dark gray of the stone-work is finely opposed by the rich verdure of the plant, which falls away in openings here and there, around the windows, and elsewhere. It never thrives well if suffered to ramble along the ground, but needs the support of a tree, a frame, or a wall, to which it attaches itself firmly, and grows with vigorous shoots. Bare walls or fences may thus be clothed with verdure and beauty equal to the living hedge, in a very short period of time, by planting young Ivy roots at the base.

The most desirable varieties of the common Ivy are, the Irish Ivy, with much larger foliage than the common sort, and more rapid in its growth; the Silver-striped, and the Gold-striped leaved Ivy, both of which, though less vigorous, are much admired for the singular colour of their leaves. The common English Ivy is more hardy than the others in our climate.

Although, as we have said, the Ivy is not a native of this country, yet we have an indigenous vine, which, at least in summer, is not inferior to it. We refer to the Virginia Creeper, (Ampelopsis hederacea,) which is often called the American Ivy. The leaves are as large as the hand, deeply divided into five lobes, and the blossoms are succeeded by handsome, dark blue berries. The Virginia Creeper is a most luxuriant grower, and we have seen it climbing to the extremities of trees 70 or 80 feet in height. Like the Ivy, it attaches itself to whatever it can lay hold of, by the little rootlets which spring out of the branches; and its foliage, when it clothes thickly a high wall, or folds itself in clustering wreaths around the trunk and branches of an open tree, is extremely handsome and showy. Although the leaves are not evergreen like those of the Ivy, yet in autumn they far surpass those of that plant in the

rich and gorgeous colouring which they then assume. Numberless trees may be seen in the country by the roadside, and in the woods, thus decked in autumn in the borrowed glories of the Virginia Creeper; but we particularly remember two, as being remarkably striking objects; one, a wide-spread elm-the trunk and graceful diverging branches completely clad in scarlet by this beautiful vine, with which its own leaves harmonized well in their fine deep yellow dress; the other, a tall and dense Cedar, through whose dark green boughs gleamed the rich colouring of the Virginia Creeper, like a half-concealed, though glowing fire.

In the American forests nothing adds more to the beauty of an occasional tree, than the tall canopy of verdure with which it is often crowned by the wild Grape vine. There its tall stems wind themselves about until they reach the very summit of the tree, where they cluster it over, and bask their broad bright green foliage in the sunbeams. As if not content with this, they often completely overhang the head of the tree, falling like ample drapery around on every side, until they sweep the ground. We have seen very beautiful effects produced in this way by the grape in its wild state, and it may easily be imitated. The delicious fragrance of these wild grape vines when in blossom, is unsurpassed in delicacy; and we can compare it to nothing but the delightful perfume which exhales from a huge bed of Mignonette in full bloom. The Bittersweet, (Celastrus scandens,) is another well known climber, which ornaments our wild trees. Its foliage is very bright and shining, and the orange-coloured seed-vessels which burst open, and display the crimson seeds in winter, are quite ornamental. It winds itself very closely around the stem, however, and we

have known it to strangle or compress the bodies of young trees so tightly as to put an end to their growth.

The Trumpet Creeper, (Bignonia radicans,) is a very showy climbing plant. The stem is quite woody, and often attains considerable size; the branches like those of the Ivy, and Virginia Creeper, fasten themselves by the roots thrown out. The leaves are pinnated, and the flowers, which are borne in terminal clusters on the ends of the young shoots about midsummer, are exceedingly showy. They are tubes five or six inches long, shaped like a trumpet, opening at the extremity, of a fine scarlet colour on the outside, and orange within. The Trumpet Creeper is a native of Virginia, Carolina, and the states farther south, where it climbs up the loftiest trees. It is a great favourite in the northern states as a climbing plant, and very beautiful effects are sometimes produced by planting it at the foot of a tall-stemmed tree, which it will completely surround with a pillar of verdure, and render very ornamental by its little shoots, studded with noble blossoms.

One of the most singular and picturesque climbing shrubs or plants which we cultivate, is the Pipe-vine, or Birthwort, (Aristolochia sipho.) It is a native of the Alleghany moun. tains, and is one of the tallest of twining plants growing on the trees there to the height of 90 or 100 feet, though in gardens it is often kept down to a frame of four or five feet high. The leaves are of a noble size, being eight or nine inches broad, and heart-shaped in outline. The flowers, about an inch or a little more in length, are very singular. They are dark yellow, spotted with brown, in shape like a bent siphon-like tube, which opens at the extremity, the whole flower resembling, as close as possible, a very small Dutchman's pipe, whence the vine is frequently so called by the

country people. It flowers in the beginning of summer, and the foliage, during the whole growing season, has a very rich and luxuriant appearance. Aristolochia tomentosa is a smaller species, with leaves and flowers of less size, the former downy or hairy on the under surface.

The various kinds of Clematis, though generally kept within the precincts of the garden, are capable of adding to the interest of the pleasure ground, when they are planted so as to support themselves on the branches of trees. The common White Clematis or Virgin's Bower, (C. virginica,) is one of the strongest growing kinds, often embellishing with its pale white blossoms, the whole interior and even the very tops of our forest trees in the middle states. After these have fallen, they are succeeded by large tufts of brown, hairy-like plumes, appendages to the clusters of seeds, which give the whole a very unique and interesting look. The Wild Atragene, with large purple flowers, which blossom early, has much the same habit as the Clematis, to which indeed, it is nearly related. Among the finest foreign species of this genus are, the Single and Double-flowered purple Clematis, (C. viticella and its varieties,) which though slender in their stems, run to considerable height, are very pretty, and blossom profusely. The sweet scented, and the Japan Clematis, (C. flammula and C. florida,) the former very fragrant, and the latter beautiful, are perhaps too tender, except for the garden, where they are highly prized.

The Glycine or Wistaria, (Wistaria pubescens,) is a very handsome climbing plant, and adds much to the beauty of trees, when trained so as to hang from their lower branches. The leaves are pinnate, and the light purple flowers, which bloom in loose clusters like those of the Locust, are universally admired. The Chinese Wistaria, (W. sinensis,) is a

very elegant species of this plant, which appears to be quite hardy here; and when loaded with its numerous large clusters of pendant blossoms, is highly ornamental. It grows rapidly, and with but little care, will mount to a great height. These vines with pinnated foliage, would be remarkably appropriate when climbing up, and hanging from the branches of such light airy trees as the Three-thorned Acacia, the Locust, etc.

We must not forget to enumerate here the charming family of the Honeysuckles; some of them are natives of the old world, some of our own continent; and all of them are common in our gardens, where they are universally prized for their beauty and fragrance. In their native localities they grow upon trees, and trail along the rocks. The species which ascends to the greatest height, is the common European Woodbine,* which twines around the stems, and hangs from the ends of the longest branches of trees:

"As Woodbine weds the plant within her reach,

Rough Elm, or smooth-grained Ash, or glossy Beech,

In spiral rings ascends the trunk, and lays
Her golden tassels on the leafy sprays."

COWPER.

The Woodbine, (Lonicera peryclemenum,) has separate opposite leaves, and buff-coloured or paler yellow and red blossoms. There is a variety, the common monthly Woodbine, which produces its flowers all summer, and is much the most valuable plant. Another, (L. p. belgicum,) the Dutch Honeysuckle, blossoms quite early in spring; and a third, (L. p. quercifolium,) has leaves shaped like those of the oak tree.

* Woodbind is the original name, derived from the habit of the plant of winding itself around trees, and binding the branches together.