376 
A PRETTY SUMMERHOUSE. j 
By Mrs. E. VYNER. 
How few gardens contain one of these 
delightful resorts ; yet there is no reason 
why anyone who has a little space at his 
command should not possess one. The 
“handy man” of the family can easily 
construct it, and the member with a taste 
for gardening will take its decoration in 
hand. The spot should be chosen with 
some degree of care, the entrance to the 
arbour facing south if possible; failing 
this, west, it may be built, of natural 
wood, Fir poles for the supports and the 
branches, thick and thin, of any kind of 
tree interlaced between, and given a few 
coats of varnish to preserve them. Or if 
only a light structure is desired, Bamboo 
poles will be found efficient. But the one 
which I admire the most is made of nar¬ 
row laths of deal in lattice design, the 
whole afterwards painted white. The 
effect of this when adorned with gaily- 
flowered creepers, such as Sweet Peas, 
climbing Nasturtiums, Hop, Canary 
Creeper, etc., is remarkably pretty, and 
always looks so clean, cool and inviting. 
A point to watch when erecting the 
summerhouse is to avoid any semblance 
to uniformity; the most artistic are those 
that are the most irregular in shape. The 
highest point should be over the entrance, 
but do not make one “to match” opposite,' 
though a projection not quite so high may 
appear at one side, but not at both. The 
interior, to be really artistic, should 
neither be round nor square nor oval nor 
semi-circular, but just as “Jappy” as you 
can make it. One side might have a wing 
extending a couple of yards and tapering 
to a point, while on the other, but not 
directly opposite, a tiny alcove—just big 
enough to seat two at a pinch, with slop¬ 
ing roof—-will be found effective, and per¬ 
haps useful. The floor should be of gravel 
or small pebbles, as grass is so apt to 
remain damp ; and suspended from the 
roof here and there may be one or two 
hanging baskets. If you have not any 
purchase a couple and line them with 
moss. This may either be gathered in 
the woods or 1 bought at the florist’s, 
though, of course, the natural sort is bet¬ 
ter. Place a few crocks in the bottom 
and fill up with rich soil. Plant one with 
Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums and single Pe¬ 
tunias and two or three trails of Creeping 
Jenny, and the other with Campanula 
isophylla alba (drooping Harebell), both 
blue and white. It flowers most profusely 
and hangs to such a length, it cannot help 
but please. 
Outside the arbour, having previously 
dug and manured the soil, plant some 
roots of Irish and silver Ivy, or the small¬ 
leaved variegated sorts. Sow seeds of 
climbing Nasturtiums and Canary 
Creeper, and at one side with the tallest 
Sweet Peas. Train these by tying the 
main stems with bast to the trellis work; 
wire netting is unsightly on a garden 
arbour. If you have a greenhouse, raise a 
few Hop plants, or, if you have not, a 
sunny window will do. Put these out in 
May. Water liberally twice a week in 
dry weather, and apply liquid manure, 
well dHuted, once a week. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
“Every man is at heart a gardener,” 
says a writer in the “Morning Post.” 
Wallflower. 
I will not praise the often-flattered rose 
Or, virgin-like, with blushing charms 
half seen, 
Or when, in dazzling splendour like a 
queen, 
All her magnificence of state she 
shows; 
No, nor that sun-like Lily which but 
blows 
Beneath the valley’s cool and shady 
screen; 
Nor yet the Sunflower, that, with 
warrior mien 
Still eyes the orb of glory where it 
glows; 
But thou, neglected Wallflower! to 
my breast 
And muse art dearest, wildest, 
sweetest flower! 
To whom alone the privilege is given 
Proudly to root thyself above the rest, 
As Genius does, and, from thy rocky 
tower 
Lend fragrance to the purest bre'ath 
of heaven. 
- a. w. - 
Prize Competitions. 
GENERAL CONDITIONS:— Competitors must 
write on one side of the paper only. Regular 
paid contributors to THE GARDENING 
WORLD or other gardening journals are de¬ 
barred from entering, but occasional con¬ 
tributors may compete. The name and ad¬ 
dress of the competitor must appear on each 
article sent for competition. The Editor’s 
decision is final, and he reserves the right 
to reproduce, in any way,! any artiole or photo¬ 
graph sent for competition. The conditions 
applying to each competition should be care¬ 
fully read. 
WEEKLY 
PRIZES. 
A PRIZE OFTEN SHILLINGS will be given 
for the best paragraph or short artiole on any 
gardening subject, such as hints of practical 
interest to gardeners, notes on the propaga¬ 
tion or cultivation of flowers, fruits or vege¬ 
tables, eradication of pests, etc. The para¬ 
graph or article must not exceed a column, but 
value rather than length will be considered in 
making *tie award. Mark envelopes “ Com¬ 
petition,” and post not later than the Monday 
folk wing date of issue.x Entries received later 
than Tuesday (first post) will be left over until 
the following week. 
Two prizes of 2s. fid. will be awarded each 
week for the two best letters, not exceeding 
150 words, on any interesting gardening sub¬ 
ject. 
RESULTS OF 
LAST WEEK’S 
COMPETITIONS. 
Some of the best papers In this competition 
are too long, and we desire readers to keep 
within a column. 
The prize in the Readers’ Competition was 
awarded to “J. M. S. ” for the article on 
“ Yuccas,” page 364. 
In the Prize Letter Competition a prize 
was awarded to “ H. Stevens,” for the article 
on “Artificial Method of Growing Bog Plants ” ; 
and another to “ D. Chapman ” for the article 
on “ Herbaceous Lobelias,” page 362. 
June 6, 1908. 
GRAPE THINNING. 
By A.V.M. 
In Vine culture the work of Grape thir 
ning requires a good deal more study tha 
is generally applied to it. A bad or goo 
crop depends largely on the thinning 
Firstly, the bunches have to be thinne 
out, for two or three bunches are ofte. 
produced on one shoot, and one bunch i 
sufficient. Vine rods in good conditio 
can carry a dozen bunches on a 14 fi 
length of rod, having them equally di; 
tributed over the house. Young Vine 
which have not reached their termini: 
should not be burdened with heavy crop- 
unless exceptionally vigorous. The leac 
mg growth that is extending the Vin 
should be stripped of all bunches an 
tendrils. These tendrils are best cut of 
for they clasp themselves round the trell 
and get quite hard to clear off; also the 
become a harbour for insects. Scisso. 
are specially made for thinning, bem 
long and thin to pass through tfc 
bunches. Keep these clean, for as th 
thinning proceeds the juicy matter of tl 
berries gets black and dirty on them, ; 
they should be wiped on a cloth occasioi 
ally. A thin piece of wood is anothc 
necessity to steady the bunch and ease 
about as you wish, resting it on the cei 
tral stalk, for one’s hands should not coir 
in contact with the berries. Large buncht 
have two or three shoulders, or perhaps 
twin bunch. There is what is terme 
“winging up” the shoulders. Thin stri] 
of matting are tied in a loop form on 1 
the shoulders or branches and gradual; 
raised into shape^ so that you have 
bunch of size, form and beauty. Mere: 
tie the matting on to the trellis or shoot 
whatever seems handy, for it is only 
temporary support before the berri 
swell up a bit. This “winging up” occ 
pies the time of thinning a bunch, h 
your crop is enlarged and enhance' 
When they are the size of Peas commem 
to thin. Begin at the bottom of the bund 
removing all small berries, and do 
be afraid to cut out the central berrie 
which in time would only get jammed u 
All the berries, at the points of the sic 
branches, and mostly all those on the u 
side of the shoulders are retained. The 
have room to swell, keeping shape ai 
size. A second thinning some weeks aft 
the first is generally made, but a got 
thinning at the first is usually sufficier 
We have all an idea of the size a ber 
should be, so thin out freely. Bla< 
Hamburg is slack in habit, and does n 
require so severe' thinning as stiff soi 
that will not come and go much. A 
Grapes should be thinned by the end 
May. 
-- 
Out-of-Door Life. 
“ Let us be always out of doors amoi; 
the trees and grass and rain and wind ar 
sun. Let us get out of these indoor, n<; 
row, modern days, whose twelve hou ; 
somehow become shortened, into the sir 
light and the pure wind. A somethi)' 
which the ancients called divine can ■ 
found and felt there still.”—Richa' 
Jeffries. 
