178 JOURNAL OF THE EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



But it may still do this without being any eyesore, and, furthermore, with 

 thought and judgment be so arranged as to be almost as well fitted to the 

 growth of plants as an ordinary bed or border. This brings us face to 

 face with one of the most important items in the case, viz. : 



Walls and Suitable Walls. 



Let us take the last part first and study " Suitable Walls." 



1. This to my mind is a wall of sandstone or even freestone, and 

 such a wall with its rugged surface is not only goodly to look upon, but 

 far more helpful in receiving and retaining moisture for the plants. 



2. Next to this I would place the clinkered burr wall, chiefly, how- 

 ever, for its ruggedness, though I greatly object to this material by reason 

 of its hardness and non-porosity. At the same time, a wall of this 

 material may be made among the most attractive, provided as always that 

 due care be given to the selection of the subjects. This type of wall, too, 

 is infinitely better for planting the subjects as the work proceeds. 



3. Then there is the stone wall, the "dry wall," so abundant as 

 fences in Gloucester, Worcester, and neighbouring counties. But for 

 plant-growing the only variation necessary is some roadside mud or 

 ordinary soil, and this tilling up the interstices made by the roughness of 

 the stones gives an admirable opportunity for the roots of many plants. 

 In place of the soil mentioned thin layers of turf that have been long laid 

 up may be mentioned as excellent, and where this valuable gardening 

 commodity is in abundance I would say use it by all means. But while I 

 have placed this particular type of wall somewhat low in the series of 

 " Suitable Walls," I only do so advisedly, and because of the limit existing 

 as regards the material employed. In the first-named county, for 

 example, miles of dry stone walls may be seen formed almost wholly of 

 the stone from the Ostrea and Gryphfea beds so abundant in the lower 

 levels of the Cotswolds. In both instances the stone is a thin, flattish 

 stratum of not more than three inches or four inches generally, and 

 covered when fresh quarried with soft marl. The stone is also rendered 

 picturesque owing to the abundant fossilised remains of the two geological 

 groups named. The stone is even worth securing by those engaging in 

 this particular phase of gardening, not only for its. utility and picturesque- 

 ness, but equally for the quiet tone that years of exposure imparts to it. 

 This I consider one of the most useful and serviceable of all, and, rightly 

 constructed, valuable for plant growing, and ornamental withal. 



Beick Walls. 



4. Then there is the ordinary brick wall, built with soil in place of 

 mortar joints, which has nothing to recommend it but dire necessity. 



I do not say plants will not grow in such walls, because I know better. 

 At the same time, such formal structures possess but little of the 

 beautiful until the plants are well established. 



A Necessity. 



Where the brick wall is an absolute necessity, however, and assuming 

 it occupies its position for retaining purposes, the actual retaining power 



