PERGOLAS 41 



if a good effect is to be obtained. I will now give a few 

 suggestions as to the construction of pergolas, before 

 referring to the positions they should occupy, and the 

 plants which may be employed for covering them. 



A pergola of rough carpentry may be built of almost 

 any wood, but unless that of a really durable nature can be 

 afforded, it will be far better to dispense with the feature 

 altogether. I have seen thin deal splines used for con- 

 structing quite a large pergola, and I have also seen the 

 decay which soon began to weaken the structure, rendering 

 it necessary for the rotten laths to be continually replaced, 

 to the infinite detriment of the climbers. There can be 

 no satisfaction in spending time and money over a pergola 

 which cannot, at the best, last more than a few years, and 

 it is humiliating to be obliged to continually warn our 

 friends against leaning against the woodwork, lest it 

 collapse under the strain. 



Stone is undoubtedly the best material for the upright 

 posts, as it looks well and lasts practically for ever. In 

 the north of England, very good supports may be procured 

 of green stone, similar to those which are employed for 

 gate-posts. In Devon and Cornwall, also, there would be 

 no difficulty in obtaining good material for the purpose ; 

 in most other counties brick or wood must be used. The 

 stone pillars rarely need to be dressed in any way ; they 

 look far better if left in the rough, and it matters little 

 if they are round, square, or twisted, as long as they are 

 about ten feet in height, and not more than a foot through. 

 The uprights should be sunk firmly, preferably in a bed 

 of concrete, in pairs along the sides of the pathway, at a 

 distance of eight feet apart each way. This will make 

 the section of the pergola a perfect square ; if this is 

 objected to, higher posts should be used, but they should 

 not be placed closer together. It is the fault of far too 

 many pergolas that they are much too narrow, and it 

 must be remembered that when the climbers have grown, 



