292 HOME FLOKICL'LTURE 



fashion. This will give you a good frame. Plant 

 quick growing vines by each post to run up to the roof. 

 They will cover it by the end of June, and you will have 

 a pleasant place to read or sew in. Have a hammock 

 swung there, and a rocking chair, and sometimes take 

 tea or dinner there. It will give additional relish to the 

 meal to eat it "under green branches." It will make it 

 seem like a little, extemporized picnic to the children. 

 And the children will enjoy this rustic structure very 

 much as a "playhouse." If you have boys, set them to 

 work at building it. They will enjov the work, and it 

 will do them good to get used to handling the saw and 

 hammer. 



I have been asked if the reason why plants in iron 

 vases on the lawn are so generally unsatisfactory is be- 

 cause of the material of which the vase is constructed. 

 I answer no. The reason in nine cases out of ten is 

 simply this : The soil is dry. The vase is exposed to 

 the wind and air, consequently evaporation is rapid. The 

 iron absorbs the heat of the sun's rays, and this helps 

 to hasten evaporation. If you will give it the attention 

 it demands — a daily application of water in such 

 quantities that the soil is completely soaked through — 

 you can grow plants well in iron vases. In a short 

 time the vines used will cover the sides of the vase, 

 thus shading it, and checking evaporation somewhat. 



Do not try to have too many plants in a small 

 window. One good one — symmetrical, and well de- 

 veloped on all sides — is much more satisfactory to the 

 lover of fine flowers than half a dozen awkward 

 specimens. And that they will be awkward if crowded 

 is a foregone conclusion. 



