96 THE BOOK OF GARDEN FURNITURE 



pressed into service for holding plants, not the least 

 desirable being the large oil jars which may be procured 

 from Italian warehousemen in London. Sometimes they 

 are covered with wicker work, but naturally this soon rots 

 away, though it is picturesque while it lasts. A hole 

 must be bored at the bottom, and a liberal amount of 

 rough drainage supplied. As the amount of soil which 

 the jars will contain is but small, a 

 change of plants should be made 

 annually, and fresh mould supplied. 

 A great advantage connected with 

 planting in vases and boxes, is that 

 suitable soil may be pro- 

 vided for every class of 

 plant. It is impossible 

 to grow certain subjects 

 satisfactorily in the soil 

 which exists in the beds, 

 but by growing in port- 

 able receptacles the re- 

 quirements of each may 

 be studied to a nicety. 

 Those living in the 

 neighbourhood of potteries, will find no difficulty in having 

 rough clay vessels made to order. These are much to be 

 preferred to the elaborately decorated creations which are 

 far more expensive, and often hideously ugly. The large 

 basket beds which look very handsome in the formal garden 

 are generally constructed of stone, though sometimes oak 

 boughs are used with good effect. On flat stretches of 

 lawn bedding, the baskets help to break the monotony 

 considerably, and when filled with cannas, castor oils, 

 clematis, tropaeolums, and trailing plants of luxuriant 

 growth, form a perfect blaze of riotous colour. 



One of the best positions for standing tubs and vases is 

 beside permanent seats and arbours, especially when these 



SQUARE TUB. 



