SUBURBAN GARDENING. 



131 



SUBURBAN GAEDBNING. 



By Jasies Hddsoh. 



TERRACES AND ROWS OF HOUSES. 



UNDER this heading- we purpose in the first place 

 to give a general outline of the laying out 

 of the garden plots connected with this description 

 of house, afterwards entering into their general 

 management, simplifying the latter as far as we can 

 in such a way that the owners of such plots of 

 ground may he able to attend to the requirements of 

 their garden plants themselves to a great extent. 

 Such gardens as these are almost invariably of very 

 limited dimensions. Here and there we meet with 

 exceptions, in which the occupant is more fortunate 

 than his neighbours in this respect ; but concerning 

 these larger gardens all the most necessary and 

 useful hints may be gained in the perusal of 

 our previous remarks on semi-detached villa gar- 

 dens so far as regards their arrangement, while 

 cultivation wiU be gone into in combination with 

 the smaller gardens now more especially under 

 consideration. 



The Forecourt. — In the first place we will 

 suppose that there is a small space of ground at 

 disposal on the front, or road side, of houses built in 

 terraces. This could be laid out in different ways, 

 having regard to the aspect in selecting the subjects 

 wherewith to plant the same. If the plot is very 

 limited, it would not be advisable to lay any of it 

 •down in grass, as it would of necessity be so small a 

 piece that Avhen requiring to be mown, no machine, 

 if ever so small, could be worked with any comfort. 

 The use of the scj'the requiring some practice to 

 manipulate it in a skilful manner, almost forbids the 

 nse of that implement, and recourse would have to be 

 had to garden shears, which would be found rather 

 back-aching work to those who are not accustomed 

 to the use of such tools. There is a more modem 

 invention for small pieces of grass, after the pattern 

 ■of horse-clipping machines, but of this we cannot 

 speak from experience. The best way would be to 

 have either a central plant with a little circular 

 border around it, then a narrow walk next the same, 

 fflling up the angles with low-growing shi'ubs or 

 hardy ferns, allowing of course for the broader path 

 that forms the entrance to the house on one side or 

 the other, as the case may be ; or dispense with the 

 -central plant, and have a circle in gravel, and thus 

 leave rather more room for plants and shrubs around 

 this space. In lieu of either one or the other of 

 these suggestions, a vase of average dimensions may 

 he arranged so as to have a very pretty efiect ; this, 

 however, entails closer attention with regard to 



watering. When this is seen to with regularity, we 

 would prefer the vase as a central arrangement. It 

 could be filled -with hardy plants all the year round, 

 or changed to suit each season, using tender 

 floweiing plants for the summer time, and a small 

 hardy shrub during the -winter months, with some 

 few small plants of drooping habit to hang- around 

 the edges. This is a point that is often overlooked 

 in vase arrangements, no pro-vision being made for 

 these suitable additions. If situated where much 

 under the influence of the fogs and blacks that 

 pervade the atmosphere around our towns and 

 centres of activity, we would prefer edging-tiles 

 instead of dwarf Box-edging, as the latter is not 

 always satisfactory in such positions, whereas the 

 former, if laid in a substantial manner in the first 

 place, and of good material, -will not need much 

 further attention of any moment for some years. 

 We would recommend the blue cable pattern of 

 edging-tiles, as being both neat in appearance, and 

 when of " terra-cotta " ware, of the most durable 

 quality. Their non-absorbent properties cause 

 them to withstand the injuiious effects of frost, and 

 though they may be rather more expensive in the 

 first place, they will, in the long run, be found the 

 cheaper. Box -edging also afEords an excellent 

 shelter for slugs and snails, which cause endless 

 annoyance if not kept in check by every possible 

 means. No plants should be employed on this side 

 of the house that are of robust growth, and thus 

 likely to require repeated prunings to keep them 

 within bounds, unless used as a boundai-y line to the 

 next garden. Low walls, -with ornamented iron 

 railings, are, however, the best means to employ in 

 dividing one property from the others ; these ought 

 not to be so high as to shut out the vista from one 

 garden to the other, for, it being impossible to keep 

 such spaces of a strictly secluded character, the best 

 way is to study the general appearance of the whole, 

 which will be found far more enjoyable and of much 

 better effect. 



It seems a great pity the dividing walls in front of 

 terrace houses cannot be abolished. They are no use 

 for privacy or protection, and their removal would 

 allow all the space of the forecourts to be treated as 

 one whole, to much better extent and enjoyment. 

 This, however, is impracticable in the present state 

 of society and customs; and so long as the divi- 

 sions are retained it is better to clothe them with 

 verdure. To assist in this, a length of galvanised iron- 

 wire netting of medium mesh can be strained from 

 end to end. Before this is used to tie the plants 

 against, two or three coats of paint would be a good 

 preservative against any possible injury that might 

 be' caused by the galvanised wire coming into contact 

 with the shoots of tender growth. If the houses are 



