82 THE BOOK OF GARDEN FURNITURE 



" rustic " work, and certainly it is not a case of leaving 

 the best until the last. The main idea of the builders 

 of these monstrosities is to outline a fairly substantial 

 structure, and then to crowd it with all the twigs and 

 branches they can lay hands on. When, in addition, the 

 bridge is given a coat of varnish, it becomes sufficiently 

 ugly to ruin the appearance of any garden. " Rustic " 

 work has no single point to commend it, for it is 

 neither the least desirable, nor is it particularly cheap. 

 So long, however, as the demand exists, so long will the 

 makers continue to flood the gardening journals with 

 seductive advertisements of the "readily put together, 

 free on rail " style of goods, which are the bane of the 

 artistic eye. 



It seldom occurs that the situation for the bridge can 

 be chosen, so that it may be shown to the best advan- 

 tage, but occasionally a choice of sites presents itself. 

 Whenever possible, it should be placed in the proximity 

 of trees, either such as may be found beside the walks 

 in the wild garden, or near a patch of flowering shrubs, 

 which look so well fringing the edge of the stream, as 

 it runs through the garden proper. It is never quite 

 satisfactory if the whole of the bridge can be seen at 

 a glance ; there is an unfinished appearance about the 

 two ends as they rise abruptly from the level ground. 

 If, however, the approaches are partly screened with 

 foliage, the bald effect is lost, and in many instances 

 artificial planting would be desirable to effect this end. 

 Very good effects can often be obtained by planting one 

 or two free-growing roses, and training them over portions 

 of the wooden bridge. The Rambler section look par- 

 ticularly well, but it is a mistake to cover the whole 

 of the sides with living plants. The bridge is a feature 

 in itself, and its outline should not be in any way 

 obliterated, but only thrown into greater relief. Whilst 

 on the subject of bridges, it may be remarked that in 



