5 6o 



Gardening for Amateurs 



wall is rough, unhewn stone, the pieces 

 varying in size and thickness and being of 

 unequal length ; not only is this easy to 

 build with, but it is also attractive in appear- 

 ance, and the roots of plants enjoy contact 

 with the cool surface. In many towns and 

 villages the builder's yard contains waste 

 material in the way of broken stone or 

 rejected paving slabs that is quite suitable 

 for this work, while in default of either, 



to the base the parallel line at the ground 

 level will be found. From this line, at each 

 end, measure a distance equal to 2 inches 

 for each foot in height of the wall, then drive 

 in a straight lath of wood at each point 

 and connect with the top stake, which gives 

 the angle of the wall. With a builder's line 

 stretched tight between these rods, the line 

 of the courses or wall face will be shown ; as 

 each course is completed the line is moved 



Building a wall for flowers. 



bricks may be used with success. The latter 

 are more difficult to build with owing to 

 their regular size ; it is necessary to lay 

 them with the narrow end outwards, in 

 order to ensure firm building, and so avoid 

 any danger of the wall tumbling after 

 completion. 



In setting out the ground for a dry wall 

 the position of the top face should first be 

 ascertained, and a stake firmly driven into 

 the ground at each end ; a line stretched 

 between wnll give the position for the top 

 of the wall, then by plumbing from this line 



up sufficiently high to enable the next to 

 be laid. 



Building the Wall. The foundation 

 layer should come about 2 inches below 

 ground level, the soil being well rammed to 

 receive the stone. For this, the largest and 

 roughest pieces should be selected ; fix each 

 stone so that it dips slightly to the back, 

 then moisture will percolate to the roots 

 of the plants. Allow a space of from 1 to 2 

 inches between the stones to form joints ; 

 these, together with any vacant space 

 behind, should be firmly packed with soi> 



