HOUSE, AREA, AND WINDOW GARDENING. 



263 



green leaves ; Andromeda spec'tosa, covered with, 

 clusters of little white tells. 



Marry shrubs are worth growing- for their foliage 

 only ; such, for instance, as — 



Ficus carica, the common Fig, which is particularly 

 recommended for areas, where the paving appears 

 to protect the roots from frost in winter, and from 

 drought in summer. With good drainage, and 

 liberal supplies of soap-suds and manure-water, it 

 seldom fails to thrive. If chalk, or lime rubbish, can 

 be mixed with its soil, so much the 

 better. If planted against a wall, eat- 

 able fruits may be expected, and noble 

 foliage will certainly recommend it. 

 It is often seen twenty feet high, and 

 succeeds well in London, and other 

 smoky towns. There are many varie- 

 ties of Fig ; the hardiest for out-door 

 cultivation being the Brown Turkey. 



Laurus nobilis. — The Sweet Bay-tree 

 is a fine evergreen, and its aromatic 

 leaves are much used for flavouring 

 farinaceous puddings. It is known in 

 England more commonly as a bush 

 than a tree, and in the warmer parts of 

 our island forms handsome clumps, 

 growing up to twenty feet in height. 

 It is, however, impatient of frost, and 

 does best where it is well screened 

 from cutting winds. It, therefore, 

 ought to succeed well in warm areas, 

 as it will grow in any common garden 

 soil. 



In sunless areas, Ivies, and such 

 plants as Privets, Aucuba, Phillyrea, 

 Euonymus, &c, can be grown. 



Syringing must be frequently and 

 freely attended to, especially if soot, 

 or dust, is liable to settle on the 

 leaves. 



Ferns are particularly suited for cul- 

 tivation in areas, as the majority of 

 them prefer shade. The soil in which they grow 

 best is peat, sand, and loam, mixed in various pro- 

 portions. Those who collect the wild English species 

 must be careful to note the description of soil in 

 which they find the plants growing ; they can then 

 imitate the mixture as nearly as the materials at 

 their disposal will permit. 



In planting a Fern great care should be taken 

 that the crown of the plant should be well above the 

 surface of the soil after the process is finished. This 

 applies equally to planting in a pot, and to plant- 

 ing on ground. A low pyramid of the proper soil 

 should be made at the spot where the Fern is to 

 grow, and the point of the pyramid should be a little 



Fig. 30.— Wall Boxes 



higher than the general surface of the soil. The 

 Fern to be planted should then be taken with both 

 hands, the tips of the fingers being collected together 

 under the crown ; it should thus be placed upon the 

 top of the pyramid ; by then drawing away the 

 fingers in opposite directions, the Fern will be left 

 poised on the pyramid with its roots spread out 

 around. An inch of soil pressed gently down over 

 the roots completes the planting. 



The following Ferns will do well in shady areas : 



Asplenium Adiantum nigrum. 

 Asplenium i'ontanum. 

 Asplemum trichornaues. 

 Athyrium Filix-foemiua. 

 Blechnum spicant. 

 Cyrtomium t'alcatum. 

 Cystopteris fragilis. 

 Lastrea semula. 

 Lastrea dilatata. 

 Lastrea Filix-mat 

 Lastrea oreopteris. 

 Lastrea spinulosa. 

 Onoclea sensibilis. 

 Osmunda cirjnamomea. 

 Osmunda regalis. 

 Polypodiurn vulgare. 

 Polystichum aculeatum. 

 Polystichum angulare. 

 Polystictmrn lobatum. 

 Pteris aquilina. 

 Struthiopteris Germanica. 

 Scolopendriurn vulgare. 



Hanging-pots are well adapted fov 

 Ferns upon area walls ; but where one 

 pot hangs above another, some ar- 

 rangement must be devised to prevent 

 the drippings from the upper pot from 

 falling on to the plant below. 



The accompanying engraving (Fig. 

 30) gives a section of a frame, by 

 means of which the whole surface of a 

 wall might be covered with plants. 



It could be made of 

 wood, or partly of wood 



PA VEMENT and P art ty of slate - If 

 made entirely of w r ood, 

 it should be fitted together with brass 

 screws, which should be well greased. 

 When complete, it should be taken to pieces, and 

 every piece of wood must have three coats of oil 

 paint ; and when thoroughly dry all the parts are to 

 be again screwed together. Planks of Elm -wood, 

 fourteen inches wide, would be found very suitable 

 for this purpose. It will be noticed that provision 

 is made for the drainage to run down behind the 

 pot next below it. 



PILLARS, POROSES, AND PORTICOES. 

 There are no better, nor more useful, plants for 

 clothing these than the following, or other varieties 

 of the so-called evergreen Roses (Rosa sempervirens), 

 viz. — FeliciU- Ferpetuelle, with small creamy-white 



