THE OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN 



side of the house, as the English books call it) opens on the 

 garden, from it one looks down a main path, if not the central 

 path, in a line with the hall. 



Very often an arbor stood in the centre of the garden with 

 paths radiating from it; sometimes a sun-dial had the place 

 of honor. At the end of the garden farthest from the house 

 one would be quite likely to find a little summer-house, an 

 arbor, or at least a covered seat. 



ARBORS AND SUN-DIALS WERE MUCH USED 



There was almost always an arbor in the Colonial garden. 

 Usually, when it stood in the centre of the garden, it had a 

 circular top and was covered with grape-vines or else adorned 

 with roses. From this arbor radiated equidistant paths; 

 very often each was spanned by an arch covered with roses. 

 Another very prevalent form of arbor, and at the same time 

 one of the simplest and best, was the "arch-arbor," or "bower." 

 This was of two arches, or a series of arches, which spanned 

 a path. Sometimes the top was roofed to exclude the rain, 

 sometimes top and sides were latticed, or, if a more open arbor 

 was desired instead of the lattice, lengthwise strips, set about 

 a foot and a half or two feet apart, connected the arches and 

 supported the vines. Inside, a wide, low seat ran along the 

 sides. In one southern garden a wide, low arbor arches the 

 path from the rear door to the kitchen-garden; the path is 

 of brick, and in the flower-beds on each side of it, half-shaded 

 by the arbor, German irises are growing contentedly. Grape- 

 vines or roses were the vines in commonest use. 



Arches, whether in an arbor or out, were very frequently 

 seen in the older gardens. They were always strongly made, 

 of good proportions, and on simple lines. At the head of steps 

 or over a gateway was a favorite position for an arch. Some- 



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