8 VILLA GARDENING PAKT i 



the climate is mild, the Laurustinus and the Fuchsia may be 

 employed for ornamental fences and for screens ; the Clematis, the 

 Kose, and Honeysuckle may blend together charmingly on a rustic 

 fence or be trained over a wire trellis. 



For suburban gardens, ornamental iron fences are frequently 

 employed, and where the garden or groimds are bounded by a 

 public road, imless privacy requires it, there is no occasion to 

 hide every part of it, as its evident necessity and purpose satisfies 

 the mind. 



Roads and Walks. — Where the grounds are extensive, the 

 approach to the house often offers facilities for the display of the 

 designer's skill and taste ; but anything that is glaringly decep- 

 tive, though it may amuse for a time, will not satisfy. For in- 

 stance, it is possible so to arrange groups of shrubs and trees as 

 to lead the approach road from point to point, with the view of 

 making a small place appear a large one, entirely ignoring the 

 utility of the road as a means of reaching the house. But this 

 principle, though excusable when applied to walks in pleasure 

 groimds, shoidd be very cautiously employed in works of mere 

 usefulness. Garden paths may wind and meander about to take 

 in objects of interest ; but an approach road is first of all a work 

 of utility, its necessity is self-evident, and though it may turn 

 aside to take in a fine view or a charming prospect, yet the useful 

 should not be sacrificed to it. 



Roads should be well drained and made of durable materials, 

 and not too wide or too conspicuous. Usually there are materials 

 for road-making on or near every estate or district. The surface 

 should be laid at such an angle that the water can drain freely oft' 

 it, as nothing wears out a road so fast as pools and puddles of 

 water standing about its surface. A long stretch of brown road, 

 if in full view of the windows, is objectionable from its wearisome 

 appearance ; but a group of low trees just skirting the edge will 

 break up the monotonous aspect, and it can be repeated if neces- 

 sary. In some cases the road may be sunk beneath the ordinary 

 ground level. I have adopted this jJan sometimes to take a road 

 through a fine bit of lawn without spoiling the view. Garden 

 walks should be made well in the first instance. There is no 

 work in which thoroughness will yield so good a return. When 

 the garden walks are scamped, the trouble with weeds will be 

 incessant, and the annoyance from damp paths in winter great. 

 There should be a drain along the lowest point, and the founda- 

 tion of the path should be composed of broken bricks, stones, 

 clinkers, or something equally porous, and this material should be 

 at least a foot thick on paths much used ; and on this foundation 



