■^™,mv^,^_ ^x...«<*^ A A IVfT\ i' i i Class _SE4-53_ Ronk 'Us COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES A Summer-house enriched by Flowers and Foliage THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES LORING UNDERWOOD WITH EXPLANATORY ILLUSTRATIONS From Phutwjraphs by the Author and others BOSTON LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY 1907 LIBRARY of CONGRESS Two Copies Received NOV 24 1906 c Copyright Entry CLASS A J^Xc.'.No. IUJ337. COPY B. Copyright, 1906, By Little, Brown, axd Company. ^?Z rights reserved Published November, 1906 THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAJIBKIDGE, U.S.A. TO THE MEMORY OF A fathp:r and ^IOTHER WHOSE LOVE OF GARDENS IMBUED IN ME A LIKE FONDNESS THIS BOOK IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED PREFACE THE writer of these pages does not presume that this book will teach those who love gardens how to carry out successfully the ornamentation of their grounds unaided. As well expect a book on painting to teach a lover of land- scapes how to paint his own picture. It may teach him how to appreciate good pictures and how to tell the good from the bad, and why some compositions are effec- tive and why some are not. Tliis is also true of any book on landscape gardening. The designing of gardens and the selec- tion of their accessories is as much an art as painting. One uses paint and canvas as its medium. The other uses Nature's own materials and composes them to make a picture with the very landscape itself. PREFACE The writer's experience as a landscape architect convinces him that no hard and fast rules can be dictated for the art of ornamental gardening in North America. Tlie beauty of our landscape is too subtle and the range of possible effects too wide, but each American garden should have an air of individuality, the beauty of which will come from the skilful blending of the best features of the best types. Above all, our gardens must be comfortable and cheerful. If this book shall be an aid to those who would make their gardens more home-like by the happy combination of living plants and permanent features of interest, it will have served its purpose. Acknowledgment is made to " Indoors and Out " for seven photographs shown in these pages. LORING UNDERV^'OOD. Beljiont, Massachusetts, October U, 190«. CONTENTS Chapter Txati I. The American Garden 1 II. Summer-houses ........ 20 Garden temples, gazebos, garden-houses, recessed wall-houses, rustic hoiises III. Arbors 40 Pergolas, trellises, bowers, arches, green galleries, pleached alleys, pergola-veran- das IV. Sun-dials 67 V. Some Small Accessories .... 89 Garden gazing-globes, lanterns, shishls, well heads, figures, seats, tables, vases, bird-houses, bee skepes, bird fountains VI. Fountains and Pools 135 VII. Enclosures 163 Walls, terraces, fences, balustrades, city yard-gardens VIII. Materials 203 Concrete, terra-cotta, stone, brick, wood IX ILLUSTRATIONS A Summer-house enriched by Flowers and Foliage Frontispiece A Successful Grouping of Summer-house, Table, and Garden Vases ;} Bird House in a Garden, Concord, Massachusetts . . ,'» Garden Shelter as seen from a Pergola 7 An Interesting Old Garden Wall f) A Rustic Sunniier-house built around a Tree .... 11 Picket Fence enclosing an Old-fashioned Garden ... 13 Stepping Stones and Steps of Logs 15 Partially Covered Garden Walk in Belmont, Massachusetts 17 Garden Shelter of Thatched Straw 19 Wall enclosing Summer-house in the Corner of a Garden 21 A Recessed Garden House 23 Garden Temple under a Pine Tree . , 25 A Stone Gazebo 27 A Simple Garden House against a Wall , 29 A Garden and Summer-house on a Hillside 31 Summer-house with a Thatched Roof of Pine Needles . 33 Summer-house of Colonial Design 35 Summer-house of Terra-cotta, Concrete and Wood . . 37 Summer-house at the End of a Garden Wall ... 39 A Typical Italian Pergola 41 Colonial Arbor in a Salem Garden 43 xi ILLUSTRATIONS Flat-roofed Arbor (An American Type of Pergola) . . 45 A " Pleached Alley," or *' Green Gallery " of Trees . . 4.7 A Pergola In a City Yard-garden , 51 An Imposing Pergola Veranda .5;^ Pergola of Natural Wood . . . ... 55 A Massive Pergola of Concrete and Wood 57 Garden Archway and Millstone Steps 59 Old Colonial Arch -arbor, Beverley, Massachusetts . . (51 A Pergola of Brick and Wood 63 A Pergola Veranda that Fits its Surroundings ... 65 A Three Partition Sununer-house 66 Sun-dial on a Terrace 69 Sun-dial, Harvard University 73 Sun-dial and Lily Pond 75 Sun-dials 79 A Japanese Sun-dial 81 Armillary Sphere Sun-dial 83 A Sun-dial that is the Keynote of a Garden .... 85 Sun-dial and " Hollyhocks all in a Row " 87 Garden Gazing-globe on Terrace 91 A Garden Gazing-globe 93 Japanese Lantern (Kasuga design) in a Belmont Garden . 95 A Wrought Iron Lantern 97 A Japanese Shishi 99 Well Head and Exedra 101 Well Head and Terminal Figure 103 Well Sweep in a New England Garden 105 Old Colonial Well House 107 A Modern Well Head 109 Old Capital used as Well Head Ill Seat around a Tree 113 xii ILLUSTRATIONS Covered Seat of Red Cedar 115 Old Hickory Seats in a Yard-garden *"....... 117 An Inviting Garden Seat 119 Rustic Furniture of Pleasing Design 121 A Concrete Garden Table 123 Table and Lantern . . 125 A Garden Vase 127 A Copper Vase 129 Terra-cotta Vase and Stone Steps 131 Hydrangeas in a Stone Vase 133 Dove-cote on a Column of Field-stone 137 Some Elaborate Accessories 139 A Bird Fountain 141 An Old Bee Skepe 143 Artificial Pool treated Naturally 145 Rocky Pool on Terrace 147 A Simple Concrete Fountain 149 Wall Fountain and Pool 151 Terraced Fountain of Field-stone 153 A Rockery Fountain 155 " The Old Cushing Garden," Belmont, Massachusetts . 157 Marble Pool and Fountain 159 An Effective Wall Fountain 161 Sunken Garden enclosed with Brick Walls 165 Peach-trees on a Brick Wall 167 Brick Wall capped with a Wooden Roof . . . . . . 169 A Garden enclosed with a Wall of Field-stone . . . . 171 An Enclosure of Brick and Wood 173 Concrete Garden Wall 175 Garden Wall and Gates, Adams Mansion, Quincy, Mas- .sachusetts 177 xiii ILLUSTRATIONS Terrace Walls of Field-stone 177 Colonial Fence and Arbor on Terrace 181 A Dignified Garden Enclosure 183 Balustrade and Vases, Wellesley, Massachusetts . . . 185 A Modern Fence built on Colonial Lines 187 Colonial Fence in Cambridge, Massachusetts .... 189 Memorial Fence, Harvard University 191 Wind-break for Seashore Garden, Nantucket . . . 193 City Yard-garden in Pompeii 195 City Yard-garden, Boston. (The Garden Studio) . . . 197 Corner in a City Yard-garden 199 A Beacon Street Garden, Boston "201 Cupid and Dolphin Fountain 202 Modern Terra-cotta Garden Vase 205 Reproduction in Concrete, — the de Medici Vase . . . 207 A Concrete Garden Seat 209 A Concrete Garden Bench 211 Concrete Vase and Garden Wall Panel 213 Sun-dial 215 XIV THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES CHAPTER I THE AMERICAN GARDEN THE transient beauty of American flower gardens pure and simple is gradually giving way to a perma- nent type that has features of interest all the year round. We have come to realize that our gar- dens lack an air of privacy and offer little inducement for one to stay in them except for the purpose of gathering flowers. They are without those features termed garden accessories that are so necessary if a garden is to be lived in. The great wave of garden enthusiasm that is sweeping over us, and is being so much encouraged by many magazines and 1 1 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES writers of to-day, is awakening in us the fact that we ought to make more use of our gardens, apart from the pleasure of gathering and caring for flowers ; and we ought to make them look attractive by the introduction of features that will give charm when there are no flowers in bloom, — as is always the case in this climate for six or seven months every year. There is more to gardening than the mere raising of flowers. If any person does not think so, he had nuich better raise his flowers as he would vegetables, in simple beds by themselves, rather than make a feeble attempt to dress his grounds with fantastically arranged flower-beds. And this same principle holds true in regard to the employment of garden accessories. Better to make no attempt to use them at all than have them as we sometimes see, — a country place absolutely ruined by spotting it up with hideous statues and 2 o o THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES flimsy iron fountains and the like. Thank goodness such cases are comparatively rare. This desire to furnish a garden with ac- cessories that shall give it an air of comfort has led many to attempt to copy the beau- tiful dignified gardens of Italy. Various accessories of marble, benches, fountains, tables, urns and statuary have been im- ported, and this at great expense, in the belief that the owner has acquired an Italian garden simply because he has de- posited these accessories in various places round about. But the charm of the old- world garden has not been transferred with its furnishings. Its spirit has not been interpreted. How much better the American garden would have been if the owner had made use of some of the materials tliat our own country offers so bountifully. Stone, brick, concrete, terra-cotta and wood are 4 I. *; Bird House in a Garden, Concord, Mas.sacliu.sotts THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES all suitable for the embellishment of gar- dens, and if we use these mediums right and fashion them in the spirit that our daily needs require, we can make our gar- dens homelike and equal if not superior to those of Italy that have been so exten- sively copied, but for the most part with little regard for their fitness to American conditions. Instead of pretentious cas- cades, temples and marble statuary we should have fountains and pools, summer- houses and arbors, seats and sun-dials, and whatever will give the garden a homelike air. As for the garden setting, our North American landscape is fully as imposing as that of the old world, and we have a richer and more varied foliage. Our cedars and rhododendrons compare favorably with the cypresses and laurels, and our summer climate much resembles that of Southern Europe in spring and autumn. 6 o THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES What will the American garden of the future be, — a copy of the Italian garden, a modification of the formal English wall garden, an elaboration of the miniature gardens of Japan, or a revival of the arti- ficially natural garden now so much seen in America and England ? If good taste shall rule it will be none of tliese. It will be typical of America, — a garden that will have an air of individuality, just as we Americans, though a composite of many nationalities, are nevertheless a distinct type. And each garden will be different, for nature never gives the same aspect to different pieces of ground, and each must be made to fit its site and surroundings. They will have, however, the same spirit, the same skilful blending of the best ex- amples of garden craft of the world, and they will be as well adapted to the require- ments of the out-of-door life of to-day as were the Italian gardens to the out-of- 8 0^.^:- ■-■■■-- An Interesting Old Garden Wall THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES door life of Italy. Large or small, elabo- rate or modest, they will have in common the three fundamental attributes of all good gardens : comfort, cheerfulness and inspiration. A garden need not be formal in order that accessories of a semi-architectural nature may be successfully introduced. Everything depends upon the nature and design of these pieces and whether or not they are placed so as to fit harmoniously in the garden picture. 'I'he phrase " formal irarden " has been almost as much abused as the term " Italian garden." Because a garden has some air of symmetry and is well cared for is no reason why it should be called formal ; as a matter of fact it may be most delightfully informal and hospitable. In these qualities lay the charm of many of the latter day Colonial gardens. They were prim only to the degree of being well designed and of good 10 e «2 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES proportions, and in addition to their simple accessories, flowers were in abundance and grew in a natural and uncliecked profusion. These delightful gardens, planned by the Colonists after the type they had known at home, were good exponents of the proper use of simple garden accessories. There was almost always an arbor with a circular top over which were trained grape- vines. This was often the central feature, and radiating from it were paths that were frequently spanned with trellis arches for the support of other \'ines and climbers. Then at the end of the garden farthest from the house, or in a snug corner, one would be apt to find a little summer-house or garden seat, and the whole garden sur- rounded with a wall or fence or hedge on three sides, with the house on the fourth. How unfortunate that these secluded, intimate gardens should have given way to a gaudy type of bedded-out plants and 1^ THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES their tawdry associates, of which the chief virtue seems to be the ease with which they can show the gardener's skill in clip- ping them so closely as to resemble rugs. These tender exotics always occupy a con- spicuous position on a lawn and are planted in beds of set shape. This sort of garden- ing was at its height about twenty years ago, but ever since it has been dying a slow but sure death, until to-day tliere is a strong plea for the old-time garden with its air of privacy, refinement and comfort, — a little world by itself wherein one may entertain friends away from the gaze of outsiders. There can be no hard and fast rules concerning the use of garden accessories. Some gardens may be improved by the judicious use of a pergola, or even a piece of statuary in the form of a terminal figure, but in others they would look hideous. It is all a question of environment. Our 14 Stepping Stones and Steps of Logs THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES gardens must of necessity be individual. The elaborate manor house of princely proportions, if designed after the Itahan lines of architecture, will best be served by a garden modelled on the same lines. Many of us may not care to live in such a palatial house, but we must admire its architectural significance and acknowledge the appropriateness of its terraced gardens built on broad lines with flowers occupy- ing a position of secondary importance to ornamental accessories of stone and marble. In contrast to this we have the simple little garden of the modest suburban home, — a garden that sliould be as serviceable as one of the rooms of the house. It is as fitting a place for garden accessories as its more pretentious contemporary, only they must be of the simple type. Those who claim that American gardens should be of the naturalistic type wherein it is bad taste to have anything except 16 CQ o o THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES trees and shrubs and flowers overlook the fact that gardens were meant to be Hved in even from the time of Adam. It is not too much to assert tliat the most enjoyable gardens the world over are those that are furnished with soine acces- sories of an architectural or semi-architec- tural nature. Kecall the gardens you have admired ; those that have been truly satis- fying, have they not had some permanent features other than the flowering plants and trees, an interesting old piece of wall, a modest fountain, a summer-house or arbor, or perhaps only a bench so placed as to cast an air of comfort over all ? 18 Garden Shelter of Thatched Straw CHAPTER II SUMMER-HOUSES THE evolution of the summer-house from the simple thatched hut of the cottage-garden to tlie classic garden temple of the elaborate formal gar- den has been like the evolution of all other useful ornaments of outdoor art. They came into being from necessity, and devel- oped to meet the requirements of those who made use of the garden as a place in which to retire for rest and recreation, slieltered from sun, wind and rain by a roof and walls. To walk in a garden and to breathe its atmosphere of repose and beauty is good, but doubly so is it to rest a while within its enchantment seated in the shade of a summer-house or arbor. How many at- tractive places we have seen where " he 20 I Wall enclosing Summer-house in the Corner of a Garden THE GAKUEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES who runs may read," but where a con- venient spot to rest and meditate on Na- ture's beauty is denied us. Even a bench in full sunlight tempts a nature-lover to linger and thus more fully appreciate the beauty of things around him. Almost all home grounds (large or small) have a place where a summer-house would appear to advantage. If it would not look appropriate in the garden proper it could occupy some vantage point overlooking tlie garden, as does the " summer-house thatched with pine needles." To appear at its best it must be subordinate to its surroundings. It should not predominate in the land- scape, nor should it exist in a location where there is no excuse for it. The gar- den as a whole must be the all-important consideration ; its furnishings are but ac- cessories. Sometimes the summer-house that is purely architectural would appear to more advantage than the one of rustic o ai THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES construction. Whatever we have, let it be of simple and conserv^ative design. There is no excuse for gingerbread ornamentation and superfluous half-trimmed branches, even in rustic work. They serve only to confuse the eye and to add discomfort to all who come in contact with their obtrusiveness. The " garden temple under a pine tree " and " a recessed garden-house " would be out of place in many modest American gardens, but a natural wood summer-house like that on page 11 would look "fit" in many a cosey corner we have passed while retreating from a garden in search of re- lief from the persistent heat of a sum- mers day. For formal gardens, however, with their studied arrangement of terraces, paths, flower-beds and other symmetrical parts we would choose the summer-house of classic design. There is something dignified and inspiring about these classic structures when seen with imposing surroundings, but 24 Garden Temple under a Pine Tree THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES they would jar our sensibilities if placed in a tangled arrangement of natural features. These miniature houses offer almost as much chance for the display of skilful architectural design as the true dwelling house. The ideal summer-house may have several things besides benches and tables to make it comfortable. There may be easy-chairs and hammocks, slielves with cupboards upon which to store glasses and plates, and there may even be run- nino" water, for one of the delights will be to entertain one's friends with cooling drinks or afternoon tea. Here one may flee from the many distractions of a large household with its ringing telephone and ubiquitous servants, and if you would en- tertain a few friends at a quiet game of cards or with a chafing-dish supper and a fragrant cup of coffee, where could a more appropriate place be found ? Its comfort may even be enjoyed on sunny winter 26 A Stone Gazebo THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES days, for the lover of out of doors will find it sunny and cheery if the walls are tight on the north side so as to stop the wind. " A simple garden-house against a wall " is a refreshing note in an old-fashioned enclosed garden. Its simple wooden roof and dainty columns give it a light and playful look in comparison to the dignified wall on either side. It has a little door at the back that opens on a path that leads to the kitchen garden. This is an interesting treatment of a summer-house and garden entrance combined, — a rare bit of Colo- nial architecture of which there is far too little in our gardens. In the same garden is another " summer-house at the end of a garden wall " that is quite different from this one. Although made of wood it has much dignity of outline and refinement of color that combine to make it a fitting ending to the stolid wall. This structure closely resembles the " gazebo " of Eng- 28 o THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES lish gardens. The " gazebo " is a type of summer-house that occupies a prominent position commanding an extreme view. Its place is at the end of a terrace wall or on a ledge where one may " gaze " at the surrounding country. A garden house of this type is seen in the illustration, "a garden and summer-house on a hillside." There is an interesting kind of summer- house to be found in some English gardens. It is planned especially for the enjoyment of gardens in severe weather, and is so ar- ranged that one may sit in the sun and be protected from the wind or vice versa. There are three compartments, each shielded from the other by solid partitions that run from floor to roof Thus you may choose any one of the three little rooms of the house that has an exposure suited to the conditions required. See plan on page 66. Still another little house with similar purpose is arranged with a central pivot on 30 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES which it turns so that one may get any ex- posure desired. The sills and floor beams are independent of the ground. They clear it a few inches and hang from the central pivot post that runs from flooi* to roof and is the main-stay of the whole structure. It has one disadvantage — no vines can be trained upon it unless grown in boxes attached to the sides. The " summer-house with a thatched roof of pine needles " is in a position where it overlooks a garden on one side and a meadow on the other. With the exception of the seats that are constructed around the interior it is made of posts and poles of red cedar that were obtained of a farmer who was cleaning up some pasture land. In plan it is an elongated decagon, eigh- teen feet by ten feet, the shorter measure- ment being the distance between the two pine trees. If the picture is observed closely it will be noticed that the upright posts (of 32 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES which there are eight) are set in the ground at an angle of about ten degrees off the perpendicular. This idea was suggested by the two trees that grow out of the ground at that same angle, and they themselves act as posts for support of tlie structure. The floor and roof were made by fitting together as closely as possible the smallest poles (three to four inches in diameter at the butts). The rounded surfaces of these were roughly flattened by the use of an adze, and the roof was made water-tight by covering them with tarred felt paper. Over this was painted a thick coating of coal tar, and while it was still soft brown pine needles were stuck on to the depth of about two inches, thus producing an at- tractive thatch. The pine trees overhead shed a yearly supply of pine needles that drop onto the roof in quantities sufficient to make up for those that disappear in the process of weathering. 34 Summer-house of Colonial Design THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES At each post are planted vines and climbers, and around the house is a two- foot border planted with lilies and ferns. This border is raised some six inches above the natural le\'el of the ground in order that plenty of nourishment may be sup- plied, and the plants kept cultivated with- out disturbing any more than possible the roots of the trees. Believing that many of the readers of this book may ha^'e a garden wherein a summer-house, built on some such simple lines as this one, would be an addition, the writer has given this description of the one he built himself. Besides red cedar or locust one could use white cedar or larch, also the second growth of white oak and chestnut ; but these woods all decay sooner than red cedar and locust. Both cedars have a pleasing odor and the bark clings well to the wood, provided it is cut in the fall when the sap is not run- 36 o THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES ning. The chief quahties of all these woods are their straight and gradual tapering habits of growth and their durability. Red cedar should stand for fifty or sixty years, but posts set in the ground often show bad decay after ten or twelve years. To prevent this they should be set on stone or cement foundations, so the wood will not touch the earth. The illustrations of others more archi- tectural that are shown in this cliapter show some types that are very attracti\'e. All have in common an appearance of stability and a lack of finical ornamenta- tion, and are in marked contrast to the usual type of pavilion so much in evidence, especially at seashore resorts. It is hoped that these pictures may be of some assist- ance in offering possible suggestions to all who appreciate the comfort and delight that one of these outdoor living rooms affords. 38 Summer-house at the End of a Garden Wall CHAPTER III ARBORS THERE are many interesting varie- ties of arbors suitable for gar- dens. Pergolas, trellises, bowers, or arches over pathways are all near enough in appearance and purpose to be called "arbors." The word " pergola " has lately been revised to include many such semi-archi- tectural features, — features that add vari- ety and charm to a garden by making an attractive support for flowering vines and climbers, and by thus covering walks and pathways and making shady and airy tunnels. One might hardly be expected to distinguish between an arbor and a pergola, unless it may be said the former has always been considered as a summer- 40 A Typical Italian Pergola THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES house having a pointed domed roof of rafters with open spaces between, whereas the pergola is made up of a series of col- umns or piers in a row, and is flat on top, with beams or Doles interlaced overhead. L Pergola is an Italian word that was once given to a variety of grape that grew in Italy. Gradually this word was used to distinguish the arbor upon which the grape was grown, until the use of both gi'ape and arbor became so universal tliat the term was applied to any covered way, whether or not it was clothed with the vines of this particular grape. The writer can recall many country places where arbors of the pergola type have been misused in such a manner as to disgust any person who has a knowledge of the fitness of things. The " C^olonial arbor in a Salem garden " is a type that was very common in tlie old gardens of small New England cities and towns, and it is a happy combination of 42 Colonial Arbor in a Salem Garden THE GARDEN xVND ITS ACCESSORIES a covered way and resting place, — a sort of cross between a summer-house and a pergola. ^¥hat a refreshing sense of comfort these vine-covered structures gave to the little backyard gardens ! Here the housewife would come to shell peas and pare apples, or to read awhile in the cool shade after a hot fight with the unwelcome weeds of the garden. And the cliildren of the house- hold — how they loved this miniature bower where they could play at " keeping house " to their hearts' content ! There is another variety of ^ ine-clad en- closure often called a pergola that is more properly a flat-roofed arbor, for it spans no walk but has all the appearance of a flat- roofed house, with open sides and a roof that is open except for the rafters and leaves of ^ ines that clothe the spaces be- tween them. This airy structure is of rather recent introduction in our gardens, 44 cu < THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES and its appearance leads one to suppose that it must have been suggested by the pergola. It is a type of arbor that is admirably suited to our needs, for it is a shelter from the sun when its roof is clothed in greenery, but is so open that it allows a breeze, no matter how light, to pass through the framework of columns or piers and rafters of which it is composed. Surely it is an ingenious device for adding comfort to a garden, and is as capable of showing architectural beauty as a summer-house or pergola. In Elizabethan days arbors were often called " green galleries " or " pleached al- leys " ; these terms being applied to a series of arches upon which trees were trained, until finally the entire pathway became as a living tunnel, so sturdy as to need no sup- port. This is a type of arbor rarely seen, and the fact is to be regretted, because nothing could be more striking and pictur- 46 o o THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES esque in a garden. All that is needed is patience and care in pruning the trees into an arched form. There are many quick- growing varieties such as the willows, buck- thorns, or even fruit trees, that readily lend themselves to this treatment, and one would have to wait but a few years before their branches would be so thickly joined over- head that the arbor proper could be re- moved. The time required for this arbor to build itself, as it were, will not discour- age the true lover of ornamental gardening. He knows that the enduring charm of a garden does not come from things that are planted for immediate effect. The pleached alley previously described is the only form of arbor where temporary construction is permissible. No matter what form it may take, whether it is flat on top like a pergola or domed like a series of arches, the position of the arbor in a garden must be carefully 48 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES selected. The raising of vines and climb- ers is not alone excuse enough for its being. You do not want it to look like a tangled mass of greenery piled up in the most prominent place in the garden, — a damp but cosey home for bugs and other insects. A pergola should lead to some object like a summer-house, a bench, or a fountain ; or it may connect one part of a garden with another, or act as a screen, much as would a hedge between a flower garden and the kitchen garden. Flowering vines and climbers appear to the best advantage when trained on the posts and crossbeams of an arbor, and the glimmering light and shade that plays along this covered way makes it a charm- ing feature of garden magic. The massive and dignified pergolas seen in Italy are generally made of large stone or cement columns, with stout, rough-hewn or nat- ural poles overhead. Often these columns 4 49 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES are not of the true classic order, but are roughly put together with small stones or brick and plaster, always, however, with a careful regard for good proportion and symmetry. In planning the erection of any sort of an arbor one should not lose sight of the fact that it must be of some architectural design that will be pleasing to look at, even though not clothed with vines. This is the true test of all well-designed garden accessories of this nature. No amount of greenery and flowers can give them a per- fect appearance unless they are well de- signed in the beginning. The spacing of pergola columns and rafters demands more careful considera- tion than is generally given. There is rarely any reason for placing the uprights nearer together than eight feet, both lengthwise and transversely, and if they are eight or nine feet tall the pergola will 60 A Pergola in u City Yard-garden THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES be made up of a series of cubical sections that will give a pleasing shape to the whole. If the structure is to span a grass walk, it is important that the vines should not grow so closely together as to make a dense shade ; therefore the rafters should not be closer together tlian four feet. Even if it is desired to have the per- gola densely covered with greenery there is really no necessity for closer spacing. The climbers may be trained on wires. Too many rafters make a cumbersome and top-heavy effect that reminds one of a section of an elevated railway, and this will be all the more apparent if the pergola is over eight or nine feet tall. A most dignified and effective pergola can be made of wooden columns of classic design, but they should be the "lock-joint " pattern, or have a central liole bored the length of the column and the outside thoroughly painted with three or four 52 An Imposing Pergola Veranda THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES coats in order not to crack or warp from the effect of weather. The columns must stand on a foundation of stone or cement, otherwise the ground will cause a rapid decay of the wood. The illustration on page 51 shows one of this description. It illustrates an effective use of columns and pilasters of the Greek Doric order, and it is a good example of the type of pergola that is pleasing to look at, even though not covered with vines. The following suggestions for the erec- tion of a rustic wooden pergola (flat-arched arbor) are recommended. Locust or red cedar is the most durable wood ; but white cedar, the second growth of white oak, chestnut and larch are all suitable if the posts are treated with a preservative mix- ture of creosote on the surface of all parts that come in contact with the ground and at the intersection of all posts and rafters where moisture is likely to collect. To 54) THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES apply this preservativ^e properly, the bark must first be taken off all the places where decay may occur, so that the liquid can soak into the wood. The rest of the structure that is freely exposed to the sun and air does not need treatment. Here the bark may be left on. It is impor- tant, however, to cut all protruding limbs or stubs close to the posts and rafters, otherwise the pergola will have a clumsy or ragged appearance that would detract from its simple and dignified outline. The uprights, which are the largest pieces of the pergola, need not be as large around as a column, but the nearer they resemble the latter in proportion the better. They look their best when not less than eight inclies in diameter at the end next to the ground, and they should taper as little as possible to the rafters ; these may be as small as one half the size of the posts. In order that the uprights 56 A Massive Pergola of Concrete and Wood THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES may stand firmly they require to be set in the ground to a depth of four feet, or else securely fastened to a stone founda- tion by means of a dowel as recommended for summer-houses. The rafters that run at right angles to the length of the pergola should be the smallest ones of all, and they may be spaced the same distance apart as those of the more pretentious type. The fault of most arbors of wooden construction is a light [ind temporary ap- pearance caused by not using material of sufficient stoutness, and this is especially noticeable in much of the lattice work of this nature. This result arises from the fact that undue thought has been given to the vines and climbers, with little regard for the fitness of the structure that must support them. Unless stock of sufficient size and durable nature is used there can be little satisfaction in these arbors, for they may become absolutely useless at the 58 Garden Archway and Millstone Steps THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES end of fi\e or six years because of the rotten condition of the wood. Arbors of the treUis or lattice type may be made in various designs, and one may take more Hberty with their form of construction than with the pergola. However, the simple domed or arched form will be in better taste than any departure to fantas- tic ornamentation. One form of arbor is so simple as to be nothing more than a single arch or a series of arches spanning a pathway, — arch arbors, or bowers, as they are frequently called. They may be made of wood or iron ; the latter material is, of course, more durable, but its appearance is not pleasing until enveloped in greenery. One should guard against the use of most of the ready-made work of this nature. It is generally so small and flimsy of con- struction as to give nothing but a light and temporary appearance to a garden. 60 Old Colonial Arch-arbor, Beverley, Massachusetts THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES Among the many suitable vines and climbers for growing on an arbor there is hardly any more beautiful than the sturdy varieties of climbing roses. Four years ago the writer planted the following twenty- three varieties on a moderately sheltered pergola near Boston : * Baltimore Belle * Pink Roanier * Paul Carmine Pillar * Rubin * Psyche * Jersey Beauty * Setigera * Dawson * Farquhar (White Rambler) * Wichui'aiana (Yellow Ramblei') * Queen of the Prairies (Universal Favorite) * Manda's Triumph (Pink Rambler) * South Orange Perfection (Climbing \'ictor V^erdier) Evergreen Gem * Crimson Rambler Gardenia Gem of the Prairies Leuchstern Climbing Jules Margottin Those that are starred grew well, those in parentheses died. The rest lived, but do not seem to have done more than barely exist. They have died back almost to the ground each winter, and have had but few scattering blossoms. All were planted in good soil and have had the best of care. 62 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES Other perennial vines and climber^that thrive on arbors are trumpet creeper, wistaria, \^irginia creeper, akebia, Hall's honeysuckle, actinidia, Dutchman's pipe, grapevine, both edible and ornamental, Euonymus Radicans, matrimony-vine and all the clematises. One cannot condemn too strongly the impatient habit of growing annual vines with perennials in order to get an immedi- ate effect. They will choke out the latter, and if they don't actually kill these climbers, upon which the ultimate effect depends, they overpower all and retard the growth. JMany annual vines are charming, but they should be given a place by themselves. If the perennial vines that are here mentioned are given the proper care, /. c, plenty of food and the surface of the ground about the roots kept broken all summer, there is no reason why they should not clothe an arbor in three seasons. 64 A Pergola Veranda that Fits its Surroundings THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES To tlie garden lover who realize^ that there is more to ornamental gardening than the mere raising of flowers and plants, the arbor or pergola may be a welcome acces- sory, whose semi-architectural appearance will go far toward making his garden a more interesting place to look at, in winter as well as summer. It is imperative, how- ever, that such a fixture should fit its sur- roundings in plan and appearance, just as a house should fit its site. 66 CHAPTER IV SUN-DIALS THE quaint and enduring fascina- tion of a sun-dial has made it most sought as an ornament for a garden. The fact that it " marks only the sunny hours " does not detract from its value, for its charm lies not alone in its being able always to tell the time. Every one must experience a feeling of interest and awe when in the presence of this silent recorder of the passing of time. How mysterious is the thought of life. " A clock the time may wrongly tell. I, never, while the sun shines well," may be true of a dial, provided it has been made so as to fit the latitude of the place wherein it is set up. A sun-dial made for 67 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES Old England will not keep time in New England. The angle of the shadow will not be right. Sun-dials were the only time-keepers known for centm^ies before clocks and watches were invented. Sun-dial time is called Apparent time and clock time Mean time, and the difference between the two is known as the equation of time. A sun- dial and a clock will not agree absolutely except at four different periods of the year, — for a few days in the middle of June, the middle of September, December and March. At these periods we have tlie typical days of the year, — the longest days in June, the shortest in December, and the twelve-hour day in September and JNIarch when the sun rises and sets at six o'clock. At all other times the clock is either a few minutes faster or a few minutes later than the Ap- parent time. But this fact should not brand a sun-dial as useless. It is not to be 68 i(i (iiwi i f/]ji 'ii ii(i(te*it»rtttn T THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES supposed that one would rely upon it to catch a train, although if so, he might be no worse off than he would if guided by some watches or clocks. If the reader is possessed with a love for things eternal he will be pleased with the sentiment on sun-dials that Charles Lamb has expressed. It deserves to be quoted in full : " What an antique air had the now almost effaced sun-dials with their moral inscriptions, seeming co- evals with that time which they measured, and to take their revelations of its flight immediately from heaven, holding correspondence with the foun- tain of light ! How would the dark line steal im- perceptibly on, watched by the eye of childhood eager to detect its movement, never catched, nice as an evanescent cloud, or the flrst arrests of sleep ! " Ah ! yet doth beauty like a dial hand Steal from its figure, and no pace perceived. " What a dead thing is a clock, with its ponderous embowehnents of lead and brass, its pert or solenni dulness of communication, compared with the 70 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES simple altar-like structure and sileut heart-language of the old dial. " It stood as the garden god of Christian gar- dens. Why is it almost everywhere vanished ? If its business use be suspended by more elaborate inventions, its moral uses, its beauty, might have pleaded for its continuance. It spoke of moderate labours, of pleasures not protracted after sunset, of temperance and good hours. It was the primitive clock, the horologe of the first world. Adam could scai'ce have missed it in Paradise. It was the meas- ure appropriate for sweet plants and flowers to spring by, for the birds to apportion their silver warblings by, for flocks to pasture and be led to fold by. The shepherd ' carved it out quaintly in the sun,"' and turning philosopher by the very occupa- tion, provided it with mottoes more touching than tombstones." There are two kinds of dials, — the hori- zontal and the perpendicular. The latter is affixed to the side of a building or a wall, and is not so much used in gardens as the horizontal dial. The dial proper should be made of some permanent material like bronze or stone, and mounted on a simple 71 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES altar-like structure that serves as a pedestal. In order that this pedestal may look well it must be solid but not clumsy. The most appropriate ones are made of stone or marble. Wood is sometimes used, but it has not the lasting qualities that the sentiment of a sun-dial requires. What- ever the material, it must be set on a foundation of stone, otherwise the frost will throw the pedestal out of plumb, and the dial face not being level will not tell correct time. JNIoreover, the appearance of a pedestal that is not perpendicular is decidedly weak and annoying. This is a point that must always be borne in mind in connection with any garden accessory. A foundation of some sort is absolutely necessary in order to insure a fixed perpen- dicular and horizontal position. If one is going to have a sun-dial, it is just as well to have one that is right in e^'ery respect ; and it should be placed where the sun will 72 Sun-dial, Harvard University THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES shine upon it. If it does not tell the time it misses its purpose. A fault tliat many pedestals have is an excessive height, which forces a person of small stature to look upon the dial face with difficulty, yet one of the charms of this bit of garden accessory is the delight that it gives children. Tlie Avriter recalls with what awe as a child he approached the first sun-dial of his experience. It seemed so mysterious, this sentinel of light, that it made a lasting impression in which the garden figured as a little fairy world. A sun-dial is divided into two parts, the dial face and the gnomon, or style, that projects at an angle from the face and marks the time by the shadow it casts. Its upper surface must form an angle with the dial that shall be the same number of degrees as the degree of latitude for whicli the sun-dial is made. P^or example, it must form an angle of forty-two degrees 74 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES and twenty-one minutes if the dial is to tell the time in Boston, Massachusetts. Of course the accuracy of the dial as a timekeeper depends on other fixed rules. The spacing of the hour marks must be carefully computed for different latitudes, and the gnomon should point to the true north, the north star, and the whole dial should be absolutely rigid and level. It is an interesting fact that in the early part of the eighteenth century some of the coinage of the United States was stamped with a design of a sun-dial that bore these inscriptions : " Fugio " and " INIind your business," and this led to its being called the " Fugio Currency." There was the Fugio note, the Fugio cent and the Fugio dollar. The cent was also called the Franklin cent because of Benjamin Frank- lin's connection with the coinage. The motto " Mind your business " is of English origin, and is said to hav e originated in the 76 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES following nianner : a stone carver, who was sent by a dial maker to carve a motto on the dial at the Inner Temple library in London, asked the old inmate what the inscription was to be. He received the surly reply, " Begone about your business." This he immediately proceeded to carve on the dial. The sentiment inspired by a sun-dial has led to many charming compositions in the form of mottoes. In fact, a motto seems almost necessary in order to give a dial an air of individuality. This by Richard Le Gallienne is of beautiful sentiment : " Shadow and Sun Thus too our Hves are made Yet think how great the sun How small the shade." A motto that is equally inspiring comes from the dial of Harriet Martineau — " Come ! Light ! Visit me ! " 77 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES A motto that is a universal favorite gives tliis cheerful sentiment : " Let others tell of storms and showers, I'll only count your sunny hours." For the most part mottoes treat with some deep truth of life ; many are cheerful, but some are solemn and e\'en gloomy. One of strong sentiment by Henry Van Dyke must please all thinking persons who read it : '• Hours fly Flowers die New days New ways Pass by Love stays." As a rule the dial's saying is most pleas- ing when short and to the point. An im- pertinent jest but one of good will and cheerfulness is on the writer's dial that is pictured on page 79 " My face marks the sunn}- hours. What can you say of yours?" 78 U'A. THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES Many sun-dials were made in the United States in the latter half of the eighteenth century, but they seem never to have been an article of commercial manufacture ; possibly because the varying degrees of latitudes in our country made dialling so difficult as to hinder the maker from get- ting a just price for his work ; for each degree of latitude must have a dial espe- cially designed for it, otherwise the dial will not keep time. Dial making in those days was practised by many. They had time enough to amuse themselves with this gentle art, and made their own sun- dials, or designed them for friends. George Washington had three sun-dials. The handsomest was in front of his home at JNIount Vernon. The dial of Mary Wash- ington still stands in her garden at Fred- ericksburg. During the nineteenth century it became almost a lost art, but has recently been revived. Accurate sun-dials made of 80 A Japanese Sun-dial THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES bronze are now quite inexpensive. So are simple, dignified pedestals of composition stone. The writer will not here go into the art of dial making, but refers the reader who may wish to study this subject further, to a delightful book by Alice ^lorse Earle, " Sun-dials and Roses of Yesterday," -^ a book that gives many practical sugges- tions, and teems with quaint and deep sentiment. In the chapter on the charm and senti- ment of sun-dials she writes : " But the suii-dial is a thing of deep sentiment. All feel the beauty and wonder of the thought that Time, the most intangible, most fleeting, most wonderful of conditions, is mai-ked so fittingly in its passing by a shadow almost equally intangible ; and that the noblest evidences of creation — the stars in the heavens — would be to us invisible and unknown save for their revelation through the shadow of the earth. Thus are great truths re- vealed to us, not by gi-eat Light but by Darkness — a lesson of Life." 82 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES If for no other reason the sentiment of a sun-dial makes it indeed a garden deUght of a lasting quahty, never cliangi ng, winter or summer, fulfilling its mission year after year. Those who would have a pedestal of their own design because of a desire to be more intimately associated with it, or would choose to fashion one out of some old field stone or fragment that recalls memories of bygone days, may w^ith little trouble have their wishes gratified. All of us can recall some old field stone of pillar-like shape, some rounded piece of marble or fragment of a column that we once knew intimately, or was known and often spoken of by some one dear to us in memory. The writer recalls a certain old mill-stone on the shore of a pond w^here, as a small boy, he used to place his clothes when he went for a swim, and some day he hopes to get this interesting old stone and use it 84 o UJ THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES for a base upon which to stand a simple shaft with a sun-dial. An example of this kind of a pediment is pictured on page 87, a simple doric shaft surmounting it. This illustration also shows an admirable setting for a sun-dial, placed as it is at the end of a garden walk, and set off on one side by a sturdy arbor-vita? hedge in front of which are " Hollyhocks all in a row," and on the other side by a perennial border of many different flowers such as were loved and cared for by the garden's owner, whose ashes lie under an oak tree not far from the sun-dial. I can see him now — this simple man of strong character and large heart, gathering flowers in the cool hours of the morning, even soon after the break of day, and fashioning them into delightful nose- gays in a way that he alone knew how. Bits of larkspur, lemon-verbena, heliotrope, mignonette, carnations, snapdragon, and rose geranium all blended together with 86 3 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES much greenery in a way to delight an artist ; then back to the house he would come, to place the bouquet at my mother's place at tlie breakfast table ; and it was always a surprise and a source of wonder that the little garden could yield such heavenly things. Almost all flowers lend themselves to a close relationship with a sun-dial. Both suggest the flight of time, though in a different way. "The shadow on the dial's face That steals from day to day, With slow, unseen, unceasing pace. Moments and months and years away. This shadow which in every clime, Since light and motion first began, Hath held its course sublime." Whittier. 88 CHAPTER V SOME SMALL ACCESSORIES GARDEN GAZING-GLOBES THE garden gazing-globe is an orna- ment that is a delight to all who have seen it, with its reflection of the surrounding landscape. Like a Claude Lorraine mirror, it concentrates all objects within its range, so that it reflects them in a closer perspective than naturally seen. It interprets the charm of the landscape so that the eye sees all the beauty caught and intensified in a small sphere. This ornament is indeed an incentive to one's imagination, for the various features of its surroundings are reflected in a way that calls for admiration, just as the colors and composition of a painting make 89 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES us envy the artist wlio can see sucli beauty in a landscape, when to the layman it exists only half appreciated. Another interesting feature about it is the way it attracts the birds. They seem to delight in its mysterious pictures, and are frequently to be seen hovering about it like a moth around a lamp. " Place me right and I will show the garden's beauty that you don't know " is an inscription that might well be placed on the base of one of these globes. Those that are pictured here are mounted on pedestals of composi- tion stone that have been cast from moulds. The writer remembers seeing one of these balls in an old English garden seven years ago. It made such a pleasant impression that he determined at the time to get one if possible, but hunted in vain for a shop that sold them. Only recently a glass manu- facturer was found who said he could make such a globe, — in fact, he recalled making 90 o o THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES a few, years ago, for some old Colonial gardens, but where they went he could not remember. The globe was made and taken home with pride, and was mounted in front of a rustic summer-house, as shown on page 93. Here it has stood for two years, — a most satisfactory piece of garden orna- ment that is ever changing in color at Mother Nature's bidding. It has been admired by many, and similar ones have been placed in a few gardens in the suburbs of Boston. This globe is round, made of thick glass, with mercury on the inside, and may be placed on a stone or wooden pedestal. It should not occupy too prominent a position in the landscape, for it is so con- spicuous as to overpower tlie subtle beauty of the surroundings. Like many choice garden pieces its beauty is enhanced if subordinate to the garden setting. 92 A Garden Gazing-globe THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES LANTERNS Stone lanterns have been used for cen- turies by the Japanese and Chinese, and very pretty features they are in the day- time as well as at night, when they cast a soft light over some quiet corner of the garden. Strange that only recently has the value of a lantern of this nature been appreciated in our gardens. We have used many other ornaments that had less excuse for being, while the pos- sibilities of this quaint accessory remained undeveloped. Because it is of Japanese origin is no reason why it should not be used in American gardens, provided it is of good design and occupies a position where if lighted at night it would serve the pur- pose of marking an entrance, or a path, or some interesting little peninsula of a garden pond. If used in this way with 94. o CQ Ui THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES water it may look particularly well, for the reflection will give a note of added interest. The Japanese are greatly attached to their old lanterns, some of which have been handed down in families for centu- ries. Many are carved with mottoes, of which a favorite wlien translated reads — "We contribute lioht to thee, O God." The stone carver's name and the date when the lantern was made are carved on the best old ones. Many were sent to Amer- ica during the Russian and .Japanese war. They were sold to importers at a very low price, so anxious were their owners to raise money. These lanterns are con- structed in many different designs. One of the Kasuga type is shown on page 95, — a beautiful old specimen that now looks very much at home in a little garden in Belmont. It is just inside an entrance 96 A Wrought Iron Lantern THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES archway, and when hghted at night is fas- cinating to watch from the veranda that overlooks the garden. In their native country they are hghted with small lamps that hold vegetable oil, but in some of our gardens it is convenient to have an elec- tric liofht bulb connected with an under- ground wire so the lantern may be lighted at will from some garden-house or arbor. SHISHI The Japanese have many garden ac- cessories carved out of stone that may be used to advantage in our gardens. These pieces often show carving of great merit, for the race has many skilful workers in stone. The illustration on page 99 shows a " Shishi " at the entrance to a garden. It is an interesting old piece of stone work, — a grotesque figure of an animal with a grinning lion's head and a body that 98 tOFC. A Japanase Shishi THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES resembles a dog. Placed where it is, as though guarding the entrance to the gar- den, it is very effective, as much different from the painted iron dog so often seen in similar locations as a well-sculptured statue differs from a store sign figure. The iron dog may have its place in tliis world, but it should be in front of a cast-iron foundry or junk shop. WELL HEADS In many of the gardens of American show places will be found richly sculp- tured capitals of classic columns, some- times wrongly called " Venetian well curbs" or "well heads." They are sup- posed to have come from Venice, where in truth it may be said there are no wells and consequently no well heads. Built upon piles and stone piers, Venice is undermined witli salt water. Hence all the fresh water has to be caught and stored in cisterns. 100 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES The opening of these cisterns was gen- erally covered with a hollow circular piece of stone that serv^ed the purpose of pro- tection and at the same time allowed the water within to be of easy access. Old column capitals were hollowed out and placed over the cisterns. These capitals liave been used for well heads in other parts of Italy, and as such they served an excellent purpose. They were also often arranged to decorate gardens and court- yards, wherein they served as flower-pots or as pedestals for vases, statuary, and sun-dials. For the most part these capitals are rel- ics from ruined temples and monuments that were wantonly destroyed during the long period of the Renaissance. The greatest care must be exercised in placing these ancient pieces in American gardens. It may not be necessary that they should actually serve as well heads 102 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES or cistern heads, but if used for other or- namental purposes they must appear to hav^e come into position ahnost of their own accord, as if in tlie course of their travels tliey had discovered for themselves a new purpose to which to devote their grace and beauty. The old well heads and well sweeps such as we have all seen in the typical American farmyards are rapidly disappear- ing from the countryside. What attractive features they might be in some modest gardens of old-fashioned flowers and box edging ! If you have ever helped yourself to a deep drink from one of those old sentinels of tlie farmyard after a hot walk over fields or dusty road, the memory of the old bucket bumping to the surface and spilling its precious burden on all sides will always remain. And the sparkling water, crisp as a bit of steel, — no " wine fit 104 Well Sweep in a New England Garden THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES for the gods " could have taken its place at that moment. FIGURES Although beautiful statuary is a fitting accessory for city parks and squares, wherein it is a stimulating moral example to man- kind, — particularly if a monument to some great man, — it should be used, if used at all, with the greatest reserve in gardens. We should demand that our garden be abso- lutely perfect in architectural feeling in order to be the fit setting for a beautiful statue. We have been so accustomed to see such chilly looking figures placed promiscuously on many private places that it is difficult to imagine their looking well anywhere. If a figure of marble, stone, or bronze is to give pleasure, it must be beautiful in itself, and, moreover, must be so placed in a garden as to look as though it had chosen its own abiding place, wherein to 106 Old Colonial Well House THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES spend a happy existence amid congenial surroundings. If your garden will stand a figure it will be best suited by one that is symbolic of some phase of outdoor life, — a Pan play- ing his pipes, or the bust of a Faun or Satyr in the form of a terminal piece, or a Hermes. Such were called those pieces of statuary that the Greeks and Romans fashioned on shaft-like pedestals. They are less suggestive of living forms than figures in their entirety. These terminal figures were used by the ancients as mile-stones and guide-posts, being placed at stated intervals by the roadside. The character of the figure should har- monize with the character of the garden. Dying gladiators and other " death agonies " would give such a discordant note as to ruin all the peaceful feeling that a garden might have. If, while walking about a 108 A Modern Well Head THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES garden in the peaceful dusk of twilight, you came suddenly across tlie gruesome figure of a warrior brandishing a weapon, you would experience a decided " creepy " sensation that would disgust you with the entire place. SEATS In a garden that is worthy of its name a seat of some sort is as important as a chair in a house. Your garden can never have an air of comfort without a resting place of some kind. There are many styles of seats that look well in our gardens, — seats that vary in importance from the simple wooden bench without a back to the elaborate circular exedra, as it is called in Italian gardens. There is hardly a limit to the number of designs suitable for this purpose, and yet how homely is the stereotyped affair of wood and iron, the variety so often seen in parks and public gardens. Although a 110 "*-'-«**4*. Old Capital used as Well Head THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES wooden seat of good shape may be more comfortable than one of marble or stone, it will not have the lasting qualities that are so much desired in out-of-door furniture. If, however, they are given the proper care by a coat of paint or varnish every year, and the legs allowed to rest on dry ground only, they should last a number of years ; but woodwork in the garden is too often neglected and allowed to decay. We sometimes hear the objection to a stone seat, that it is too cold to sit upon. As a matter of fact it is more likely to be just the opposite during the hot weather of summer. The Chinese and Japanese have always appreciated the ad\'antage of a cool seat, and even employ coolies in the garden to keep the stone bench tops swathed in cold water. Some excellent garden seats of a fair amount of toughness may be made of natural wood with the bark left on. " A 112 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES covered seat of red cedar " shows one that was made with a roof to keep out the sun. There are also some satisfactory seats of hickory sold by dealers to-day. They are designed after old patterns and are simply put together by bending the poles and branches of the hickory when green into the shape desired, and the bottom and back of the seat are woven out of strips of the inner bark of the same wood. Some of these chairs have as much grace of out- line as any piece of indoor furniture, but the detailed ornamentation is lacking, as is proper in outdoor pieces of this nature. Much reserve should be used in designing any garden seat, otherwise it will have a finical and gaudy look that would be out of place in the midst of garden refinement. A seat of some good material should be welcome in any garden, and if it can occupy some vantage point (preferably in the shade) from where a pleasing view of 114 //*«1.. Covered Seat of Ked Cedar THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES the surroundings may be obtained ; and if it can have a wall or hedge or a group of shrubbery for a background, it will be well placed, and will offer an irresistible invita- tion for one to rest and enjoy the beauty that the garden offers. TABLES A table serves a most useful purpose in a garden where one may spend some peace- ful moments with a book, or work leisurely among the flowers. There is often need of a convenient place upon which to place shears or other garden implements, or bunches of flowers while one gathers more or sits on a nearby bench to rest. There is no material quite so satisfactory for an outdoor table as marble or stone. Such a table has an air of stability, and can be made a permanent feature of a garden, the extreme changes in weather not caus- ing decay, as is the case with wood and 116 S3 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES other materials. If sufficiently massive, it may serve a double purpose, as a pedestal for the support of a suu-dial or garden vase. Tables for summer-houses do not re- quire to be so strongly made. Many of the so-called " Mission furniture " tables are admirable for this purpose, much more in keeping with garden surroundings than with the interiors of our homes. VASES Garden vases and pots appear to best advantage when placed on terrace walls at certain vantage points, or on buttresses by the side of steps, or at the angle at the intersection of walks. In such positions they serve to empliasize the design of the garden. Although their real purpose is to hold bay trees and other half-hardy plants, it is of no less importance that they should have a pleasing shape and be of such form as to harmonize with the surroundings, lis 60 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES Too often this consideration is disregarded, as when we see a homely vase of iron oc- cupying a prominent position on a lawn in such a manner as to attract one's entire attention to its obtrusiveness. It is a most encouraging sign of the ad- vancement of garden art that most of the vases for out-of-door use that are being designed to-day are on simple lines, similar in shape to the plain garden pots that have long been in use in the old world gardens for the planting out of small lemon trees and other half-hardy plants. There are many other vases, similar in shape to the old oil and wine jars, whose direct form and lack of superfluous orna- mentation make them desirable for gardens. Garden lovers have long appreciated the beauty of this type of jar that is still fash- ioned in the home-made kilns in many vineyards of Italy, and may be bought when empty of wine dealers for a few 120 Pi P5 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES francs. JNIany of these jars find their way to America and appear to good advantage in our gardens. Altliough the origin of the pottery in- dustry dates back to the early Egyptians, not until recently has this kind of terra cotta work developed to a degree of structu- ral perfection that makes it tough enough to withstand the severity of our North American winters. It has remained for our home industries to produce a garden vase that may be left out all winter with- out fear of its breaking to pieces. This is an important achievement, for we want our gardens to be permanent in as many details as possible. Their appearance in winter is as important to the garden enthusiast as it is in summer. Garden vases that are made of terra cotta, freestone, or composition stone do not need more protection in winter than a temporary cover, large enough to keep out 122 A Concrete Garden Table THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES the snow and water. Tliis precaution will keep the ice from breaking them. BIRD-HOUSES If one is not fortunate enough to have birds make a home in the garden, they may be encouraged by having suitable bird- houses erected on tall poles like the one shown in the illustration on page 5. How different this is from the ordinary type of miniature tenement house that is sometimes seen cocked over to one side on a flimsy pole and occupied by that odious bird, the English sparrow. Like any other bit of garden accessory tlie bird-house may be a success if of good design, and if it serves its purpose. Some care must be exercised to keep out the English sparrows until the migratory birds take possession. This can be successfully accomplished by tearing down tlie nests as soon as the sparrows start to build in the spring. 124 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES Bluebirds and the small purple martins take very kindly to this sort of a home, and when they have once taken possession are not to be turned out by the unfriendly English sparrows. The martins and spar- rows often have strenuous fights, but the former invariably come out the winners ; possibly because they take to nesting earlier in the season than the sparrows, and being already in possession fight all the harder to protect their homes. Every year these little birds can be counted on to come to the suburbs about Boston between the tenth and fifteenth of April, no matter whether the season is backward or forward. A dove-cote is also a type of bird-house that is most interesting in a garden. The illustration on page 187 shows one that is a charming feature in a typical Ameri- can garden in Cohasset, Massachusetts. Mounted on a simple column of field stone it stands at one end of the garden in a V26 A Garden Vase THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES sheltered position, an ideal home for the fantailed pigeons that strut around its pia/za, like sentinels keeping guard over the garden's welfare. The inverted oil bottle that surmounts the roof serves the purpose of frightening away the hawks that persistently carried off tlie squabs and some- times the old birds. It is peculiar that tliis small bit of transparent glass should prove such a successful defence, but the hawks are as much afraid of it as they are of a gun barrel glistening in the sun. Many old Colonial gardens had dove- cotes. The colonists revelled in the free- dom that allowed them to raise pigeons. In tlie old country the keeping of these birds was confined to the lords of the manor and to members of royalty. All other persons were liable to heavy fines and imprisonment if they raised pigeons. Aside from the enjoyment that comes from liaving birds in a garden, they are 128 A Copper Vase THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES most valuable in keeping down insects, and should be encouratjed by every means possible to make their homes in the trees and shrubs as well as in houses especially made for them. Catbirds are particularly happy in a garden, and the same pair will return year after year to nest in their old haunts and fill the air with beautiful song that is almost as delightful as that of the mocking bird. A small bird bath made in the cre\'ice of a rock or a small artificial pool will prove a great attraction for them as also for other song-birds. BEE SKEPES Bees are also desirable companions for a garden. In days gone by there was scarcely a garden that did not have its bee-hives, although they were seldom val- ued as ornamental accessories, but were prized for the precious food they contrib- uted to the housewife's larder, w^here honey 130 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES was used in combination with many pre- serves and goodies. However, some of these hives that were made in a rounded form of twisted straw and rope, that gave to them the name of " skepes," were most picturesque. It is easy to picture some of our modern gardens in which these bee skepes would prove attractive additions, and now that there is a species of honey bee tliat is stingless, tliese httle liomes of industrial activity would be of wonderful interest. The writer knows a house in London on a street that fjices Hyde Park where bees are kept in a glass hive in the living room. This hive is connected with a small pipe that passes through the wall of the house so the bees have easy access to the open air, and can go at will to gather honey from the flowers in the park. There may be other accessories besides those mentioned in these pages that would 132 Hydrangeas in a Stone Vase THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES be useful and ornamental additions to a garden. There are many little gardens wliere some permanent object like a sun- dial or fountain serves as a keynote to the entire situation, around which paths and flower-beds are arranged in a inanner to make an agreeable picture of the whole. At the intersection of paths, at the end of a walk or arbor, or in front of a summer- house, are some of the situations where these pieces may be placed so as to give one the impression that they must be where they are, or else the garden would lose much of its charm. 134 CHAPTER VI FOUNTAINS AND. POOLS WHAT can give to a garden a more living charm than a fountain or a small pool, reflecting sky and flowers on its sparkling surface ? Ever changing in form and color, the fountain is as much a living thing as the surround- ing flowers that set off" its beauty. More- over, it has an air of permanency that the flowers have not. We must regret that water for the sake of its beauty is not inore extensively used in gardens. The only practical objections are the difficulties sometimes encountered in finding a suitable supply, and the fact that mosquitoes breed in it. However, most country places have water in suf- 135 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES ficient quantity, either in the shape of springs and wells or brooks that may be tapped with a pipe. In towns where there is a public supply one can generally obtain a special rate for a fountain, but even if the water is metred at the regular rates, a simple stopcock fixture may be used for turning it on and off, and the fountain's beauty can take tlie form of a placid pool when there is no water gushing forth. As for mosquitoes, there need be no fear of their breeding in a garden pond or foun- tain if there are a few fish in tlie water, for it is a well known fact that mosquitoes' larvie will be eaten by them as fast as the eggs are hatched. As for other water- loving insects together with the turtles, frogs, and toads and their like, they form a part of the pool's household that give it an added interest. A simple little garden pond that has many practical features is illustrated on 136 Dove-tote on a Column of Field-stone THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES page 145. A description of it will serve to show a good method of building and caring for garden pools of this nature. It is the central feature of a small garden that is only about one hundred feet square. The pool is elliptical in shape about ten feet wide and thirty feet long. It has no curb showing between the water and the open grass border around it. The turf comes right to the water's edge in a nat- ural way that is simple and refreshing. The supply that is in the centre throws a single stream straight into the air, and is controlled by a stopcock on the edge of the bank. The sides of the pool have vertical walls of field stone set in cement, and the face of the walls is grouted^ (covered with two inches of the same ma- terial). The bottom is made of concrete, quite level except for a slight pitch to the outlet pipe, so, if necessary, all the water may be drained off at any time. The pool 1!58 w THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES is three feet deep and tlie water is allowed to remain in it all the year round ; but during the winter it is covered with boards and brush and seaweed or meadow hay, so that it never freezes hard enough to harm the water-lilies and rushes that are planted in tubs and allowed to remain on the bottom. This method of raising water- plants is most successful, for they can be easily handled and the plants held in check from taking up too much space, as they are sure to do in a pond where they grow directly on the bottom. jNIoreover, the water is not discolored by the mud in which they grow, for the tubs keep it from being stirred up. The water level of this pool conies within an incli or two of the ground le^ el, and that is one of its attractive featm-es. There is no apparent stiffness of the stone curb, and this is a point that should be borne in mind when regulating the height of water of any 140 A Bird Fountain THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES basin. It is most effective to have the water level come close to the level of the top. It gives a much more natural appearance than to have a stiff curb showing. In building a pool or fountain in any part of our country where the winters are severe, we must not lose sight of the fact that all such work must have solid founda- tions below the frost line, and the shut-off that controls the supply must be lower than the outlet of the water jet. This is to insure the entire running off of the water so that there will be none of it left to freeze in the pipe and burst it open. However, in the pool itself the water may freeze with- out doing any harm provided the sides are not vertical but shelving, so that the ice may have room to expand and thus not crack the walls. Nothing could be more provoking than a water basin of any de- scription that will not hold water. This 142 CQ THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES is a common fault with many little ponds built on naturalistic lines. It is difficult to make the irregular banks water-tight unless a great deal of cement is used, and if one uses much cement the pond ceases to look natural. Sometimes puddled clay is used for this purpose, but it is never very sat- isfactory, for it discolors the water and gradually washes away. A garden pool is most satisfactory if treated frankly as an artificial accessory and made on symmetrical lines. It is most difficult to make a natural pond whose naturalness will not look forced. Too often we see tliem with shores broken up into into many meaningless bays and miniature promontories, with natural rocks sticking out promiscuously. Large ponds for public parks and estates of some size may in truth be very effective if modelled after natural lines, but their shape should be of the simple sort, for the chief charm of 144 I THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES any sheet of water lies in the water itself, its refresliing appearance and beautiful re- flections. The very appearance of w^ater in a garden produces a cooling effect ; and if in addition one can hear the musical splashing of water, the impression is indeed magical. The aesthetic beauty of spouting water has ever been appreciated by garden lovers. It is safe to say that fountains have been in existence since the history of the world began, and some have been elaborate archi- tectural achievements, such as the beautiful examples of the Italian Renaissance that are still to be seen in the ancient villas of Italy, or those of more modern gorgeous- ness built by La Notre in the gardens of I^ouis XIV at A^ersailles, — veritable geysers that cool the air of the entire garden. There is no part of garden architecture that offers a wider field for the play of the 146 Rocky Pool on Terrace THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES artist's imagination than tlie designing of fountains ; but he should never lose sight of the fact that the interesting moti\^e is the water itself, and if figures of water gods and horses, nymphs or dolphins, are used they must be made to take a subordinate position to the fountain as a whole. Few gardens are of sufficient grandeur to support fountains with statuary, l^ut we see many such in modest surroundings, and they invariably look out of place, particu- larly so if of the flimsy iron construction so common in public grounds. A modest little basin of concrete with one simple jet as illustrated on the next page is quite as effective as a more elaborate fountain of bronze and marble. Nothing could be more effective in a little garden, and if the spouting water can be seen in partial shade and sunlight it will sparkle in a most re- freshing manner and spread an air of comfort and cheerfulness over all. 148 A Simple Concrete Fountain THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES The illustration of " A wall fountain and pool " shows how a little water may be made to go a long way. A single stream comes through the terrace wall in a pipe whose outlet is the mouth of a stone lion's head. The water is caught in ajar, then passes on through the side, falling into an underground pipe that takes it to the little pool seen in the foreground ; from here it runs to the terrace below, where it irrigates a rock garden of ferns and wild-flowers. Another fountain of simple construction may be seen on page 153. It is made of field stone with a cement lining. The stones were carefully selected from old nearby walls, and great care was used in their selection and handling so that only those with fiat and weather-beaten surfaces might be used. It was a difficult matter to design this fountain so that it would have the right 150 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES degree of architectural significance. The aim was to give it as much character as possible with the medium used, — field stone. The common practice in work of this nature seems to be a striving for the rustic^ and the result is generally a pile of stones in a fantastic arrangement that some misguided person considers pretty 1 Noth- ing could be more out of place in a garden that has any semblance of symmetry. A rough arrangement of rocks is permissible for a cascade in a natural bit of country, or for a grotto spring, but it has no place on well kept grounds. The fountain as shown in the picture consists of two circular terraced pools, the smaller above the larger and the upper one surmounted by a large column-shaped rock that supports a shallow shell-like stone. From the centre of this stone the water spurts vertically into the air and returns to fjill onto the upper pool and 152 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES from that to the lower. By this arrange- ment the water is a most conspicuous feature, for it starts from a single head and is diverted into se\'eral smaller spouts that pass it on to the pool below. The rock work is so arranged that small bog plants as well as water plants can be grown. Beneath the upper pool is a small shelf that is protected from the dripping water by the overhanging rock. The chinks of this shelf are filled with rich loam muck, and in it the bog plants are growing. The illustration does not show the foun- tain in a particularly fine setting, but this is because the garden that surrounds it is in its infancy. To many, a garden amounts to nothing unless it can be seen in all its glory. The average person cannot wait for Nature's assistance to make the vegeta- tion grow. They must have a garden made to order, and expect to see it the first year as beautiful as tlie landscape architect 154 A Rockery Fountain THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES saw it when in his mind he composed the charming possibihties of the scene. None of us, to be sure, would care to plan gardens so far in advance that it would take years for them to mature, as was the case with those wonderful gardens of Italy, that required a century to reach the lieight of their glory. To-day it is possible, if one has the means, to produce a garden in all its entirety in an incredibly short time. Large full-grown plants and huge trees are supplied by nurserymen, and with the com- bined efforts of gardeners, masons, team- sters, and their kin, the garden springs into being as by the wave of a magic wand. But most of us take pleasure and pride in nursing our gardens to maturity. With- out this personal care, or at least without this personal supervision of the garden's welfare, it cannot be the truly satisfying intimate garden we would have it. If plants of moderate size and well established 15() o o THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES trees are used in the beginning, and if care- ful thought is given to the selection of the garden's accessories, we may liave in tliree or foin- years a wealth of beauty that will surpass our fondest dreams. A word concerning tlie planting of water gardens, /. c, as much care should be given to the arrangement of plants in water as on land. Planting should be for mass effects. Separate colors will look best when grouped by themselves, and no plants should be al- lowed to grow so thick as to cover too much the surface of the water, for the water is a necessary frame to enhance the beauty of the flowers. One can rely safely on the descriptions and rules for planting that are given by reliable nursery catalogues and seed stores. The best known varieties, both tender and hardy, are handled by most plant dealers. 158 An EiFective Wall Fountain CHAPTER VII ENCLOSURES UNDER the heading of enclosures we may class such permanent ac- cessories as walls, balustrades, and fences. WALLS Boundary walls and terrace walls are to a garden what walls are to a house. Their excuse for being is the privacy, protection, or support they give. To many persons a garden is not satisfying unless it is enclosed in some manner. Surely a wall or fence, or even a hedge is absolutely necessary if the garden is to have an air of restful beauty ; but sometimes Nature may be a wonderful aid in accomplishing this result by bounding a desirable spot for a garden with a natural ledge or the steep slope of a 163 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES hill, or with a tliick growth of trees and shrubbery. The chief charm of a sunken garden is the air of seclusion that conies from its being hedged with an enclosure of sloping ground iind terraces. But a garden of this type may look most artificial and cold if it resembles in any degree a huge pit that does not conform to the general contour of the surrounding land. Aside from the air of seclusion that a garden wall gives it serves a most useful purpose in protecting plants from severe winds. AValls are an ideal support for vines and climbers, and may be used for the training of fruit trees flat against its surface. One should regret that this cus- tom of fruit raising has become almost a lost art in our country. Its real purpose was to hasten the fruit to maturity ; often as much as two weeks being gained be- cause of the extra lieat caught by the wall. 164 o THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES Trees are still trained this way in wall gardens in England and France, and some attractive examples are still to be found in our latter-day Colonial gardens, but there is no longer any particular reason for the forcing process, except for the satisfaction of having one's own fruit ahead of its natural time, — we have become so accustomed to having all fruit out of season. Our South- ern fruits and vegetables are almost as ac- cessible as those of home raising. But aside from the practicability of this fasci- nating sort of wall garden, its continuance should be encouraged because of the pleas- ure this picturesque feature gives all who have the good fortune to own or to visit a garden of this nature. And how effective flowers and vines look with a wall for a background, or rather how effective is a wall that has a setting of flowers and \ ines ! All stones are suitable for walls. Those from our native quarries 166 Peach-trees on a Brick Wall THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES are of many shades of gray, a harmonious neutral color that blends with all flowers and foliage. Red brick, however, does not harmonize with all colors, particularly with some shades of pink and red, but it is very attractive with the green foliage of climb- ing Aines. In fact all walls are iinproved in appearance by having some greenery creeping over them, but we should never allow them to become completely covered unless they are of bad design. Any struc- ture that has architectural merit deserves to be seen at least in part. It has been said that vines are to bits of architecture what a dress is to a woman. It may serve to enhance beauty or to cover defects. The three best vines for this purpose are Euonymus Radicans Trailing Euonymus), Ampelopsis Englemannii (Clinging AVood- bine), Ampelopsis Veitcliii (Boston Ivy). Field stones in their natural sliape may be fashioned into a wall in many attractive 168 Di THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES ways. What a wealth of beauty there is to some of the old New England farm walls that stand forth, a striking proof of the earnest toil of the old settlers who collected them from fields so as to facilitate the culti^ ation of their crops ! In these rough-laid walls there is an indi\idual charm about each stone, — a charm that is not apparent to the average person who is interested, if interested at all, only in the general appearance of sucli a structure. So it is with many of the beautiful things around us ; we fail to appreciate them until by careful study their hidden beauties are revealed, and then whenever we chance upon them we feel we have met a friend. INIany people have this friendly apprecia- tion for trees, and they are to be envied, for those who know Nature's children get much more happiness out of life than those who fail to appreciate the value of such friendships. 170 A Garden enclosed with a Wall of Field-stone THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES As an enclosure for some gardens nothing could look more fitting than one modelled after tlie lines of these old dry-laid walls, but there is a vast difference in the appear- ance of these stone fences, as they are fre- quently called. Some are merely tumbled together, while others show the beauty of skilful workmanship. A dry-laid wall is one in which the stones are fitted together without the aid of cement and mortar. Unless well built it is not so strong a structure as one that is stuck together and pointed, but it is generally much more pleasing to look at, for each stone has a deptli of beauty, and they all blend together naturally without being blocked off in set, checker-board squares, as is the case with a pointed mortar wall. If a wall is made three or four feet thick and is put together with mortar only in the middle, allowing the outside surfaces 172 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES of the stones to lie naturally one against the other, it will combine the two best qualities, — the strength and beauty of both kinds of walls. The great fault of many of the field stone walls that are built to-day is the fact that the details of their construc- tion are left to the stone mason to decide on, and in his desire to make the wall look prettii he concentrates his energies into making fanciful markings of mortar (often highly colored) around each stone, so that the finished product looks more like a crazy- quilt than anything else. When a wall is made of small, round shaped stones it is difficult to get a pleas- ing effect on the surface. Great care must be exercised in fitting together the sin-face stones so that the face of the wall shall be as smooth as possible without showing the mortar to an objectionable extent. If the stones are not fitted closely together the results will be like a huge plum cake, — 174 Concrete Garden Wall THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES each stone sticking out by itself with a monotonous sameness. All garden walls need a capping of some sort in order to give them a finished ap- pearance. If the wall is of field stone one may use large flat stones of the same nature, or pieces of rough quarried granite like that shown on page 169, or the wall may be capped with wood as shown on page 107. A brick wall needs a dressed stone that shall be in keeping with the smooth texture of the bricks, or a cap may be formed of the bricks themselves or of wood. INIany of the old Colonial brick walls were capped with a low picket fence, and it makes a very happy coinbination. Blue stone is often used for this purpose, but it has few quali- ties to recommend it. It is cold and unin- teresting. A capping of concrete is of much better texture and about one quarter as expensive. 176 ' matter, unless handled b\' the most expert workman, is liable to make the mixture structurally weak. Surely con- crete has merit enough, from the artistic as well as from the structural point of view, to stand for itself. The art of gardening has gone hand in hand with the otlier arts of a country, — a reflection of the aesthetic side of mankind, an expression of beauty to comfort the senses of a mind that craves the gentle things in nature. Art out-of-doors has always reflected the temper of a country. Americans as a nation are just beginning to express their appreciation of the beauti- ful things that nature gives them. Mag- niflcent parks for public enjoyment are springing up everywhere, and in our private homes, life in the garden has become a necessity, and this life requires peace, comfort, refreshment and charm. Ah ! these hours spent in the garden : 214 THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES they are glorious for all alike. AVe become children again, playing idly with some freshly picked flower, or tossing pebbles into a nearby pool. AVho cares for busi- ness, politics or the whirl of society in such times as these ? It is enough to be alive in the midst of such heavenly things. 215 NOV 24 1906