THE RACK YARD AS A SUMMER RETREAT. 



Fig. \-2\A. 



£yn rsAHE Englishman realizes the 

 value of flowers in and about 

 his home as a refreshing ele- 

 ment. In the city or country 

 the stately mansion or humble cottage 

 is never without its note of color given 

 by potted plants showing at the window 

 or planted in the available space about 

 the dooryard. American city dwellings 

 rarely have more than a few square feet 

 of ground in the rear of the building, 

 but by ingenuity and care much can be 

 done to beautify this little breathing 

 space. 



Assuming that a high board fence 

 separates our yard from that of our 

 neighbor, let us consider it the frame for 

 a picture. For a space of two feet from 

 the ground paint the boards a dark, 

 quiet green. Above this use a cream, 

 white or very pale green. This will 

 make a pleasant, harmonious back- 

 ground for the delicate iracery of leaves 



and flowers growing against the 

 fence. The clothes lines should 

 be fastened to posts set at the 

 outside edge of the walk. If you 

 have much space plant the posts 

 .It the corners, as shown in Fig. 

 I 2 14. The plot of turf in the 

 centre should not be broken up 

 with flower beds. A group of 

 aquatic plants can sometimes be 

 introduced, however, by sinking 

 a half barrel in the ground, as 

 shown in Fig. 1220. But do 

 not attempt to sacrifice this 

 valuable space to flower beds or 

 floral effects of any sort unless 

 you have an abundance of room. 

 With little expense and the 

 expenditure of time some tree 

 trunks can be obtained from 

 the neighbouring country, and used 

 instead of the posts. Use your dis- 

 cretion in sawing off" the branches. 

 Pretty rustic effects can be obtained 

 by leaving some of them longer than 

 others. These trees can be located at 

 various points to avoid a set appear 

 ance and will thus add a picturesque 

 feature. A tub containing trailing vines 



