GAEDEN FUKNITUKE. 801 l^^ 



I 



GARDEI^ FURNITURE. 



Perhaps on no subject connected witli horticulture is there more need of information 

 than suitable decorations for the garden, or Garden Furniture, if we may be allowed 

 the expressive term, embracing arbors, seats, trellises, and other structures of use and 

 ornament in the garden. How often, when viewing gardens of the greatest preten- 

 sions, are we compelled to walk from one end to the other, through beautiful shady 

 walks and quiet nooks, without finding a resting place — no rustic seat inviting us to 

 enjoy to its fullest extent the quiet beauty of the scene. 



In the country there is no necessity for large parlors — the garden is the country 

 parlor. Our drawing-rooms are deserted by our friends and visitors — they are to be 

 found examining o-ur rare shrubs and flowers — promenading our garden walks — 

 reclining on the lawn, enjoying the grateful shade and cooling bi-eeze. How neces- 

 sarv, then, that o'ur garden furniture should be convenient and appropriate ; that 

 proper resting places be provided, to insure the fullest enjoyment of the garden by 

 ourselves and our friends. 



As in all other matters requiring taste, we often see great errors made in the intro- 

 duction of garden ornaments. How common is it to see elaborate carpenter-work, 

 painted a brilliant green or dazzling white painful to look upon, supporting a slender 

 climber, when a simple cedar pole with perhaps a few wires would have been a much 

 cheaper and better support. So in regard to seats, " summer-houses," &c. In our 

 cottage grounds of an acre or two we make a great mistake in imitating the fine 

 architectural designs that are very appropriate when used in the extensive grounds of 

 some European palace, with which it is in keeping, but sadly out of place in the 

 grounds of our less pretending but perhaps not less beautiful cottage homes. Asa 

 general thing, simple rustic work made of the limbs of trees with the bark on, worked 

 into simple and appropriate designs, is the most appropriate, though we have observed 

 some pretty designs in iron. But even in the use of rustic work we have lately seen 

 some sad violations of good taste. The veranda is no jjlace for rustic seats — the 

 seats there should be in keeping with the style of the house ; yet we have seen some 

 of these seats even admitted into the hall. 



We have made these remarks as an introduction to a few designs from McIntosJi's 

 Book of the Garden : 



"Around cottage and villa residences, nothing is so appropriate as the natural style 

 of gardening, and no ornament so proper as rustic work ; but that should always bo 

 of a substantial and tasteful description. An ingenious correspondent in The Gar- 

 dener''s Magazine, vol. x., p. 485, on this subject remarks : 'One advantage of wooden 

 rustic work is, that it can be adapted to a great variety of purposes. Thus very beau- 

 tiful, and even very architectural temples may be formed of unbarked wood. Orna- 

 mental doors, every description of garden seats, and fiower-baskets, and vases of very 

 elegant forms, may be composed of the same matei'ial. Shady walks also, having 

 the shady gloom and enriched eff"ect of a Gothic cloister, may be made of wooden 



