FLOWER GARDEN AND PLEASURE GROUND HOUSES, ETC. 369 



The best material to make the supports of is rough stone or brick. 

 On an enduring support like this the woodwork is more easily con- 

 structed afterwards. Simple rough stone posts may be had in certain 

 quarries in the north of England, in the lake country, but in the 

 absence of these it will be better to build columns of brick or stone 

 than to trust to any wood. In all open-air work the enduring way is 

 true economy, and though we cannot all readily get the hard green 

 stone gate posts stained with yellow Lichen of the farms about 

 Keswick, or the everlasting granite fence posts that one sees in Italy, 

 we should make a stand against work which has to be done over 

 and over again. Of woods, Oak free of sapwood makes the best 

 supports ; Larch is good, but best of all, perhaps, is the common 

 Locust tree, which, however, is seldom plentiful in a mature state. 



Bower with stone table at end of garden. From a photo sent by the Marquis de Fontreira. 



For all the other parts of covered ways nothing is better than old 

 Oak branches or the stems of stunted Oaks, or of old stub Oaks 

 that are often found about a country place, and are of very little value 

 as timber. Larch lasts well in the absence of Oak, but is not nearly 

 so good in effect. By using Oak with stone or brick supports, a 

 covered way may be made which will last for years without falling 

 into decay, as is the case with this kind of work when done with more 

 perishable woods and without lasting supports. It would be far better 

 to employ strong iron wire than wood of this sort. An advantage 

 which woodwork has over iron lies in its good effect. Carefully done, a 

 covered way made as above described may be picturesque even before 

 there is a plant on it. 



LIVING SUPPORTS. A pretty way of supporting plants and 

 forming covered ways is to use certain trees of a light and graceful 



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