314 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



clematis, or creeper-vine might thrive there. We cannot pursue 

 the subject, but these brief hints may be useful. 



The best screens in all cases are those which are at once useful 

 and appropriate furniture, and have no appearance of being screens 

 at all. A fine clump of mixed shrubs may effectually exclude 

 from view an objectionable scene, without suggesting to any one 

 that its office is to hide something much more than make a display 

 on its own account. But a belt of common laurel on the same spot 

 will have an unmitigable screen-like look, and to some quick miuds, 

 will prove as suggestive as if in its place there stood a great sign- 

 board, bearing an inscription, " Please not to look this way." A 

 rustic alcove may be made to form the termination of a view, with 

 the warrant of usefulness to justify it. Such a little construction as 

 the figure on page 818 represents, is also well adapted to the purpose, 

 as it may be extended any reasonable distance right and el 1 

 i'ew shrubs rising above it in the rear will effectually complete it as a 

 block to the view, without the shadow of a suggestion of anything 

 ugly beyond requiring to be hidden. 



A collector of antiquities might extemporize a screen delight- 

 fully neglige and artistic, all unintentionally, by thrusting into some 

 odd nook in the garden ancient monuments and slabs of stone, for 

 which there could not be found accommodation in the museum. 

 Some such effect as this, a little less classic in tone perhaps, we may 

 see in a country builder's yard, snd possibly in such a place materials 

 towards an imitation of our own sketch (mayhap an improvement on 

 it might be obtained at a very trifling cost). In the event of an imita- 

 tion being adopted, the materials should all be copies of authentic 

 originals, both for the sake of effect and to enable the owner to 

 relate their history when questioned by a curious guest. 



Greets* Arcades. — Overmuch pruning and trimming of trees 

 results in harshness of outlines, and the inevitable deadness that 

 accompanies tameness and sameness. It is well to see trees of dis- 

 tinctive habit towering up in all their natural character without 

 guidance or compulsion, even in the midst of the most highly dressed 

 and formal gardens. We are no advocates for wood-chopping in 

 general, nevertheless there are good reasons for the practice in par- 

 ticular cases, and by judicious clipping and pruning beautiful effects 

 may be produced both in the highly finished and the semi-rustic 

 scenes. 



The solemn shade, 

 Yerdure and gloom, where many branches meet : 

 So grateful, when the noon of summer made 

 The valleys sick with heat. 



{To be continued.) 



