\ 
——— —_—— 
THOSE shady corners in our garden, which you so 
much deplore, are the very spots in which to show 
your individuality. If the whole enclosure lay in wide, 
unbroken sunshine, there would be some difficult pro- 
blems in keeping it clear of monotony. Shade and sun- 
shine intermingled are better than sun without shade. 
‘Suppose that the pine grove, which your neighbor 
has planted to the north and west of his buildings, as a 
windbreak, cuts off the sunlight from the southeast cor- 
nor of the spot which you wish to beautify. No turf 
will grow under the shadows of those pine trees, and 
you are inclined to be discouraged. 
There is, however, an excellent way of overcoming 
the difficulty. Shrubbery will grow there, if grass will 
not. Set out a row of our hardy native sumach against 
those pines, close up to your division line. Try two 
- rows, if one does not fill the space, and intersperse a 
few shrubs of clethra and shadbush. Inside the sumach, 
plant hardy perennials and ornamental grasses, with the 
taller varieties on the inside. This will make a border 
fully six feet wide, if you allow proper space to each 
row of plants. Inside that border, the turf will grow 
beautifully. 
The pine grove will thus be transformed into a 
thing of beauty. The sumach is always suggestive of 
tropical palms, in its richness of foliage and in the 
autumn, no shrub changes its colors with an effect more 
decorative. The shadbush blossoms very early in the 
spring, and the clethra which has a delightful fragrance, 
is in flower for fully a month at mid-summer. 
If the grove is composed of deciduous trees, there 
will be no difficulty in making the grass grow under 
their shadow. A fine plan then is to put up a small 
summer house in the corner, where it seems to be fitted 
to its Sh St A suitable type is the one rustic 
in composition, six-sided, and made wholly from cedar 
poles and branches, even to the covering of the roof, and 
to the seats and table arranged inside. 
Sometimes one corner of the garden is shaded by a 
tree having very thick foliage, with branches neariy 
touching the ground. To cut off any of these limbs 
is to spoil the beauty of the tree. In such a situation, 
rockwork and ferns are all that you need to complete 
the effect of beauty. Wild ferns of the taller varieties, 
such as the cinnamon fern, interrupted fern, and royal 
fern, will do for filling in the corner. Mosses can be 
transplanted to the rocks, and in the crevices native 
rock ferns, such as polypody and aspidium could be sev. 
You will find that native ferns will grow much better 
than greenhouse varieties, besides living out all winter, 
and increasing in number. If the corner is damp and 
springy, bulrushes will thrive, and you could even essay 
a small lily pond. 
If the corner is only moderately shaded, it might 
be improved by the introduction of a gypsy kettle, set in 
a frame, either square-topped or arching. A climbing 
vine, to run up one of the supports of this frame, and 
across the top, is an improvement. As for the filling 
of the kettle, the ordinary tuberous-rooted begonia is 
=) 
————E——————— a 
AND REMINDER 
Vol. XIll Manchester, Mass., Friday, April 30 No. 18 
What Shall We Do With Our Shady Corners 
Bp MARY H. NORTHEND 
very satisfactory to cultivate in such positions, for it 
does much better than in bright sunlight. It seems to 
prefer the shadow of tall trees, but a thick growth of 
shrubbery does not suit it as well. It needs air in free 
circulation, 
For the gypsy kettle, could be substituted an Italian 
oil jar, or a Chinese fruit jar. Such artistic bits of 
garden furniture can oftentimes be picked up at very 
reasonable rates. ‘hey have beautiful shapes, and are 
made of material fitted to endure the stress of weather 
without permitting it to spoil their beauty. 
A shady corner that is remote from the house is an 
excellent stand for a garden seat. This seat may be 
rustic in character; it may be expensively wrought from 
carven stone; or it may be made of iron, cement or 
wood. A very desirable addition to the garden seat, 
especially for a person who wishes to read or write 
out of doors, is the large umbrella with its iron stand 
and table attachment. However well shaded any place 
upon the lawn may be, there are always sunny spots that 
catch us if we try to read. 
Another good theme to be developed for a shady 
corner is the flat-topped arbor. It is easy to make, and 
its appearance is pleasing. Take four poles about six 
inches thick and at least ten feet long. Drive them into 
the ground for about three feet, to be sure that they are 
firm enough to support the top. Fasten on crosspieces. 
Lattice-work is easily made, and is a pretty finish for 
both top and sides. A green stain makes it harmonize 
with the foliage so finely as to be almost imperceptible. 
Another very satisfactory arbor of the same general 
style is made by using iron supports and a covering of 
woven wire with very large meshes, at least six inches 
wide, over which vines find it easy to clamber. 
The Virginia creeper is one of the most satisfactory 
vines to grow in a shaded location. Most vines love 
sunshine, and it is not easy to find a climbing plant 
which will grow with any degree of luxuriance, when 
sunlight is lacking. 
Sometimes a shady corner will occur among trellised 
vines, set upon each side of a regular walk. In the 
shadowy place, it is well to break the monotony of the 
walk by means of a cement vase, which has much of the 
beauty of stone. Italian marble soon loses its beauty, 
under our colder skies. This was the fit setting for the 
leaden statues of old English gardens, which only turned 
a more soft and lovely gray by exposure to the weather. 
Our best substitute seems to be found in the cement 
vase. 
It may take the form of a shallow tank for gold- 
fishes, with its base set about by the sword-like leaves 
of semi-aquatic plants. The tank can be fitted up in 
fountain fashion, with separate pipes for supply and 
overflow ; or it can simply be filled up nights and morn- 
ings, by means of the garden hose, the waters kept sweet 
by overflowing twice daily. 
Water in a garden is particularly appropriate. If 
possible, let one shady corner be devoted to a wall 
