The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-03-04
How the HOusetOp
!. Can Be Beautified
Aud Also Utilized-Modi-
tications of This Plan
Could Be Carried Out
To Make Playground y
ForSYoung and Old

THOSE who expect to see the first
blooms In their garden when May
comes In should have their plans
sl,f we'll under way by March. The
eollpwlng al tlcle Is an account OF an
actual experience in building roof
yhfden which should be of real serv-
zoe TO those whose yard space is lin
ited. 0t,
Imagine a garden on the roof, where
there Is a lawn soft ana velvety; where
flowers grow and BLOSSOM tumultuously
where the sundiai stands and tells off
the sunny hours; where. In fact on
10, out-of>doors with the wide sky
above and grass beneath ones feet.
This garden is not OF the stun that
dreams are made of. but Is a most de
tightful reality as the photographs
given here bear witness. Individual
beauty spots alone are shown, for only
from an airship could the whole garden
be, seen at one time. since II Is on top
of the highest building In the neighbor-
hood. One cannot always spread wings
and float In the air even to snapsnot =
sky, garden, though, indeed. II would
In this case, be well worth while. for by
~ doing could be shown what has been
atiu can be done toward utilizing and
bsAdpifying the housetop for a FAMILY
pleasure ground and breathing place.
>, Tho making OF a roof garden Is not a
reSiiy difficult thing. There must, ~
eorfSse, be soil for the plants TO grow in,
and II that can be carried to the rooi
ne test is comparatively easy. Any
KIND Of plants, shrubs and small trees
that Will grow on the ground Will grow
and nourfsh on the roof, in the same
climate, and the garden can he planned
he accord with the size and strength
ofsthe roof. II large garden Is feas-
f1ie,sSo much the better II II must be
small why even a small garden may be
As<ry lovely one and. lifted high above
tfie> ground. 1t VIII have the charm OF
tts<i unusual and the unexpected.
/. Me viii take 1t for granted that your
ta,f.Js fat or nearly 50, and that the
fuh shines on II at least part of the
dAtA then the first thing to do Is to
ifhb e\the roof examined by competent
psfsoff, to aseertain how much weight
its,chn bear. also to see that there are
re- through s spsan waish tns mev ws,sr aos
when these points are settled. plan
your garden so that the greatest weight
Wfli be over the strongest part. This
viii probably be near the outer walls
affless there is an inside wall that helps
s1oport the roof With a cement roof
bofh> tabor and expense VIII be less
ssfiku, for the soil may then be dumped
dfrsStlyS ON the roof: otherwise you
uhist lay, boarding wherever you are TO
hilxe flower beds or lawn. A a..-
!. uSs cedar boards for the flooring;
they Withstand the dampness OF wet
sdk Nail the boards on narrow wood
en- Sieats that win lift them two inches
ahcNe the roof, allowing narrow spaces
between, and let the cleats be not more
thshs three feet apart. This makes ex-
ceiisnf, drainage.
Measure the space set aside for the
ff6wer beds and make flooring to fit
then box in the flooring on the edges
with boards to hold the soil In place,
beds trim Is often seen even In gardens
ON the ground. and II Is quite essential
on\ths roof, where the soil Is naturally
iixfAter and therefore more liable to be
SynsfAed away with heavy rains.