Gardens for Small Country Houses 



179 



CHAPTER XVI.— THE PERGOLA. 



Italian Pergolas — English, of Oak — Of Larch Poles — With Stone, Brick and Tile Piers - 

 Proportions — Garlands on Chains — Suitable Plants— Covered Alleys — Treillage. 



WHEN one considers how commonly some kind of pergola is used in Italy, it 

 would seem a matter for wonder that it has taken so long to reach us in 

 England, for twenty years ago it had hardly been thought of. But now 

 it is a familiar garden feature, and, translating its original use as a convenient means 

 of growing vines and ripening grapes into our English way of having it for the 

 display of beautiful climbing plants, as well as for its comfort as a shady way in 

 summer, its development for our needs has of late years been surprisingly rapid. 

 In fact, so popular has it become that there is scarcely an example of modern garden 

 design in which it does not 

 find a place. It is true that 

 it is often injudiciously placed. 

 There are many gardens that 

 have not had the benefit of 

 experienced advice, where a 

 poorly constructed pergola 

 stands in some open place where 

 it has no obvious beginning or 

 end ; whereas it should always 

 lead from one definite point 

 to another ; one at least being 

 some kind of full-stop, either 

 of summer-house or arbour, 

 or, at any rate, something of 

 definite value in the garden 

 design. 



As to construction, we 

 follow in the main the Italian 

 prototypes. In many cases 

 the pergola is a mere frame- 

 work of poles (as shown in 

 Fig. 255), replaced from year 

 to year, either wholly or in 

 part as the need arises, or it 

 has posts of solid masonry. 

 These are commonly built of 

 rubble, thickly covered with 

 that lime plaster of coarse 

 texture that is so well used 

 by Italian masons. These 

 columns are sometimes square, 

 but more often round in fig. 255.— a pergola of poles in venice. 



