LAWNS AND THEIR EMBELLISHMENT 
31 
A Floral Sun-Dial 
To the left we illustrate not only a very ornamental but an exceedingly 
interesting bedding effect, a sun-dial made on the lawn with flowering and 
ornamental-leaved plants. The center of the dial, with its radiating points, is 
planted with double white Alyssum ; the dark points between the rays are of 
grass ; the surrounding band containing the numerals is planted with red 
Alternantheras, with an outer beading of Echeveria secunda glauca ; the 
numerals themselves are of yellow Alternantheras allowed to grow taller than 
the groundwork. The shade -index, or finger, that casts the time shadow, in 
the illustration is a fine specimen of the colummar-growing Cactus, Cereus 
giganteus, though a pillar 
formed shade finger like this 
will not show continuously cor- 
rect sun time, for as the season 
advances, the shadow it casts 
will fall daily a little further 
away from given points at cor- 
responding time. A triangular 
shade finger, however, can be 
used with the upper edge so 
inclined that the shadow it 
casts will reach the same points 
at the same times daily ; this 
is accomplished by having the 
upper edge, termed the "time- 
shadow edge,” parallel with the 
earth’s axis, the correct incli- 
nation being attained by an 
astronomical calculation suited 
to the latitude ; or, practically 
correct results may be obtained 
by experimenting with a tem- 
porary shade finger, say a 3- 
inch strip of board arranged so that the north end can be adjusted until the 
correct inclination is obtained ; the length of the board should reach about 
three-fourths of the distance across a semi-circular dial of any size desired. 
This board (or other shade finger) must run north and south, — a compass will 
aid in setting it true ; rest the southern end on the ground, then elevate the 
north end according to the latitude, which, if the same as that of Savannah, 
Ga., will be about 4^ inches to a foot measured along the ground edge of 
the shade finger; or for Washington, D. C. , 6 }i inches; for New York 
City, 6>^ inches ; for Montreal, Canada, inches. The shadow cast by 
this finger at noon will point directly north toward the location for placing 
the numerals XII. Compare the position of the twelve o’clock shadow with 
your watch for a few days, and if it returns to the same position, the proper 
inclination has been obtained ; if the shadow has shifted, then raise or lower 
the north end of the shade finger as circumstances require, until it casts the 
shadow continuously right. Then the placing of the rest of the numerals on 
the dial is simply a matter of noting the location of the shadow at corre- 
sponding hours by a watch. The temporary shade finger may then be replaced 
with a more ornamental one of same inclination — a row of Arborvitse, kept 
trimmed to form, or a latticed trellis, or a wire frame of proper shape covered 
with Cinnamon Vines, Maurandia or other small climbers, may be utilized. 
^ Wall- Bordered Grounds 
^he above illustration does not do justice to the effectiveness of these 
wall-edged grounds, which are really very attractive. The low wall is broken 
by angular bays, every corner of which is crowned by a well-filled vase. The 
arch -spanned entrance is draped with hardy vines. The grounds are laid out 
with walks gracefully curving among groups of shrubs, trees, flower beds and 
gardenesque objects. The star-shaped bed in the foreground is filled with 
yellow-flowering Cannas in the center, and scarlet Salvia in the points. 
