366 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



is that the sides and approaches and slope of the earth bank can be 

 made pretty at once by planting with Honeysuckle, Broom, Sweetbrier, 

 or any other hardy things. Another advantage of the bank is, that 

 the simplest willing workman can form it. The materials being 

 on the spot, it is foolish to cart things a long way. Even when we 

 have stone or brick at hand the labour has to be considered. By making 

 a culvert of bricks and cement, the earth-bank is equally good to cross 

 constantly running streamlets. 



THE SUMMER-HOUSE is generally a failure and often a heap of 

 decay. To make such a structure of wood that soon decays is labour 

 wasted. It may be possible, by using the best woods and good oak 



Oak-pale fencing, Surrey. 



slabs, to make a summer-house which will be picturesque and endur- 

 ing, but it is better to build it of stone or some lasting material and 

 cover it with vines and quick-growing climbers. 



One can make an enduring and charming summer-house out of liv- 

 ing trees. An old Yew or a group of old Yews, or a low-spreading Oak 

 (there is a fine example of this kind of living summer-house at Shrub- 

 land), an old Beech or a group of evergreen Oaks will make a pleasant 

 summer-house, and with a little care for effect, and by pruning away 

 old and worn-out branches, so as to get air and room without injuring 

 the beauty of the trees, it is easy to form cool tents for hot days. 



FENCES AND DIVIDING LINES. The iron fence destroys the 

 beauty of half the country seats in England, and the evil is growing 

 every day. There are various serious objections to iron fencing, 

 but we will only deal here with its effect on the landscape. Any 

 picture is out of the question with an iron fence in the foreground. 

 Where an open fence is wanted, nothing is so fine in form and colour 

 as a split Oak fence and rails made of heart of Oak with stout posts. 



