Coping for Garden Walls. 565 



greater degree of heat on the surface of the wall and border 

 immediately under that coping, and that the difference of 

 temperature in favour of a projected cope may vary from four 

 to eleven degrees, according to circumstances, it will be 

 readily conceded that in this variable and cold climate the 

 advantages offered by a projecting cope should not be re- 

 jected. This granted, the question now occurs, how are its 

 objectionable parts to be done away with ? The expense of 

 an eighteen-inch projecting cope is of itself no joke, and adds 

 considerably to the estimate for building a new garden wall 

 where flag-stones are at a distance ; and, after that expense 

 has been incurred, there is an appearance of gloom and 

 heaviness, ill adapted to the light and natural appearance 

 which should always characterise the garden. 



I have long observed the advantage to peach trees of a 

 coping formed by the ample leaves of the fig, compared with 

 others not under such protection. This, some years since, in- 

 duced me to turn my attention in quest of some ornamental 

 plant which might be trained on a light trellis from the 

 ground upward to the top of the wall, at right angles from 

 the wall, and occupying the same breadth across the border 

 as the trellised projection at top ; the supporting trellises to 

 stand at the extremities of the shoots of peach and other 

 tender fruit trees, or at equal distances from their stems. 

 The plant I have fixed on, and planted for that purpose, is 

 the double-flowered Ayrshire rose, of which (thanks to 

 W. Martin, amateur florist, Dundee) we now possess so 

 many beautiful and elegant varieties. Its rapid growth 

 points it out as giving effect in the shortest time ; its decidu- 

 ous nature leaves both projecting and side trellises open in 

 winter, to admit of the larvae (grubs) and ova (eggs) of insects 

 being swept off by the broom, or subjected to the chilling 

 blasts of December ; and exposes the young wood to the full 

 play of the wind, at a season when cold acts as a stimulus, and 

 promotes the future rapid energj' of vegetation in spring. 



The leaves of this rose tree expand early in spring, when 

 their aid is wanted in exposed situations ; and, where plants 

 of it are trained on side trellises, they contribute to produce 

 a calm serenity along the face of the wall, while those on the 

 projecting trellis become sufficiently close for repelling ter- 

 restrial radiated heat, and throwing it back on the wall and 

 border : thus, in both instances, contributing towards the 

 protection of the tender blossom, and the setting and matur- 

 ing of the fruit. The force of dashing rains is modified by 

 the projecting cope, while they are allowed to fall on the 

 foliage in gentle and refreshing showers, as filtered through 



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