366 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
platform around the house, is a suitable and appropriate 
appendage to every dwelling, of whatever class. 
The width of a terrace around a house may vary from 
five to twenty feet, or more, in proportion as the building 
is of greater or less importance. The surrounding wall, 
which supports its level, may also vary from one to eight 
feet. The terrace, in the better class of English residences, 
is paved with smooth flag stones, or in place of this, a sur- 
face of firm well-rolled gravel is substituted. In residences 
where a parapet or balustrade would be thought too 
expensive, a square stone or plinth is placed at the angles 
or four corners of the terrace, which serves as the pedestal 
for a vase or urn. When a more elegant and finished 
appearance is desirable, the parapet formed of open work 
of stone, or wood painted in imitation of stone, rises above 
the level of the terrace two or three feet with a suitably 
bold coping. On this vases may be placed, not only at the 
corners, but at regular intervals of ten, twenty, or more 
feet. We have alluded to the good effect of climbers, here 
and there planted, and suffered to intermingle their rich 
foliage with the open work of the parapet and its crowning 
ornaments.' In the climate of Philadelphia, the Giant Ivy, 
with its thick sculpturesque looking masses of foliage, 
would be admirably suited to this purpose. Or the Vir- 
ginia Creeper (the Ivy of America) may take its place in 
any other portion of the Union. To these we may add, 
the Chinese twining Honeysuckle (Lonicera flexuosa) and 
the Sweet-scented Clematis, both deliciously fragrant in 
their blossoms, with many other fine climbers which will 
readily recur to the amateur. 
There can be no reason why the smallest cottage, if its 
occupant be a person of taste, should not have a terrace 
