Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-27

For room decoration why do not people take
SJme hardy things that do not mind heat or
frost or drought or n0od-thaC is, II none OF
these things come In too great extremes There
are such things; but Instead OF looking for
them, tender greenhouse things that require
much light and great care-thingS which even
florist with all his skill can scarcely grow-are
taken in hand, and thus people very often fall
Oh success. or course after making a close ac-
quaintance with plants and learning their little
whirns and fancieS and just how to humor the II
In those little nicetieS that they set their hearts
upon, the parlor-gardener can do as well as the
greenhouse gardener and often much bett .r.
If, however the harder things are taken. sue
cess Is certain without much anxiety or care.
ana one can practice on them until they arc
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 moth
Ing SO good as the various varieties of English
evergreen Ivy. AS usually seen In pots On
street corners, pretty az they are, they give 10
idea OF the great beauty which plant OF seVe-
raj years Old presents. We have seen some
grown In moderate-siZe tubs six or seven feet
high ana trained over wires so as TO make backs
to seats or even little arbor- like coverings or
aIcoveS, admirable for standing In Wide entryS
or halls. They may be trained up in pots nigh
enough ana thick enough TO cover. window
frames entirely, not only up the sides but round
and over tops, making what is usually dreary
room look like living bower, or room
adorned by the highest art look all the loveiier
Tor the 1ncuricn OF beautiful Nature on her
especial domain.
We have seen the ivy in just these conditions
frequently, and wonder Why the successful eX-
ample is not catching. We suppose it must be
simply want OF forethOugnt. we see and adj
mire and resolve that we viii do likewise but
we leave these fairy spots and get iato the rush
ing busy world, forgetting the pleasurable
impressions and only remembering them when
chance throws us In the way of seeing them
again.
The time is now come when preparation may
be made for these sort Of things. The young
ivfeS should be potted In the spring Ia good gar
den soil, and after a gentle reminder that they
r1c laasp fad
stout stake set In the center OF The pot, set out
In partial shade to grow. Il will need to have
just the same watering and just the same gen
eral culture as ordinary plants, and by fall will
be large enough for some show the same winter,
But 1t Is the second season and afterwards that
the great beauty OF the ivy Will be seen, and IL
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 eyerybody's winter home, and
especially In the homes OF the poor. We read
every year I'm the daily papers OF some individ-
uals at Christmas giving away ioayes OF bread
to the poor. This may be well enough In iUs
way, though it is looked on often as a huge
joke and the loayeS tossed about I'm fun and
though IL is at other times merely dodge for
cheap advertising by some trader who thinks
himself sharp In thus cheating publish n or
nve-doliar bill, we are willing to believe that
some do 1t from good motives and th It some
return genuine thanks for timely reli 4; but II
well-grown ivy to the poor and ignorant, not to
say the vicious, at this generally Cheerful time,
we believe an immense amount OF pl assure
would be given TO class who know not what
rational pleasure is, and no doubt other good
would follow Gern,antOrn Telegraph.