182 THE amateue's geeenhouse 



the same accomplished by others often enough to make ex- 

 ceptions to disprove the rule. Nevertheless, we pronounce 

 the rule good, and hope the reader will be cautious in disre- 

 garding it, for above all things we do wish this little book to 

 prove a preventive of vexations as well as a guide to the pro- 

 duction and enjoyment of delights. If climbing plants do not 

 grow vigorously and to a certain extent naturally, they soon 

 become the prey of all sorts of vermin and in all likelihood 

 will never flower at all. 



If a border cannot be provided, boxes of wood, slate, or 

 stone will be found useful as cheap and servicable substitutes. 

 The boxes should measure a yard every way, to contain a cubic 

 yard of soil at the very least, but they may be two feet instead 

 of three feet deep and they may be only one foot wide. 

 If the measurement is curtailed in one way it must be enlarged 

 in another, and in any case there must be a depth of at least 

 two feet of soil, or no strong growing plant will thrive in it. In 

 making a border, the size and arrangement of the house must 

 in some degree determine the order of operations. Most con- 

 servatories have a three-feet table round the sides, and un- 

 derneath this table the border must be made; and here arise 

 the principal difficulties that have to be contended with in 

 dealing with houses that were erected without any reference 

 to the manner in which they were to be furnished. The border 

 should be three feet wide and four deep to grow the plants in 

 a satisfactory manner. Now, if we go down to that depth, a 

 hundred chances to one we shall let the walls in, and the 

 pipes are generally above ground, under the side table, which 

 prevents us running a four-inch wall up to within a few inches 

 of it. In cases of this description, the boxes have to be put 

 into use, and on the top of the table. To prevent their look- 

 ing unsightly, a few shoots of the plants that are growing in 

 them should be neatly trained over the sides. 



The borders, as already explained, should be about three 

 feet wide by four deep, but a few inches either way is of no 

 material consequence. In the bottom of the trench or border 

 should be placed twelve inches of broken brickbats for drainage, 

 and over this bed should be laid fresh turves, grass-side down- 

 wards. For filling in the border, nothing beats a compost 

 consisting of three parts good turfy loam, and a part each of 

 decayed leaf-mould and manure. The loam should be obtained 

 from the top spit of pasture or common land, and be full of 



