LAWNS AND PLAYGROUNDS. 249 



beautiful climber could be grown thereon, some better than on walls, 

 because we can allow for more abandon than on walls, and it is not 

 at all so easy to crucify Vine or climber on a pergola. We can have 

 evergreens, too, if we wish, with garlands of handsome Ivies among 

 them, and players might rest in the shade and lookers on sit there 

 to see the play. Various bold openings should be made on the 

 play lawn side, and the whole so arranged as to be a sort 'of living 

 cloister. Well done, the structure might be, apart from its shade 

 and coolness and use as a dividing line, a garden of a very graceful 

 kind, while the recent hot seasons lead one to think that the Italian 

 way of putting a roof of Vine leaves between one's self and the sun 

 is worth carrying out in our own country. 



Pergolas have various uses in covering paths which are too much 

 exposed to the sun, and are a great aid in the garden, and there is no 

 better way of growing beautiful climbing plants 

 Pergolas. than a green covered way, whether supported by 

 Oak posts, or brick or stone pillars as in Italy. 

 The covered ways made in England are often too narrow. In forming 

 all such things a certain amount of freedom is essential ; and we 

 cannot enjoy the air in the usual narrow covered way, which, apart 

 from its own error as to size, is also soon narrowed by growth. 

 Where Oak is not distinctly preferred, 14 ins. brick pillars are best, 

 and the plants take to them very soon. Common brown or rough 

 stock bricks are far better for this use than showy red bricks. In 

 stone districts stone would do better, and it needs no fine dressing or 

 designing after any pattern. It is better in fact done in the free 

 way the Italians do it ; but then in Italy every man is a mason, 

 or knows what to do with stone, and also the stone there comes 

 out in long posts or flakes, which serve as posts. This is also the 

 case in the north of England, where beautiful posts of the green 

 stone may be seen in use on the farms. 



The beautiful climbing shrubs and other plants that would find 

 a good congenial home on such a pergola are a good reason for 

 its use. Among them various graceful forms of our Grape Vine, as 

 well as the Japanese and American wild Vines, a group which now 

 includes the Virginian creepers of our gardens, which are also useful, 

 but not so good as the true Vines ; the lovely Wistaria, and not only 

 the old Chinese kind, the best of all, but the beautiful Japanese 

 long-racemed kind ( W. multijuga) ; and various others too, though 

 we think none come near to these in beauty ; the brilliant Flame 

 Nasturtium in cool districts ; the Green Briar (Smilax) of America 

 and also the South of Europe, for warm soils ; handsome double 

 and white-stemmed Brambles ; wild and single Roses ; Box Thorn, 

 with its brilliant showers of berries; European, American and 



