Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-11-05
Cheap ParIor Plants.

For room decoration why do not people
take some hardy things that do not mind heat
or frost, drouth or flood that is, il none of
these things come III too great extremes
There are such things; but, instead of look
ing for them, tender greenhouse things that
require much light and great care-things
which even a florist with all his skill can
scarcely grow-are taken in hand, and thus
people very often fail Of success. OF course
after making a close acquaintance with plants.
and learning their little whims and fancies
and just how to humor them in those little
niceties that they set their hearts upon, the
pHrlor gardener car do rs well as the green
house gardener, and often much better.
II, however, the harder things are taken,
success is certain without much anxiety or
care, and one can practice on them until they
are able to care for the more delicate things
Among the best of these old-fashioned plants
easy to grow in sunshine or shade there is no.
thing so good as the various varieties of Eng
lish evergreen ivy. As usually seen in pots on
street corners, pretty rs they are, they give no
idea of the great beauty which plant several
years old presents. We have seen some grown
in moderate-sized tubs six or seven feet high,
and trained over wires SO as to make backs to
seats or even little arbor-like coverings or al.
coves, admirable for standing in wide entries
or halls They may be trained up in pots
hiBu enough huu tulCh enough 10 cover window
frames entirely, not only up the sides but round
and over tops, making what is usually drea-
ry room look like living bower, or room
adorned by the highest art look all the love
lier for the incursion of beautiful Nature on
her especial domain.
We have seen the ivy in just these condi-
tons frequently, and wonder why the success.
full example is not catching. We suppose it
must be simply want of fOrethought We
see and admire and resolve that we will do
likewise but We leave these fairy spots, and
get into the busy, rushing world, forgetting
the pleasurable impressions, and only remem
bering them when chance throws us in the
way of seeing them again.
The time is now come when preparation
may be made for this sort of things. The
young iyies should be potted in the spring in
good garden soil, and after gentle reminder
that they are expected to travel upwards by
being tied to stout stake set in the centre of
the pot set out III partial shade to grow. 1t
will need to have just the same watering and
just the same general culture as ordinary
plants, and by fall will be large enough for
some show the same winter. But it is the
second season and afterwards that the great
beauty of the ivy will be seen, and it is Just
these three or four year old plants that people
very seldom see.
How dearly we should like to see couple
of pots of ivy in everybodys winter home,
and especially in the homes OF the poor We
read every year in the daily papers of some
individuals at Christmas giving away loaves
of bread to the poor This may be well
enough in its way though it is often looked
upon as u huge joke, and the loayes tossed
about in fun; and though it is at times mere
ly dodge for cheap advertising by some
trader who thinks himself sharp in thus cheat
ing publisher of q five-dollar bill, we are
willing to believe that some do it from good
motives and that some return genuine thanks
for timely relief; but if some one would dis
tribute few hundreds of well.grown ivy to
the poor and ignorant, not TO say vicious, at
this generally cheerful time, we believe an
immense amount Of pleasure would be given
to class who know not what rational pleas
ure is, and no doubt other good would follow
GermdntO,on Telegraph.