352 
DOMESTIC GARDENING. 
such plants to be a matter of some importance. 
It can scarcely admit of doubt, that it is 
desirable to increase the display of flowers in 
these small structures, as far as can be prac- 
ticable; and therefore, we think it quite suf- 
ficiently evident, that not only the platform, 
and stages, and shelves, which may be erected, 
should furnish their' portion of decorative 
surface, but also, as far as possible, every part 
of the structure should minister to the general 
effect. Besides this, the appearance of creepers 
trained over the roof in a judicious manner, 
is exceedingly graceful; their rich verdant 
festoons, stretching from pillar to pillar, (these, 
too, enveloped in living beauty,) impart a most 
charming variety to the assemblage, and afford 
an admirable substitute to the eye, for the stiff 
formality of the naked roof. Some of these 
plants, too, are among the most gorgeous and 
splendid in the vegetable kingdom ; and 
it is only when thus allowed to extend them- 
selves unrestrainedly, or at least, without 
oppressive restriction, that their beauty and 
loveliness become developed in a superior 
degree. Plants of this nature, when intro- 
duced for this purpose, require no very extra- 
ordinary attention ; they may be grown by 
planting them in boxes, sunk below the floor 
at those points where it is desirable to intro- 
duce them, and these, being filled with appro- 
priate soil, will be found well adapted for their 
intended use. The boxes may be constructed 
of any ordinary materials, but slate would 
have a decided preference, if neatness, eco- 
nomy, and adaptation to the purpose are taken 
into consideration. These plants may also be 
grown by planting them in large pots or boxes, 
placed at the bases of the pillars, or where 
they may be required. In either of these 
cases, the quantity of soil, and consequently of 
food, which would be available, being limited, 
while the branches were allowed to extend 
freely, it would be requisite occasionally to 
apply small proportions of liquid manure, in a 
diluted state, in order to maintain them in an 
even state of vigour. Of course, the prin- 
ciples and conditions of gi'owth to which we 
have already referred, must be attended to in 
this case. For the most part, the pruning of 
these creeping plants should be performed in 
the winter season, or the general period of 
rest. There are two distinct methods with 
reference to woody and permanent plants, 
which may be followed, according as they 
may be adapted to the particular character of 
the plants ; the one is to remove the annual 
shoots, close by where they issue from the 
stem; this is termed " spur-pruning," and is 
well adapted to a great number of plants ; the 
other method is, to preserve a considerable 
length of the well-ripened shoots of the pre- 
ceding season, and remove entirely a corre- 
sponding portion of the old flowering stems, 
which is better adapted to some plants than 
the former : in this latter case the younger 
shoots are substituted for the older ones. The 
Wistaria maybe taken as an example of those 
plants which are adapted to the former me- 
thod ; whilst Clematis, Bignonia, and Passi- 
flora, will afford instances of the latter. There 
are some other plants, of annual duration, 
which require annual renewal; and some few of 
an herbaceous nature, which are also best when 
annually introduced in the state of young plants. 
For the cultivation of Ferns (the class of 
plants we should recommend for covered 
balconies, having a northern aspect) we should 
strongly advise the erection of artificial rock- 
work, among which the Ferns should be 
planted in clefts, and on ledges, purposely 
formed for their reception : the effect of such 
an arrangement as this, when viewed from 
the windows, would be very interesting and 
picturesque. The spaces provided for the 
plants should be filled with a compost of equal 
parts of the turfy portions of good loam and 
peat, among which a little silver sand should 
be mixed ; this soil, if sufficiently drained to 
prevent the stagnation of water, will be found 
to be suitable to the growth of the majority of 
the species; the perfect drainage is an essential 
point, for although very much benefitted by 
dampness in the atmosphere, as we must 
presently notice, they are exceedingly im- 
patient of water when stagnant in the soil, 
and in contact with the roots. Most of them 
delight, as we have said, in a humid atmo- 
sphere ; some, indeed, of the more robust, are 
apparently indifferent in this respect ; but 
others, of the more delicate kinds, will scarcely 
be found to thrive without a considerable 
degree of vapour in the air around them. As 
this would, however, be of itself inconvenient 
in close connexion with the domestic apart- 
ments, much of the inconvenience which would 
arise may be obviated by covering the more 
delicate kinds with transparent glasses, which, 
while they would maintain that portion of the 
air in direct contact with them in a calm and 
equably moistened state, wouli render moisture- 
exterior to the glasses less necessary, and 
would not, in any way, obstruct the inspection 
and examination of the plants. 
In giving a list of plants which are adapted 
for cultivation in such situations as these, 
we confine ourselves to a brief selection, 
illustrating the particular character of those 
which are the most suitable for our object, 
rather than attempt to enumerate all that may 
be successfully chosen. This latter would 
extend our list far beyond the limits which 
our work will admit, and would, in truth, 
answer no good end ; it must not, therefore, 
be regarded as a list full and complete in 
