We do not know a single vine so suitable for growing in the ordinary air of living-rooms and will stand so much hard usage as the Ivy. The only point on which cultivators err by neglect is the failure to keep its leaves well washed and clean. If this is done two or three times a week, and the soil watered as often, it will grow for weeks, and even years, without danger from change of temperature. Josiah Hoopes also recommends in The Tribune this vine, in answer to the inquiry of a lady who wanted something not too troublesome nor too tender. He says: Ivy will succeed better in our dry, warm rooms than almost any plant with which I am acquainted, and all that is needed to make it attractive is the exereise of a little ingenuity in the appliances for its home. A vase, not necessarily costly by any moans, will answer a good purpose; and this reminds me of an excellent idea I lately noticed in a foreign periodical for growing this very plant. Long shoots of the Ivy were procured, with the young and tender aerial roots very abundant; the lower ends were wrapped in moss, and then some five or six of these were tightly tied together at the bottom and placed in the vase; fill the vase within a few inches of the top, and suspend the ball of moss therein.

The roots will soon commence to grow, and afterward the moss should not quite reach the water, as the roots will extend down into it, and prove all-sufficient. So many very beautiful varieties of Ivy are now in cultivation that, by selecting kinds that will form a decided contrast in shape and color, the effect will be sensibly heightened. The center of the vase may be filled with out flowers, or grass, or, indeed, nothing would look better than ferns. The Ivy may be allowed to hang down over the sides of the vase in graceful festoons, or else trained over and around the window, thus making a room appear cheerful and pleasant all winter long. It is not necessary, and, in fact, I do not believe it will grow as well in the strong light as when in a partially shaded position, as the Ivy loves shade, and an even, cool atmosphere. I have known instances where Ivy has been grown in large tubs, and trained up a stairway, thus forming a mass of green foliage from the hall below to the floor above. Used in any way, as fancy directs, it is unexcelled as a house plant.

The Ivy For In-Door Decoration #1

We do not know a single vine so suitable for growing in the ordinary air of living -rooms and will stand so much hard usage as the Ivy. The only point on which cultivators err by neglect is the failure to keep its leaves well washed and clean. If this is done two or three times a week, and the soil watered as often, it will grow for weeks and even years, without danger from change of temperature. Josiah Hoopes also recommends in The Tribune this vine, in answer to the inquiry of a lady who wanted some -thing not too troublesome nor too tender. He says:

"Ivy will succeed better in our dry, warm rooms than almost any plant with which I am acquainted, and all that is needed to make it attractive is the exercise of a little ingenuity in the appliances for its home. A vase, not necessarily costly, by any means will answer a good purpose: and this reminds me of an excellent idea I lately noticed in a foreign periodical for growing this very plant. Long shoots of the Ivy were procured, with the young and tender aerial roots very abundant. The lower ends were wrapped in moss, and then some five or six of these were tightly tied together at the bottom and placed in the vase. Fill the vase within a few inches of the Top And suspend the ball of moss therein. The roots will soon commence to grow, and afterwards the moss should not quite reach the water as the roots will extend down into it and prove all sufficient. So many very beautiful varieties of Ivy are now in cultivation that by selecting kinds that will form a decided contrast in shape and color the effect will be sensibly heightened. The center of the vase may be filled with cut flowers or grasses, or, indeed, nothing would look better than ferns.

The Ivy may be allowed to hang down over the sides of the vase in graceful festoons, or else trained over and around the window, thus making a room appear cheerful and pleasant all winter long. It is not necessary, and, in fact, I do not believe it will grow as well in the strong light as when in a partially shaded position, as the Ivy loves shade and an even, cool atmosphere. I have known instances where Ivy has been grown in large tubs and trained up a stairway, thus forming a mass of green foliage from the hall below to the floor above. Used in any way, as fancy directs, it is unexcelled as a house plant."