354 
The Garden Magazine, February, 1924 
necessarily exists for a great part of the time, the lattice should 
not be put together with wire nails. The only safe selection is 
copper screws. This is slower and more expensive, because each 
hole must be drilled before screws are inserted in order to prevent 
splitting, but only bv this way can the result desired be obtained. 
If for any reason copper screws are not used, copper nails may 
be employed, and in the case of cheaper work when the strips 
are only wired together, copper should be used for the wire. 
In all cases where lattice is placed against the building, it 
should be made free-standing and from four to six inches away 
to afford free circulation of air so that it may become dry at the 
back almost as quickly as its exposed surface will. This is ab¬ 
solutely essential, for if this is not done, not only will the lattice 
soon rot and fall apart, and the vine be thrown to the ground, 
but the safety of the structure will be impaired and passers-by 
endangered. 
While it is not possible to say what size of members should 
be used for lattice, more is constructed of strips f by i| inches 
than any other. It may be bought in several standard sizes, 
and economy of result is had if special sizes are not required. 
When putting lattice together, special attention must be given 
to such parts as will in any way serve to retain water or will not 
readily shed snow and melting ice. The general shrinking of 
lattice will cause little harm if it is in a position to dry thoroughly 
in good weather, but the slightest amount of standing water 
in crevices or on projections will cause decay very quickly. 
Wood naturally tends to warp, and this tendency will be accen¬ 
tuated at the point where strips' cross one another, for between 
the two surfaces of the wood, small pockets will form. To avoid 
this it is possible to notch the strips at these points and later 
paint them to fill up any crevices. 
The painting should be done very thoroughly, all cracks 
and openings being cared for as well as the surface. Three 
coats of paint are customary, one before the strips are assembled 
one after they are assembled, with special emphasis on the 
joints, and a final coat when the work has been completed. 
I he color selected for lattice is largely a matter of securing 
accord with the surroundings. For trellis purposes, green is 
often found because it approaches the shade of the foliage. 
Where lattice is used for gateways, interior porches, or exterior 
trim, the general color of the building or its surroundings will of 
course be the deciding factor. White is extremely effective and 
charming, sufficiently neutral to harmonize with almost any¬ 
thing, but distinctive too. It must, however, be kept white and 
not permitted to look shabby or worn, lest it lose its decorative 
value. When it is used structurally it should have the same sub¬ 
stantial character that the house has, and should receive similar 
care in overhauling and repair. 
In planning lattice, those architectural considerations should 
be taken into account that properly govern any structural addi¬ 
tions made to a building or its grounds. Classic pattern in a 
pergola is out of accord with a rambling bungalow. Do not over¬ 
decorate with lattice unless there is a real service for it to per¬ 
form. Do not build a pergola apropos of nothing if there is no 
logical place for one. just to exploit a fancy for lattice. There 
are ample places in even the smallest house and garden for lattice 
to be useful. In winter, too, lattice bridges the interval and 
carries pleasant messages from the last season to the next. 
LATTICE AS A PART OF THE ARCHITECTURAL PLAN 
When attached to the house lattice assumes an aspect of permanence and has therefore become structural in 
the best interpretation of that word. Elaborate and yet dignified, this trellis structure supplies an admirable 
background for driveway planting; Armsea Hall, the home of Mrs. Charles F. Hoffman at Newport, R. I. 
