The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1897-12-08
IVY ON CHURCHES. ,'
Tho Luxurlant Growth on n Noted Isdifico

IVY ON CHURCHES.
Tho Luxurlant Growth on Noted Edifico
In Now York. a.
Grace church, New York city, is
famous for the luxuriant ivy which
olings not only to the front Of tho
church building itself, but to the
Grace house and reotory. The growth
10 especially close and luxuriant on the
latter. It's pinnaoles seem like solid
masses of iyy--not glimpse Of the
stonework can be had. The ivy is
hero beautifully level in appearance
there are no spare spots or places of
uneven growth. The leaves seom to
overlap each other e-fashion,. giving
the rain ample opportunity to glide
down from leaf to leaf to tho roots be-.
low.
This charming ivy to be seen on the
rectory is the old English variety,
which lends 80 much of romance to
Kenilworth and Warwick and tho
Rhine castles. The leaves are about
the size of those of the silver maple,
slightly CLASSY. firm, and heavily
yeined. The ste IN is thick and strong.
The ivy gives an impression Of
strength and hardness. Little trouble
is had with the dropping Of the leavos
in the summon. In fall there is not
steady dropping, continuing for seve-
ral weeks; two weeks is, rs rule, NIL
the time required for tho dropping.
The English ivy is somewhat slow
in growth; tho plants at Grace church
were set out, many Of them, quarter
of n century and longer ago.
One Of the sextons spoke to The
Church Economist Of the entire sat.
isfaction this ivy has always given the
rectors and sections Of the church in
the past.
"rho old English ivy is always fresh
and beautiful" said ho. Though it
can never have too much water, it
thrives in the dryest seasons. we
rarely water it. OF all the iyys we
have experimental with, or are grow
ing here now, it has required the least
attention md given the best results.
1t is slow grower, but it most en-
phatically pays in the end. We are
never annoyed by spnrrows hosting IN
the ivy, either that growing over tia
reotory or house, where it is thickest,
or OH the church itself. Once year
we clean the cutters and trim the ivy
slightly And sometimes we clip the
ends which have forced themselves be-
tween the stained glass windows and
the fine network which covors them"
The English ivy grows on an aver
age Of fifteen feet in four years, though
this is hardly q fair estimate, MS every
thing depends on the richness Of the
soil and its access to q good water sup
ply. The plants should be set out the
last of April, little over q foot from
tho stonework of the church, and from
three to five feet apart 1t is well to
give the ivy healthful impetus by
growing it in water for short time
previous to tho setting out. Little or
no care need be exercised in training
the ivy. With little guidance for
first fortnight, tie ivy willmount high
or and hirher, slowly, surely, and
regularly. Buttresses, pinnacles, pro-.
jections arc firmly entwined by the
little plant and it will take storm
indeed to dislodge it. It may be
bought Of any reputable florist at 81. so
per dozen.
The most popular ivy in America,
owing to it's rich autumn tints and
quick-growing qualities, is the Ape
lopsis vietchi, Japan, or Boston ivy.
Seedsmen pronounce it to be the most
practicable ivy to be had. With very
few exceptions, New York churches
have chosen this variety for their pur-
poses. Grace church, in its main
structure; the Marble collegiate
Dutch reformod), the "Little Church
Around the Corner" (Church of the
Transfiguration), all are made most
tasteful in appearance by the growth
OF this ivy. Its leaves are small and
delicate, with deep indentations. The
stem is small and tender. The au
tumn color is vivid scarlet. Church
Economist.