THE PERGOLA 



were inserted bits of plaster heads and the whole wall was soon 

 draped in the prolific folds of the kudzu vine. The grassy yard 

 was so bare, so clean, so practical! What was ray astonishment 

 to discover one morning a thrifty rose vine, climbing vigorously 

 up in the corner! Now roses are one of ray treasures, but not in 

 my laundry yard, as thorns and clothes and wind are not a 

 felicitous combination. I protested, but the Constant Improver 

 said it was such a sunny corner, he didn't believe the clothes would 

 get torn. Wouldn't I let it stay for a month and see ? This 

 sounded reasonable enough, and I gave orders that his clothes 

 should be hung nearest that sunniest corner. The rose grew 

 and flourished, it put forth great bunches of sweet blossoms, it 

 also sent out long stalks; but the Constant Improver as usual was 

 right, and no damage was done. So now we have a whole row 

 of roses on the south side of the laundry wall, and the effect is 

 charming. 



On the east side of the pergola lies the hardy border, in irregu- 

 lar outline. The lawn creeps up to the edge of the brick walk 

 temptingly in two or three places as if to say, ''Come try my 

 yielding turf; let your foot sink into the clover deep; come hunt 

 for the mushroom's fairy ring, and see for yourself how the 

 violet blows." 



Every three years the hardy border is trenched two feet down. 

 fertili/ed and replanted, the peonies only are not disturbed, nor 



the vines, of course, nor the old-fashioned yellow roses. On the 



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