132 



CASSELL'S POPULAK GAKDEXIXG. 



entered by a flight of steps, an excellent opiDortunity 

 is afforded for a flower- vase on either one or both 

 the top and bottom piers, whilst climbers can be 

 trained up the side wall from one pier to the other. 

 Provision should also be made by j^reparation with 

 good soil (and drainage, if necessary, when lower 

 than the surrounding ground) for suitable climbing 

 plants to be trained up the walls of the house, 

 which will always have a good effect when so 

 covered ; still more so if a balcony should be running 

 thi-ough any part of the second storey. If the front 

 door be somewhat projecting beyond the usual 

 building line, or bow windows have to be dealt Avith, 

 very pretty effects can be made by entwining 

 climbers around the columns of the former, and by 

 using those of evergreen character for training up 

 the chief sujpports of the latter. Having regard to 

 any possible injury, which will hardly be avoided 

 when recoiu-se is had to securing the climbing plants 

 with nails and shreds, we would advise either a wire 

 trellis for fixing against the walls, or some permanent 

 studs to be driven in equi-distant from each other, to 

 which the climbers, and other plants that require 

 support, may be tied with ease. This recommenda- 

 tion will hold equally good for any space at disposal 

 on the boundary walls of the property. The use of 

 nails and shreds may answer very well when done 

 by experienced hands, but far too many of each are 

 invariably used by those who are not practised in 

 their aj)plication. By omitting to draw out those 

 nails that have become useless, the walls will even- 

 tually be rendered unsightly when deciduous climbers 

 are denuded of their leaves. Where any quantity of 

 old nails are thus found in walls, it is desirable that 

 they should be withdrawn ; this can be done far more 

 easily by first giving the nail a raj) as if it were 

 intended to drive it further home. It wdll thus be 

 released from any corrosion that has adhered to it 

 by long continuance in the wall, and afterwards be 

 di'awn out in a far cleaner manner. ^"NH^ien recourse 

 is had to nails and shreds, be careful to allow a good 

 space around the branch (when applying the shi-ed 

 to it) for future growth ; or, in plain words, do not 

 draw the shred tightly together and drive the nail 

 close up to the branch. When tying mediums are 

 used for securing the shoots against wire trellises or 

 studs, small tar -yarn is the best material with 

 which to perform the operation. Be careful also 

 in the application of this means of support, to 

 allow plenty of room for the future increase in 

 the size of the branches. Good tar -string will 

 last for several seasons ; in its use, therefore, it ~is 

 very essential that the advice we have just given 

 bo always borne in mind, or eventually the string 

 will cut into the branch as the latter increases in 

 size. 



The Back Garden. — In resuming our remarks 

 on the arrangomont of the garden, after the foregoing 

 necessary advice for securing the climbing plants, 

 we will pass on to the gaidon plot situated on the 

 other side, or back, of the house. In very many 

 cases this, too, will be of most limited area — ofter- 

 times only a square plot, when the backs of two 

 rows of houses abut against each other. There will, 

 perhaps, be room enough for a piece to be laid down 

 in grass in the centre ; when this plan is followed, 

 we should not ad\-ise any space to be occupied with 

 paths, but utilise all the remainder for shi'ubs and 

 border flowers. If paths are allowed for, so much 

 of the room will be taken up ^v-ith these and the 

 lawn plot that but little space wiU be available for 

 anything else. If of fairly good T\T.dth, a flower-bed 

 can be allowud for in the centre ; or, in lieu thereof, 

 a few choice shrubs, or a Weeping Ash, which will 

 afford a pleasing shade diuing the summer after 

 a few years' growth. Limes are often planted in, 

 small gardens, but they are not to be -recommended 

 where the suiTOunding property is covered with 

 houses, as their foliage has a peculiar propensity for 

 retaining any deposit of dust or blacks, even after a 

 heaxy rain. Xo doubt this is fui-ther accelerated by 

 the insects that frequent them, these lea%ing behind 

 a glutinous matter to which anything will readily 

 adhere. Trees with smooth leaves of a glossy shining 

 siu'face will keep the cleanest, and the Planes arc 

 much better in this respect than the Limes. 



In these gardens, of very limited extent, there 

 will not be room for many shrubs ; the idea, there- 

 fore, of endeavouring to obtain "seclusion" by the 

 aid of such will not be possible of attainment. In 

 endeavouring to attain to this end, the gi'eater part 

 of the ground would have to be occupied, leaving 

 but little room for anything else. Attention should, 

 therefore, be directed to securing such subjects as will 

 give the best return in a small way. We would 

 prefer to plant the tallest shrubs at the bottom of the 

 grounds when another garden joins up to it ; this 

 will also give the best effect from the house. With 

 a small lawn, and no paths allowed for, there would, 

 however, be in many cases room enough at least for 

 some few shrubs of moderate size on each side and 

 near the division walls. We would not on any 

 account plant up too closely to these walls in the 

 case of any shrubs that may be chosen, but aUow 

 sufiicient room for climbers throughout the entire 

 length on either side. By planting the Irish Ivies 

 or A-^irginian Creepers against these walls, and 

 extending them beyond the top of the wail by the 

 aid of ornamental trellis-work, a fairly good screen 

 will be obtained which will not occuj^y any valuable 

 space. When such a screen is not deemed necessary, 

 we would lather advise the walls to be covered with 



