New-York tribune., 1901-06-10
BACK YARD GARDENS.
A UNIQUE EXAMPLE IN BROOKLYN
PLANTS THAT THRIVE WELL
IN THE CITY

For those who pass the summer even a. part
Of IT, IN the city. garden furnishes most CRATE
ful relief from wall and stone. The first thing 10
be considered in planning for q garden is ITS eN-
posure and which parts Of It will be sunny and
which shady: the next, the condition OF its soil
The latter is almost certain be poor, and several
loads OF rich black garden mould will be required
if anything like a thrifty garden is expected The
shape of city back yards, their limited area ana
the high board fences on three sides all combine
10 present many difficulties In the first place the
usual plan Of having border Of cultivated ground
three feet wide around the entire yard cannot De
improved upon. A walk, of course folloWs
this II is q good idea 10 have the grass plot take
up two-thirds Of the length OF the usual sized
yard and, separated from il by a stone walk, 10
have a second plot, which can be sodded or planted
as seems most desirable.
A few pretty shrubs add much 10 the attractive
ness Of q yard, and for yards the owners Of which
are away all summer they are particularly de-
sirabIe because they need little beyond proper
trimming and fertilizing. Among the best shrubs
for the purpose wegelias (most people prefer
the light pink kind. llacs. deutzias syringas the
double Towering peach and Japanese ounce. The
fence may be covered with roses (there are many
hardy varieties). Madeira, hop and grape vines and
clernatis The last makes beautiful showing In
the fall Morning glories spread, and have 10 De
continually discouraged once they gain root
hold but nothing can compete with them for ef-
fectiveness in the morning hours when their
pretty bells OF various hues give farylike touch
that nothing can rival The japanese variety. with
its yariegated flowers, is particularly beautiful
Pansies and ferns. particularly, like a shady
place Sweetpeas provide a wealth Of beauty for
house adornrnent but seldom thrive in the mar
row space near the fence. one family that is par
upper edge Of the lower plot of ground, near a
tn crown they viii serve as screen to the lower
part Of the garden, which Is set with such praCx
properly trained. are beautiful plants. lettuce
'clffIm6 Of lilies Of the valley will repay with
their generous Towering. the spading that Will be
pSt6in bounds. Peonies are beautifully symmetr!-
cal plants, with rich foliage ana & VIII enTlye VIII nm
most desirable and the white IS preferred by most
IN which TO attain its natural proportions. and II
the lower plot is not used tbeTe Tor
tuft verbenas, cosmos, the anemone japonica alba.
ana nearly ali The annuaIs blooming at various
times during the season are easi1X cuItlSaed & d
pies which bloom freely and never look seedy :
sPs Se al esra a5s may be planted as bor-
ders along the edges OF the plots The old fash
the grandmothers will yield flowers that look like
Tq 5hs % e e0G5s garden def Ks eaTe shoud be
70 have the plants blooming at various seasons
scattered about so that at no time will any part
lock denuded and barren.
AN ATTRACTIVE YARD
One Of the pretty back yards of Brooklyn which
has an area OF about % by 80 feet, is paved with
made stone. only the edges and an OCCASIONAL
corner yard and the broadest space of open ground
is On the street side where a nigh picket fence
admits sun and air, and vines shut out the gaze
OF passersby. A walk 10 the side gate, and
this is powered with a crimson rambler ana grape
vine the latter also covering an arbor over the
kitchen windows. At the kitchen door on either
side japanese morning glories, growing out OF the
cracks in the pavement, fast climbing 10 the
roof Of the areawaV. AT the end OF the latter
IN size. which the palms and rubber plants WIZ
pass the summer. From IL two or three moor
vines-the white ones-are making their way 10
the roof of the house, up leaders that have Deen
provided for the purpose. These vines, whlch re-
oUire rich soil are a regular feature OF this gar
den and in the blooming season. later in the sum
rner, the family will assemble regularly 10 Watch
the pretty night flowers unfold themselves. As
many as seventy Of the large white blossoms have
been known 10 appear in a single evening on one
vine until. against the dark wall OF the house, II
had the appearance Of Veritable wrath tor
this reason the white is preferable 10 the purple.
as the latter is not conspicuous after dark, the
only time when the flowers are in full bloom.
Between the gate and the house is a square plot
OF ground, calculated inspire the curiosity OF
and wind. II is admirably adapted TO slips and
cuttings during their first weeks OF growth
On the other side Of the walk along TIE street
fence. is border of open ground about three feet
wide, and in il are gathered assortment or an
nuals, biennials and perennials, herb, shrub ana
tree.
At the end OF the yard is the wall Of adjacent
house. and up this clambering hops. grapes, a
honeysuckle and a wistaria. Beneath, the narrow.
Irregular edge of earth breaking into occasional
wider notches is utilized for peonies, lilies or
the valley, day lilies, japanese lilies, clumps OF
asters salvias geraniums and the like
The high board fence separating this from the