be
had to break the glare of the noonday. The vine and the grape thrive
amazingly near the sea, and this necessity evolved the pergola. It was
compact, could be made straight or curving, short or long, usually
narrow but still supporting to some height the delicate leaves and fruit
of the grape. Thus, the Italian secured his shade and made an
interesting walk or approach. Because of its open work and light
proportions the views of the beautiful Italian sea and sunset were not
blocked but thereby improved, each view framed in by the pergola
pillars, with the picturesque tracery of the vine clinging to them.

Here was its home, and here it was perfect in its setting. We Americans,
in our zeal to secure all that's good, have brought it bodily to our
homes. But like much else that's transplanted, we do not always look
well to the new conditions as comparable to the old. The pergola is,
however, too valuable a garden feature to do without. Our greater care
should be to study our need, use the pergola when advisable for some
other feature, like one of those illustrated on this sheet, when more
appropriate.

In construction the pergola is usually made of materials to match the
house, sometimes masonry or stone pillars as well as those of wood. The
rafters and lighter beams should be made of the most durable wood,
preferably cypress, and carefully painted. The pillars may be of classic
design or of more modern lines, but if they are of a thickness greater
than one-seventh of their height, they are not proportionate to the
light load they carry. Preferably, the columns rest on and are anchored
to concrete or stone footings in the ground. The supporting rafters from
pillar to pillar are the heavier construction, the cross beams, etc.,
the lighter.

[Illustration: Pergola over garden gate, with planting to screen kitchen
garden, in Minneapolis.]

The surface of the ground beneath the pergola should be made of weather
proof brick or tile floors. They shed the surface water and make it
useable in damp weather, not possible with the turf.

The cost of these structures is largely optional with the builder. One
clever with carpenter's tools can build one at the cost of his time and
lumber. The other limit cannot be set. Masonry pillars, cypress lumber,
pavement of the floor, the size, cost of design, etc., will, upon
occasion, bring up this cost to that of a small house. I have found a
firm in Chicago who will ship one complete,