CONSTRUCTION OF GARDEN WALLS. 



103 



are to be placed at a suitable angle of 

 elevation, and move along the top and 

 bottom rails with freedom. The top and 

 bottom rails of the sashes are hollow- 

 ed out, and furnished with hollowed 

 gun-metal rollers, of an oblique form, 

 suitable to the angle the sashes are to 



Fig. 109, 



be placed at, which embrace the iron 

 beading, and cause the sashes to run 

 freely along them. Each sash overlaps 

 the other about 2 inches when shut ; and 

 as every other sash moves upon the same 

 line of rail, it can pass the other 

 alternate sash without interruption, and 

 can be totally removed when no longer 

 required for the protection of the plants. 

 This we think the simplest of all conser- 

 vative walls ; and as the materials, with 

 the exception of the stone supports 

 and brackets, which are permanent, can 

 be removed when no longer required, 

 and used for the ripening of peaches, 

 grapes, figs, &c., on any ordinary wall — 

 having only to be fitted with brackets 

 and stone supports, for the reception of 

 the rails — such walls are worth the atten- 

 tion of all who have gardens, whether 

 large or small. 



The stone supports may be made the 

 pedestals of vases or ornamental flower- 

 pots during summer, and the brackets 

 may easily be covered with branches of 

 shrubs or creepers during the same 

 period. All the operations of culture 

 are performed from the outside ; and in 

 winter the border, as far as the roots are 

 supposed to extend, is covered with coal 

 ashes or other non-conducting material. 



As glass is now one of our cheapest 

 articles of manufacture, it is scarcely 

 necessary for us to suggest substitutes. 

 However, we may observe that thin 

 canvass, previously steeped in a tan-pit, 

 transparent cloth, or patent felt, may 

 be employed ; — the two former ranking 

 next to glass, on account of their trans- 

 parency ; the latter being only adapted 

 to ward off cold, but without the advan- 

 tage of affording light to the plants. 



Viewing glass screens like fig. 109 as 

 a medium for ripening fruit, the objec- 

 tion, which is a perfectly valid one, will 

 be made, that they are placed at an 

 angle badly suited for that purpose. 

 Hence we ought to explain, that such 

 coverings are intended only for the pro- 

 tection of exotic flowering plants during 

 winter and early spring — the plants then 

 requiring protection, but not excitement ; 

 and only when no longer required for 

 such a purpose are they to be employed 

 for the ripening of fruit upon a portable 

 structure, and for that purpose they may 

 be placed at an angle by which the fruit 

 and foliage may derive to the fullest 

 extent the advantage of the solar rays. 



Another mode of arrangement may be 

 adopted; and those who may object to the 

 2 feet or so of wooden framing occupying 

 the space between the surface of the 

 ground and the bottom of the under rail, 

 may prefer it. This is, to lay a stone 

 plinth from 6 to 12 inches in thickness, 

 supported on an arched or piered foun- 

 dation, to admit of the roots extending 

 themselves ; this plinth is to be perma- 

 nent, and on it the rails are to be laid, 

 all other particulars being the same as 

 in the preceding case. In front of this 

 plinth a gravel or pavement walk should 

 be constructed, at least equal to half the 

 height of the wall, if for the protection 

 of flowering plants only, as it is desirable 

 that the eye be brought near to them. 

 If an architectural coping and slightly 

 projecting piers are indulged in, vases 

 should be introduced along the top, 

 while a corresponding stone plinth should 

 form the outer side of the walk, whether 

 pavement or gravel, having its comple- 

 ment of vases or other mural decorations 

 corresponding with those on the top of 

 the wall. 



Stone blocks may be built in the wall 

 instead of iron brackets, as described in 



