RUSTIC ARCHES 13 
in keeping. By an invisible arch I mean one consisting of a single 
bend of iron, or narrow woodwork uprights with a cross bar—any- 
thing really that is intended only to support some evergreen climber 
or close grower such as a Rose, that will hide the foundation at all 
seasons. 
Arches simply built of rustic poles are more pleasing 
than wire or lattice ones in any landscape, and the roughness of the 
wood is beneficial to the climbers that grow over them, affording an 
easy hold for,tendrils. Whether the wood is peeled, or employed 
with the bark on—the latter is the more artistic method—it is an 
admirable plan to wash it all over with a strong solution of some 
insecticide, and then give one or two coats of varnish. In most 
cases varnish alone is enough to preserve the wood. 
A double arch will span a very wide path better than a 
single arch can do, and no matter what centre climbers are 
required they can be planted at the foot of the middle poles, and the 
path be then made up afresh right to their stems, as gravel on the 
surface will not do them any injury. On p. 17 is shown a simple 
kind of double arch, made out of nine lengths of log, some narrower 
than the others, nailed together. Double arches are useful, too, 
to span two walks that meet at a sharp angle, but the sides of the 
arch must then be slightly slanted. A double arch forms a good 
ornament to a lawn end where an exit of grass is left between 
border beds. 
A painted wooden arch need not be always a trellis one, 
for that is a style with which the eye is certainly often wearied. 
On p. 12 is shown an easy form to build in deal, though it serves 
equally well in peeled Oak, in which case the natural curves of the 
wood will make the pattern between the supports irregular, not in 
straight bars, but this will not matter. Any carpenter should copy 
this simple arch, and at small expense. The whole should be 
painted dull dark green or brown when finished. 
An arched-over cottage gate is shown on p.12. It is, 
unfortunately, rare to find gates and entrances canopied by charming 
climbers, yet the work of erection is simplicity itself. In many cases 
the supports for the arch can be nailed to fence or wall posts, 
or when an iron hoop is preferred, as shown in the illustration, it is 
placed touching the posts, either behind or before. It must be well 
driven into the ground, and attached to the posts by sockets of iron 
or other metal, to prevent any damage by shaking in gale times. 
Ivy is perhaps prettiest of all climbers over a cottage gateway, but 
Japanese Honeysuckle, or Hops, White Jasmine, Clematis montana, 
C. Vitalba, the beautiful Traveller’s Joy, are also admirable. A com- 
bination of beauty, interest, and usefulness would result from plant- 
ing the Japanese Wineberry or the Loganberry as a climber, but it 
would not be safe to do so against any public path or lane, as the 
fruit would prove too tempting to passers by. The ordinary villa 
gateway could have a wooden arch, either in the style of the top 
