276 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



In preparing beds for American plants in re- 

 tentive soils, it is a matter of great importance 

 to secure proper drainage in the first instance; 

 for, though requiring abundance of moisture, the 

 roots cannot long survive when this becomes 

 stagnant in the soil. Should the staple consist 

 of peat or heath-mould, the ground, after doing 

 the required draining, will merely require to be 

 trenched, a small quantity of well-decomposed 

 cow-dung or any light rich compost being mixed 

 with it in the operation, and if deficient in sand 

 a due proportion of this substance must also be 

 added. Where the natural soil is not suitable, 

 it should be dug out in September or October 

 to the depth of at least 18 inches, or better, 2 feet, 

 and the subsoil loosened to a foot in depth. 

 The peat or compost having been chopped up 

 it should be filled in in such quantity that after 

 sinking it may be no higher than the adjoining 

 ground; indeed, in dry situations it is advan- 

 tageous to have the surface of the beds a little J 

 below that level, in order to secure a sufficiency 

 of moisture, and for a like reason it is not advis- 

 able to elevate the middle of the beds higher 

 than the sides. 



Decorations} — These consist principally of sum- 

 mer-houses, arbours, and temples, in addition to 

 those already mentioned in the preceding sec- 

 tions of this chapter. Summer-houses are both 

 appropriate and useful structures in the plea- 

 sure-ground and flower-garden. The unbarked 

 timber formerly used in making them had, when 

 newly put up, a nice appearance of rusticity; 

 but even with the greatest care in selection, 

 and in felling the timber at the season best 

 calculated to enable it to retain its bark, the 

 moisture getting betwixt it and the wood would 

 cause it quickly to peel oft", thus giving an un- 

 sightly aspect to the structure. Tough, durable 

 wood, such as Oak, Yew, and Elm, should be used 

 in a sound, seasoned condition, and when put 

 together it should be well varnished. The roof 

 should be thatched with heather or reeds, and 

 no other covering looks so well as the former, 

 or is more appropriate, besides which it is very 

 durable if cut in the winter. Reeds are also 

 durable, lasting from ten to fifteen years if the 

 slope of the roof is 45° or greater. Many per- 

 sons object to wooden summer-houses, alleging 

 that they harbour insects to such an extent as 

 to make it unpleasant to sit in them. Such no 

 doubt is the case if they are improperly made. 

 The inside should always be lined with close- 

 jointed boards, and the whole then stained a 

 warm brown or dark -green colour. To avoid 



i See also under Structures. 



dampness, the floor should be composed of 

 boards, tiles, or parquet-work, and raised several 

 inches above the ground. 



Arbours, if judiciously placed, are, equally 

 with summer-houses, in character in a garden, 

 whether it be large or small. They may be 

 formed in various ways. A weeping Ash or 

 Elm, with closely furnished shoots and foliage, 

 will serve the purpose well; or a light frame- 

 work of iron may be erected on which to train 

 vigorous -growing Roses, such as the Crimson 

 Boursault, Ruga, Felicite Perpetue, or varieties 

 of the evergreen or Ayrshire types, or, indeed, 

 any free-growing varieties or species, which may 

 be budded in places with others which produce 

 finer flowers, in order to afford variety. Other 

 climbing-plants adapted for this object are the 

 Honeysuckles, Aristolochia Sipho, Tecoma radi- 

 cans, the Clematises, the Vine, and Virginian 

 Creeper. 



Ivy is one of the best and most manageable 

 of evergreen subjects that can be employed in 

 covering an arbour. Although in this country 

 we do not use it so much as is done on the 

 Continent, this plant may be freely and safely 

 recommended for the purpose in question; its 

 thorough hardiness in every part of the king- 

 dom, its free and close habit of growth, and its 

 immunity from insects, are properties which 

 specially adapt it for such an object; while its 

 evergreen habit is also deserving of considera- 

 tion, since, whatever position it occupies, it 

 looks much better through the winter than 

 plants that are deciduous. Vigorous-growing 

 varieties should be selected, and several may 

 be planted on the same arbour to produce a 

 variegated effect. To have the arbour covered 

 with as little delay as possible, plants should be 

 used that have been grown in pots, and which 

 are from 3 to 6 feet in height. Over the usual 

 iron framework of which the skeleton of the 

 arbour is constructed, should be laid stout wire- 

 netting, to which the shoots should be trained. 

 This training must be often and regularly at- 

 tended to from the time of planting until the 

 whole is closely covered, otherwise the shoots, 

 as they grow, will be injured and their growth 

 hindered by chafing against the wire. When the 

 | whole is covered little will be required except 

 J to go over it with the knife two or three times 

 during the season, in order to trim in long and 

 straggling shoots. 



In these structures the seats may either be 

 fixed all round the interior, as is usual, or chairs 

 may be used, according to individual taste. 

 The floor may consist of shingle, hoggin, i.e. 



