THE PERGOLA 43 



years old and the way the framework is made may be 

 clearly seen. 



Here it is of squared wood, with the beams partly 

 supported and much strengthened, and the whole 

 fabric stiffened, by slightly curved or cambered braces 

 of the same. It should be noticed how much the 

 curve of the brace adds to the strength of the support 

 and how pleasantly it satisfies the eye. It would have 

 been better still if the beam itself had been ever so 

 slightly cambered. It will also be seen that the feet 

 of the posts, instead of going into the ground, rest on 

 a wrought stone ; an iron dowel let into both stone 

 and post fixing it firmly. Thus there is no danger of 

 the foot of the post rotting. 



For the first year or two there is no need to fill in 

 the top with the slighter poles that later will support 

 the more extensive growths of the creepers ; indeed 

 the whole thing is very pretty, with a different kind of 

 form and beauty, to the mature pergola with its fully 

 filled roof. In these earlier years one sees more of 

 the individual plants, and their first vigour of growth 

 and bloom can be more fully enjoyed. In many cases 

 such pairs of posts with connecting beam and side 

 rails, but without roof, are more suitable than the 

 complete pergola. This arrangement is shown in the 

 pictures where they are placed across the main walks 

 of the kitchen garden and where the Roses are to be 

 seen from the walk alone, not from the sides, which 

 are only vegetable quarters. 



In some of the illustrations the framework is of the 

 simplest possible construction, of oak or of larch. In 



