WINDOW OAKDENtNG. ]33 



by themselves and the permanent varieties by themselves. The Clematis, Jas- 

 mine, or Climbing Roses may be added by those who have the taste. Indeed, 

 we would recommend for a surety at least one Prairie Rose, either the Gem of 

 the Prairies or the Queen of the Prairies, both of which are crimson in color, 

 the former more durable and fragrant than the latter, but not as rapid a climbei-. 



House-top Gardening. 



What a novelty! yet how reasonable the suggestion. In the German tale of 

 the " Old Mam'selle," we read of its pleasures, and it is stated that in Sweden 

 house-top gardens are not an uncommon sight, both in the country and in the 

 villages. The roofs of some of the poorest cottages are covered with herbs, 

 which afford a pasture for goats. In Norway they even plant trees in the turf 

 which covers the roofs, and to such an extent is this carried that some of their 

 hamlets or villages, seen at a distance, have quite the air of a little wood. Noth- 

 ing is more common than to see rude kitchen gardens on these roofs of houses. 



An English gentleman, writing to a London horticultural journal, mentions 

 the pleasant recollections when he visited while a boy, over 50 years ago, the 

 home of a French citizen, a Mr. Marquis, in Coleman street, London : 



" This gentleman's hobby was a ' house-top garden ' of the most complete and 

 perfect character. At the lower part of the upper staircase was the root of a 

 fine Sycamore, the foliage of which luxuriated in a ' glass house ' above on the 

 roof, amidst orange and lemon trees, with fairest flowers, tea, tobacco, and many 

 other highly interesting specimens of vegetable life. I forget, at this distance of 

 time, how many sorts of fruit were to be seen growing and flourishing in this 

 ' house-top garden,' but the vine and its magnificent clusters of delicious grapes 

 are ineffaceably engraved on memory's young tablets. Think of that, ye apa- 

 thetic cockneys ! hothouse grapes from Coleman street, and that not once in a 

 day, but year after year, until the talented and spirited proprietor went to that 

 bourne from whence no traveler returns, and then the master mind being gone 

 the garden pined away. 



*' In a convenient corner of his elevated greenhouse Mr. Marquis had a lifting 

 force-pump, with air vessel, to which a length of leather hose being attached, 

 afforded a convenient means of watering and syringing the numerous plants col- 

 lected in this unique garden." 



This style of ornamental gardening is unusual here, and we remember but one 

 instance of ever noticing an attempt to imitate it in this country. This was so 

 successfully planned and executed that it will bear honoraiy mention. 



In one of the principal streets of Louisville, Kentucky, may be seen a doctor's 

 oflBce, the roof of which is covered with a perfect mass of green plants in floral 

 boxes. Directly in front, on the eaves just overhanging the front of the build- 

 ing, is a long box, about two feet wide, the same height, and extending across 

 the entire width of the top of the house. Here were planted a perfect mass of 

 Verbenas and Portulaccas ; at the corners were set drooping vines, which, as 

 they grew, hung their long garlands of flowers away down before the lower win- 



