San Andreas independent., 1856-11-22

y
fine flowers, which last for fortnight,
lead us to forget fine habit of growth and
good foliage, which are constant sources
of pleasure.
Besides these requisites, we must add,
that popular vines for a cottage must be
such as are perfectly hardy, and need no
protection, and which have way, for the
most part, of taking care of themselves
in other words, which will grow into pleas
ing or picturesque forms with only an hour
or two's pruning or tying up once year
" For cottages at the North, one Of the
best hardy vines is the Virginia creeper,
(better known as the American Ivy, or
five leaved Ampelopsis, a wild plant which
grows with wonderful luxuriance, and at
taches itself without any assistance to wood
or stone, by the fbres it throws out from
its stem. Its leaves, glossy green in sum-
mer, but turning to the finest crimson be-
fore they fall in autumn, the rapidity of
its growth, and the absolute no-care-at-all
which it requires, will commend it as per-
haps the best of all plants, when the effect of
foliageis desired in as short time as pos
sible, as well as for concealing or adding
to the beauty of any part of t'anh wall
of cottages
'sThe Chinese Wlstaria, now perfectly
naturalized in the Middle States, is one of
the finest vines for the pillars Of the cot
tage porch or veranda. 1t will extend its
shoots to 40 or 80 feet, if allowed, while
it may be kept within the limits Of small
column, if desired. Its long pendent clus-
ters of delicate pearly lilac flowers, havea
strikingly elegantappearance when properly
scattered over the shoots in May, and its
abundant light green foliage has a pleasing
effect, whether for trellis, wall, or veran-
dai
"Climbing roses are also great favorites
for pillars and porch trellises. The most
deservedly popular for the cottage, are the
Boursalt and the Double Prairie roses-be-
cause they have fine foliage, grow very
rapidly and luxurantly, blossom profusely,
and are perfectly hardy in all parts of the
Union. The Amadis is the best variety
of the Boursalt, and the Queen of Prairies
and Baltimore Belle the best Double Prai=
ries For cottage decoration Amateurs who
wish to add still further charm, and are
willing to bestow little more care on them,
may, by budding the long shoots with
Bourbon roses, have succession of fine
flowers every day during the whole grow
ing season.
q In the Southern States, the fine Moi
sette roses, such as Cloth of Gold, and
Solfaterre, take the place of the Prairie
roses of the North.
Among the honesuckles-the " lush
woodbine" of the poets-there are two
admirably adapted for cottage adornment,
viz the Japan or Evergreen Honeysuckle,
(Lonicera .japonico) and the Trumpet
Honeysuckle, (both scarlet and straw color. }
The former is deliciously fragrant, and
blooms all summer, holding its masses OF
rich, dark green foliage till mid-winter
and the latter, though not fragrant, grows
in fine masses, and flowers most abundantly
at all times Neither of these honey
suckles is infested with the insects which
deform some of the other species, and
render them unfit to be planted near cot.
tage window
g For cottages of stone, brick, or rough
cast, there is no climbing plant in the
whole world equal to the Ivy-the ever.
green Ivy of Europe. It's dark green
foliage forms at all seasons of the year, the
richest drapery that ever festooned OF
wreathed either castle or cottage; and we
need say nothing Of the associations with
out number, which the mere sight of this
plant always brings to the mind.
"The Ivy does not thrive very we'll II
New-England, except in sheltered places,
for the winters are rather too severe for it
but in all other parts of the Union, il
grows easily and rapidly. Tt likes DIR,
and loose soil, and should, at the North
while young, be little protected, for {
winter or two, with boughs of evergreen
till it gets established. It will often thirty,
in cold sites, on the north sides of houses
or under the shade of trees, when it fail
in SUMMER sites, because it is the sunshine
in mid-winter, and not the frost which in
iures it in the latter situations. The Clan
Ivy, (now quite common about Philadel
phia) is larger leaved, richer looking
and more vigorous variety, than the OLE
species.
Gin New-England, the American Ivy
or Virginia Creeper may be used as sub
stitute for the European Ivy; both bearin.
a resemblance only in attaching them
selves firmly (by the little rootlets sen
out from their branches) to the wall, how
ever hard it may be, and neither of then
injuring it. Indeed, the European Iv,
preserves stone wall from decay"
In some of the forests of Western n York
growing on the broad lowlands, this plant pre-
sents a most conspicuous and striking appear
ance, when its leaves change color in autumn
The branchless trunks of the trees, to heigh
of sixty or seventy feet, are not unfrequentl
covered from bottom to top with an uninter
: rupted mass of brilliant crimson, and eve
Al