TERRACE WALLS 



drapery will always be desirable for softening and 

 beautifying even the most elaborate stone-work. 



There is a happy medium between the rough, 

 irregular dry wall and the formal mortar-laid stone- 

 work; and it is in this sort of wall that the numerous 

 blooming plants find their best foothold, and nourish 

 with greatest luxuriance. It is possible in this form 

 of wall to leave spaces where pockets of soil run back 

 to the natural soil behind the stone-work. These are 

 for the retaining walls which follow a gradual ter- 

 race slope, and the earth pockets should be carefully 

 laid to avoid flooding. The largest of the moisture- 

 loving plants may be used in these spaces, as they 

 will not dry out so readily as when planted in shallow 

 crevices and wall crannies. The roots will reach 

 down into the bottomless pocket and secure moisture 

 and nourishment from the soil back of the stone- 

 work. Brick walls may be provided with earth 

 spaces, in the same manner, if good judgment is 

 used in leaving out a brick or two here and there, and 

 laying the adjoining bricks with good support, and to 

 throw off surplus water without loosening the earth. 



The mistake most frequently made in building 

 irregular dry walls that are to depend upon numer- 

 ous little succulent plants and mosses for their soft- 

 ening grace and beauty is the building of the wall 

 first and then introducing the plant growth. It will 



45 



