New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-13
VERDURE FOR CITY FOLKS
HOW To MAKE AN ATTRACTIVE BACK
YARD-PIANTS THAT GROW IN
Sun AND SHADE.

The average city back yard presents number of
difficult problems the inexperienced gardener
who aspires be the owner of vine and hg
tree of his AS rule. the tillable portions
Of the plot are narrow. and are hedged by a high
board fence that on one side reaches scorching
temperature daily in midsummer, while on the
other 1t is in many cases destined to perpetual
shadow A common cause of failure to produce a
pleasing effect in the long. yard is the
planting of many hardy shrubs and vines
They fill the limited space in proportions that are
unpleasing to the eye. and the foliage seldom re-
mains attractive through the entire season a
deutzia two which he kept trimmed in
small clumplike bushes, and hardy climbing rose
for the rear end of the fence. are enough for the
ordinary space a grapevine trained treliis
built above the kitchen windows viii furnish Il
welcome shade to that apartment during the
summer and provide luscious fruit for the fall
After the frosts come the vine car he tied back
so that il will shut out the winter sunlight
from the kitchen and in the following spring It
may again he spread over the frame
With a yard sixty-five or seventy feet long or
more il is a good plan TO shorten the grass plot
enough to allow for a large square bed at the end
furthest from the house. which will he surrounded
on all sides by A walk of the usual width. A Dor
der bed. eighteen inches or two feet wide. should
extend around the three sides of the yard next to
the fence
The character of the soil is one of the important
considerat tons In cultivatng yard for the first
time it is a good plan dig out the earth from
all the portions be titled 10 a depth of about
eighteen inches In the bottom OF this excavation
stable dressing should he placed to depth of four
or five inches Then top soil that be obtained
from florists should be filed in. This will settle
below the coping. year by year, and will need an
occasional fresh supply.
A stone COPING for the border is for many rea-
sons preferable to wood 1t is far dura-
BILE and does not gather fungi. which is injurious
to foliage.
A ,,rofusion NJ vines 10 hide the fence complete
ly will furnish refreshing outlook for hot weather
For the sunny side of the yard asturtiuns, morn
ing glories Of all kinds. especially the Japanese
varieties and both the red and the white variety
Of the scarlet runner may be used. The latter
bears notified bean. which few people know is
delicious when cooked and far surpasses in favor
the lima bean On the shady side OF the yard there
may be planted clematis which is beautiful. not
only in summer hut when the seed pods burst in
the fall: both the pink and white solsnum and
Madeira vines. The lopus permum, which bears
beautiful crimson flowers, will thrive in either
shade
If the career Of the amateur gardener is to be
numbered by seasons, sooner later various mem
hers Of the gourd family will be TO be tried,
for many are the wonderful tales Of their fruitful
ness and growth which he will hear And the
nlants will invariably sustain their reputation and
more for the whole story OF their possibility of
achievement is seldom heard Ambition and
grasnins disposition are characteristics Of the
so,rd II will begin with vigorous growth in the
snring and with occasional halts for rest. will
start I'D after every shower as if the idea OF
had never occurred It before. and II
were making up for lost time. In a single night