THE USE AND ABUSE OF THE PERGOLA 



overhead to make a really effective shade, the structure with 

 its heavy unoccupied beams will suggest a section of an ele- 

 vated-railroad-trestle, which in a garden is an unfortunate sug- 

 gestion. 



Unless the garden is very elaborate and very definitely 

 separated from the house — though no good garden should 

 be — the pergola ought to be constructed in relation to the 

 house; it need not be closely related, but some degree of re- 

 lation it should have. Its architecture should, as I have said, 

 echo the architecture of the house, or at least be in keeping 

 with it. If one's house is Colonial, then it is wisest to forego 

 the pergola and content oneself instead with the long, wide, 

 low arbor which belongs to that period. 



When seen at its best and in its most comfortable position, 

 the pergola extends from the house along the lines of the house, 

 and makes a shaded place from which one may look out upon 

 the garden; or else it forms one side of the garden, perhaps 

 arching the boundary walk; usually it "leads somewhere" — 

 to a pool with seats about it; a statue or sundial is at the end; 

 it opens on a beautiful vista or leads into a charming path. 

 It is well to supply the visitor with a reason, however slight, 

 for taking the walk besides the undoubted value of exercise. 

 I remember a charming arbor — I dare say it would have been 

 styled a "pergola" in the North — in a httle garden in Colum- 

 bia, S. C; this led wisely, conveniently, and pleasantly from 

 the rear of the house to the kitchen-garden. 



In this country some of the most satisfactory pergolas 

 have been designed by Mr. Charles R. Piatt, who is pecu- 

 liarly gifted in the matter of relating the house to the garden. 



Pergolas may be useful as well as ornamental. Another 

 useful one, simple and rough in construction, designed by George 

 F. Pentecost, Jr., for the tradesmen's entrance to a country 



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