HOUSE AND GARDEN 
LY, I 913 
Coral Builders and the Bell System 
But further detail is out of the question, 
for the smallest things will influence the 
grouping and arrangement, when it comes 
to the point of actually putting things 
into the ground. Walks leading through 
it should be as unobtrusive and as natural 
as it is possible to make them. Either 
wide paths worn by use, seemingly, or 
paths paved with undressed stones laid 
into the ground with their flattest side 
flush with its surface will fill the require¬ 
ments most satisfactorily. Space enough 
should be left between them to allow 
grass to show through, or vagrant flower 
seed to lodge, here and there. 
Bird houses seem unnecessary in a wild 
retreat, although bird enthusiasts advise 
their erection everywhere, for the sake 
of the winter protection which they af¬ 
ford. Have them, therefore, by all 
means; for whatever encourages birds’ 
residence in winter encourages it all the 
year through—“naturalizes” them, so to 
speak, in the garden. But make them as 
simple and inconspicuous as possible, and 
tuck them into protected places among the 
branches of trees where they will escape 
notice, instead of mounting them on 
poles. 
A bird bath and drinking basin there 
should also be; and seats and a table if 
space permits, to encourage loitering. 
Keep all these true to the spirit of the 
wilderness, and of such design and con¬ 
struction as shall be unobtrusive, yet 
practical and comfortable. The bird 
bath may best be provided, perhaps, by 
having a depression or basin of suitable 
size, chipped out of a boulder—either one 
that is brought in or one already there, 
lying half out of the ground maybe, as 
they sometimes do. Such a basin will re¬ 
quire filling by hand, of course, but as 
any bird bath should be brushed out and 
cleaned every second day, there is really 
no disadvantage in not having water 
piped in from below. 
Rustic construction of the right sort is 
suitable for garden seats and tables in the 
wild garden, and really is about the only 
thing that is. But these should all be 
very restrained, and all attempts at elab¬ 
oration and ornament strictly eliminated 
—for rustic work easily degenerates into 
unutterable horror if anything that is not 
perfectly straightforward and utilitarian 
is undertaken with it. Slabs are much to 
be preferred to saplings in it, and wher¬ 
ever it is possible to build about a tree 
or trees, making these serve as the sup¬ 
ports, take advantage of the opportunity. 
A fallen tree is, of course, a perfectly 
obvious beginning for a seat, or may be 
introduced where conditions permit, and 
form of itself, a seat. Do not go to ex¬ 
tremes, however, in imitating nature’s 
methods; better build frankly a resting- 
place than to imitate absurdly. Stumps 
and branches may serve as a beginning 
very often, legitimately enough, from 
which to develop rest places of nature¬ 
like simplicity and modesty. 
In the depths of tropical seas the 
coral polyps are at work. They are 
nourished by the ocean, and' they 
grow and multiply because they 
cannot help it. 
Finally a coral island emerges 
from the ocean. It collects sand 
and seeds, until it becomes a fit 
home for birds, beasts and men. 
In the same way the telephone 
system has grown, gradually at 
first, but steadily and irresistibly. 
It could not stop growing. To stop 
would mean disaster. 
The Bell System, starting with a few 
scattered exchanges, was carried for¬ 
ward by an increasing public demand. 
Each new connection disclosed a 
need for other new connections, and 
millions of dollars had to be poured 
into the business to provide the 
7,500,000 telephones now connected. 
And the end is not yet, for the 
growth of the Bell System is still 
irresistible, because the needs of the 
people will not be satisfied except by 
universal communication. Thesystem 
is large because the country is large. 
American Telephone and Telegraph Company 
And Associated Companies 
One Policy One System Universal Service 
BRUNS W 1 C K 
Household Refrigerating and Ice Making plants are de¬ 
signed especially for country homes. 
Brunswick Refrigerating Co. New Brunswick, N. J. 
TJ • |« $T issues four practical, 
biltmore Nursery 
_ . . __ " den Flowers." ‘‘Flower¬ 
ing Trees and Shrubs," "The Iris Oatalog" and ‘‘The Biltmore 
Nursery Catalog.” Any one free. 
BILTMORE NURSERY, Box 1675, BILTMORE, N. C. 
Ba 
The u 
sparrow 
a day. 
receivin 
.nish the Soairrow! Do You Want Song Birds-Native 
He is a Pest! Th . th American Birds-About You? 
1 he sparrow is their greatest enemy. Get rid of sparrows— 
' . A ^ for Ulus- erect Dodson Bird Houses—and you can have Purple 
- : rV. ■ *»•« trated Folder Martins, Bluebirds, Wrens, Tree Swallows, Fly Catchers \ 
UjSpgAy About Birds and other beautiful bird neighbors. If you agree with all J ^ 
'D. . j true bird lovers in believing that the only good sparrow is 
Mtlsqiiti ! H ■ the one in a pot-pie—get a Dodson Sparrow Trap. T 
ir‘i‘ , T- Wren House--Solid Purple Martin House- Bluebird House- 
. * i ;r » \ >r--' , oak, cypress shingles, 3 stories and attic; 20 rooms. Solid oak, cypress shin- 
; * — 1 •. copper coping. Price Price $12.00, f. 0 . b. Chi- glcs and copper coping. 
_ So.00, f. 0. b. Chicago. cago. With all-copper top. Price 85.00. f. 0. b. 
®fc rv : - —wm k $ 15 . 00 . ciucaKo. 
odson Sparrow Trap catches as many as 75 to 100 TOSFPII H HflDSON A Director of the Illinois 
s a day. Works all the time. Sparrows removed once U 11* Audubon Society. 
Made of wire; size. 36 x 18 x 12 inches. Price, including oni * • .• „ .... .. . 
g box. $5, f. O. b. Chicago. 901 Association Building, CHICAGO, ILL. 
In writing to advertisers please mention House & Garden. 
