120 MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES USED IN HORTICULTURE. 



when grown in pots, wire frames, or a regular framework of laths, are 

 more in accordance with the artificial state in which the plants are 

 placed. 3. Wooden rods, formed out of laths or deal by the gardener 

 or carpenter, regularly tapered and pointed, and in some cases painted. 

 These are chiefly used for choice plants in pots, but partly also in the 

 open garden. 4. Iron rods, from short pieces of wire to rods of cast 

 or wrought iron, for supporting dahlias, standard roses, and other 

 plants, and with or without spreading heads for climbers. Fig. 91 

 shows a variety of these rods, which may be had of the principal 

 London ironmongers. All iron work, before being used in the open 



Fig. 91. 



Cast and wrought iron props for supporting climbers. 



air in gardens, would be rendered more durable if thoroughly heated 

 and painted over with oil, the effect of which is, by carbonizing it, 

 to prevent the action of the atmosphere on the surface of the iron. 

 After this operation painting may be dispensed with, excepting for 

 ornament. It is in general, however, better to paint them, and the 

 colour should be some shade of green. All glaring and conspicuous 

 colours had better be avoided ; they are quite out of place here, and 

 do not harmonize with the simple verdure of the foliage which the 

 props support. The object should rather be to conceal the props as 

 much as possible. 



The durability of wooden props may, perhaps, be increased by soak- 

 ing them in Burnett's anti-dry-rot composition ; or if they are made of 



