I 
THE GARDEN 
i7 
scatters its leaves, will grow and flourish against 
a wall, even in cold parts of England, if it 
has just a little protection in the winter. 
I used to make such nice warm mats to cover 
mine that I will tell you how I did it, as it is 
quite easy work, and a very good protection. 
Get a stick three or four feet long, or how¬ 
ever high the plant is that you want to cover, 
tie a strong piece of string a few inches from 
either end, and hang it up. I used to find a 
nail in the woodwork of an old summer-house 
—a very convenient place. Then get a bundle 
of straw, tie a stout piece of string about a 
yard or a yard and a half long (tarred twine is 
best) a few inches from one end of the stick 
which you have hung up, another about a foot 
farther along, and one or two more, according 
to the length of the stick ; then take a small 
handful of straw and tie it on to the stick with 
your first string with a single knot, or what 
sailors call a “ half hitch.” The straw will 
most of it reach to the second string, so tie it 
again there. A few straws will stretch to the 
third string, but you will have to add a little 
more straw, and then tie the third, and if 
necessary a fourth string, and so on, row after 
row of straw tied together along the length of 
the stick, till you get it wide enough to cover 
the plant, perhaps two or three feet or more; 
