There is no out-of-door decoration upon which the eye rests with more gratification than the graceful climbing plants, and where beauty of foliage is combined with elegance of bloom the effect is greatly augmented. Some, however, of the most desirable of this class of plants, bear but insignificant blossoms. The many yearly additions to the florist's catalogues put it within the means of every one to ornament and beautify his homestead, be it ever so humble. For this purpose there is nothing superior to the hardy climbers or creepers, whether to cover an unsightly fence, to festoon an artificial trellis or to adorn the dwelling house itself. There are scores of them so well known that it is almost superfluous to mention any, yet some of the oldest, most familiar and altogether the best, seem to be least cultivated. I will therefore, with your permission, Mr. Editor, name a few (in this and succeeding articles) that succeed well here, in the hope that others may be induced to follow the example of the writer.

Should any do so and obtain half the satisfaction he has from the few under cultivation on his own premises, he will be amply repaid.

One important point in order to obtain the best results, is the selection of plants that will successfully resist the cold of our New England winters; plants that can take care of themselves. Among climbers I know of none that affords greater satisfaction than the Ampelopsis qiunquefolia, Virginian creeper. It belongs to the vine family and is thus described by Gray :

" Calyx slightly 5 toothed; Petals, concave, thick, expanding before they fall; Disk none; Leaves digitate, with 5 oblong, lanceolate sparingly serrate leaflets. Flower-clusters cymose. Tendrils fixing themselves to trunks or walls by dilated sucker like disks at their tips."

It is abundantly hardy, of vigorous growth and of graceful form. Its flowers are insignificant and its berries small and scarcely noticeable. It is peculiarly adapted to the ornamentation of brick walls, its little disks or suckers at the extremity of the tendril, clinging with great tenacity to the mortar and brick. It requires no training or fastening. Plant it in moderately rich soil, give it but ordinary attention and it will rapidly climb the wall. To me it is surprising that a creeper, combining as it does so many elements of attractiveness and withal so easy of cultivation, should not become more popular. I know not how it may be in other places, but in this town, till last summer, I knew of but a single plant of the species in the neighborhood. The bright, glossy foliage of the new growth, contrasts admirably with the darker green of the leaves upon the older wood, the whole spreading fan like upon the wall, shading from dark to light and tapering gradually from the larger leaves to the minutest tendrils, all bright, fresh and shining. Then as autumn advances it changes to a magnificent crimson and purple. So conspicuous and attractive is it that almost daily some passer by inquires its name and remarks its beauty.

A horticultural writer says of it: "As a rapid growing plant it is much prized in England and on the continent of Europe, and employed as it is in this country to cover walls or to climb old trees, festooning itself with elegant freedom from branch to branch." It needs but ordinary care and though in severe winters the ends of the shoots may die, the succeeding summer's growth quickly recovers lost ground and rapidly extends far beyond. I speak of this well known species, because it is reliable, easily obtained, costs but a trifle and will afford genuine pleasure to all lovers of the beautiful. It is known as the American Ivy, occupying in American woods and gardens a similar position to the Ivy of England in that country. It is sometimes called the five leaved woodbine, erroneously, however, as the woodbine properly belongs to the Honeysuckle family.

The tendency at present seems to be to cultivate foreign plants at the expense of our own native species. Many of these are so tender that they can with difficulty be made to live through our winters, and even then it is questionable whether they are more beautiful. A finer creeper than the Ampelopsis, one combining so many excellencies, can nowhere be found.