the case of dwelling houses of 
more recent date, of which the designs are more or less tasteful, 
climbing plants must be used with some discrimination. A judicious 
selection of climbers will, with careful management, contribute 
materially to the attractions of such buildings as these, and judicious 
procedure in this case means using the plants somewhat sparingly. 
Careful management consists in so regulating the growth that the 
allotted space is nicely clothed without hiding an}' portion of the 
architectural features. A well-designed house is an object of 
beauty, and climbing plants should be used, not for the purpose of 
hiding any part of it, but rather to emphasize the characteristic 
features of the design. There is yet another class of buildings 
awaiting consideration, and it is that which includes those of his¬ 
toric interest or remarkable for beauty of architecture. These are 
frequently dealt with in much the same manner as one would deal 
with a commonplace suburban villa, and this is unquestionably a 
serious mistake. As briefly stated, buildings that possess an ele¬ 
ment of ugliness should have their walls almost, if not quite, hidden 
by greenery; and those erected from designs that are good without 
possessing special merit, should be sufficiently embellished with 
climbers to bring into prominence whatever of beauty they may 
possess. Historic buildings, and those distinguished by reason of 
their handsome elevation, require but little aid from vegetation. In 
visiting an historic building one does not go to see great sheets of 
solemn-looking ivy or a big expanse of flaming ampelopsis, but rather 
is the journey made for becoming more closely acquainted with its 
associations, and of studying the style of architecture it represents. 
To the student of architecture it is a serious matter that the object 
lessons which a fine old building is so well able to afford should be 
hidden beneath a covering of ivy or Virginian creeper. In like 
manner fine examples of architecture, whether ancient or modern, 
should not have their beautiful lines broken or their exquisite work¬ 
manship hidden by climbers. It does not necessarily follow that no 
plants should be allowed to come near the walls of such buildings; in 
many instances they may be employed to advantage, but they must 
be used very sparingly, and with great care.— Gardeners' Magazine. 
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