Show how to make a formal garden and keep it in order FORMAL garden need not be A an expensive one but it is not appropriate so to arrange the grounds surrounding simple cottages large houses with a suggestion of queen anne or gothic architecture or old houses of brick or stone built on colonial lines lend themselves delightfully to the idea such gardens convey where as in the picture shown a terrace is possible it adds materially to the characteristic te effect the plot of ground must be carefully laid out with geometrical exactness no wilderness of color and plants is possible here the formality of the plan is carried out in the massing of colors and the exact and accurate trimming of hedges and plants the walks arc travelled gravelled gravel led and smoothly rolled the low box privet or foliage plant hedges which border the beds grow close to its level smoothness small bay trees trimmed into globe or cone shapes and set in tree tubs arc most decorative used in such a garcci gard ci and the tall vases of marble terra cotta or cast iron painted white arc appropriate two of these cast iron vases on pedestals arc shown in the picture these are planted with gadamus or screw pine in the center and are overhung with flowering or lady washington geraniums these vases so filled are stately and band some and not costly among the other essentials in a formal garden are stone or cement scabs scats these may be the beautiful old carved ones brought from the gardens of italy or southern france or may be intensely modern and built of cement where they stand these are picturesque and effective as well as inexpensive sun dials are appropriate and interesting when introduced in such a garden A portion of a formal garden if it be of sufficient size is usually set aside for roses and these with the most careful grading as to color and form are placed in a way to be entirely decorative often a background of well grown hedge is possible I 1 recall having seen such a one in the garden belonging to a quaint old house in a southern town la france roses grown to the height of four feet were set three feet apart in a row directly in front of a close clipped hedge of cypress the cooler green of the rose foliage against the background of this hedge made an appropriate setting for the great nodding pink roses in the picture shown on this page the sloping lawn is divided by a short flight of stone steps and the clearly defined lines of these smooth grass covered terraces make a restful backing for the mass of color that the central bed of gladioli furnishes these blossoms shade from deep crimson to soft old pink the pink coloring is continued in much more delicate tones shading to white in the center of the corner beds these beds arc planted with quaint old fashioned or bleeding heart the snowy blossoms showing in the center are phlox both these plants as well as the gladiolus are hardy bloomers and injure a continued color for the beds against the high red brick wall on the southern side of this garden grow climbing white roses and the bed in the shadow of its base is fragrant with mignonette to insure a good growth of grass on the sloping terrace I 1 was told after it had been graded and shaped the ground was lightly raked the whole of it was then plastered with a mixture of stiff soil and long grass seed and well rotted manure from a cow stable the proportion was two bushels of the fertilizer two quarts of grass seed and four bushels of stiff soil this was spread on as smoothly and thinly as possible to get an even surface the grass seed started readily and grew rapidly making a sod of beautiful rich green its surface being so hard was not furrowed by the rain the directions which followed in making this garden were got from a hand book on gardens grass for a terrace must be of a variety that makes tough roots so that it shall hold the soil firmly to prevent rains from washing the sod away seed selected especially for terrace purposes is put up by all seeds men it must not be planted when long and hard A Y writes wish to have the woodwork of my bathrooms painted a glossy white what paint would you advise me to use also what finish for a maple hard wood floor which is lighter in color than I 1 wish it the room is very light white is recommended as being very durable and drying with a good gloss stain your maple floor the color desired and finish with floor finish it is elastic and durable and has a good polish without arnold W M asks advice as to the wall finish for dining room and parlor enclosing samples of paper jn your dining room paint the ceiling and wall space down to picture mould a pale but decidedly yellow tan you will have a much more pleasing and restful room by leaving the ceiling and frieze entirely undecorated the mirror you suggest using would be a great addition to the beauty of your room the japanese screen would look well here also your window and door hannings hangings hang ings must however be of entirely plain fabric match either the gray green or dull red in borr wall paper these preferably green raw silk would be a good selection t use here it costs a yard the curtains should be made with a deep hem and hang straight your steins might look well upon the mantel but if you have more than enough for that space retain the plate rail you speak of in your living room the picture mould should not be of gilt but should match the woodwork of the room I 1 think you would like best a plain drop ceiling in all of rains are expected frequent and gentle watering is necessary when there is little rain and the plastered bank should be well covered by straw until the grass has become fully started to prevent the too quick drying or crack gnp of the surface the gladiolus bulbs should be pur these rooms in the living room the paper might extend to the ceiling line if you so desire with your mahogany furniture use ivory white paint by all means A prepared undercoat for enamel paint is called flat lead it dries tough and hard and sand papers readily however its surface is so good that but little sanding is required after two coats of the flat lead one of eggshell white should be added the slight addition of a bit of burnt sienna will give a deeper cream or ivory tone to it and with your mahogany furniture this will be desirable you are right in thinking of banishing the onyx table but the crimson settle of plain color you should retain using on this pillows of soft dull harmonious shades of red and green the windows could have over the lace curtains straight lengths of dull crimson raw silk in the doorway use double face jute velour of the same shade A new housekeeper says 1 I have used southern pine for the woodwork of my new cottage the floors also are of pine I 1 wish to finish them according to the direction you gave wood finish I 1 wish to make the woodwork a good dark brown with dull surface kindly tell me what to use also what kind of wall paper shall I 1 put in my parlor with the dark wood there are three windows in the room two north and one east what curtains shall I 1 get for these windows there is a weathered pine wood tint now made which is eminently satisfactory this is brushed upon the bare wood and twenty four hours later a coat of orange shellac is applied followed by a coat of acad bac this is an attractive and inexpensive finish and is made especially for soft wood choose for your wall paper chased from reliable florists and planted in an open ground where there is no danger of frost they require much sun and a well enriched garden soil contact with fresh fertilizer must be avoided and the bulbs should be set from two to four inches deep and from four to six inches apart ANSWERS TO correspondents a figured tapestry with some rich yellow in it or a two tonce striped crimson paper either would look well use ecru net curtains next the glass of your windows with an of linen and satin damask in the leading color of your wall paper A B C requests the address of a place to obtain garden implements and young plants I 1 shall be pleased to forward some addresses on receipt of a self addressed and stamped envelope |