Garden Structures 155 



the house, and is indeed practically a porch that is not used for 

 entrance. In many of the old Italian palaces it is on the second 

 floor; but it may furnish a garden boundary, and it is placed 

 with delightful effect opposite the dwelling sometimes, across 

 a formal garden. Any favorite spot in the groimds indeed may 

 be chosen for its site. Being an architectural structure it should 

 of course conform to the style of the buildings on a place, and 

 be as elaborate and pretentious, or as simple, as these. 



A belvedere is a garden building occupying a lofty position, 

 built there especially to command a fine view. Only a structure 

 so located is entitled to the name. A gazebo is also high up, 

 occupying a position chosen for outlook ; but a gazebo is usually 

 part of a garden wall, partaking of the character of a watch 

 tower. It is intended more as a place from which to look over 

 and outside the walls, rather than to command a broad and 

 stately sweej:) of landscape. 



These therefore require certain surrovmdings and presuppose 

 certain elements in the garden where they are built. But a 

 casino or a bower — I must confess a liking for the latter old, 

 deep-rooted Anglo-Saxon word — is just a summer pleasure 

 house. It alone therefore gives us something definitely suited 

 to all sorts and conditions of gardens. 



Constructed of any building materials that may be preferred, 

 it may follow the lines of the house or not. The only restraint 

 put upon its designer is the restraint of good taste — and good 

 taste only means after all , appropriateness. Perhaps the meaning 

 of this may be clearer if it is explained that a little roimd or 

 octagonal structure, built of birch trunks and branches, with a 

 shingled roof stained to match the house, set out on a trim lawn 

 at a distance of thirty feet possibly but not more than that from 

 the house, with never a trace of vines nor shrubs nor trees around 



