GARDEN AND SUMMER HOUSES 25 



In remote portions of the grounds, even so simple a 

 structure as the foregoing would be out of place, and a 

 light shelter formed of larch poles would be quite suffi- 

 cient. Naturally it would not be very durable, but it 

 would not be used frequently, serving merely as a 

 temporary resting-place, or a handy retreat during occa- 

 sional showers. As a rule the summer-houses made in 

 imitation of foreign buildings are not a success, though 

 the little Swiss chalets one sometimes sees make very 

 good tea-houses. An example exists at Shrubland, but 

 this contains several rooms, and being made in two 

 stories, with balconies and stairways, is only suited for 

 quite large gardens. At Sandringham one of the summer- 

 houses is of lattice-work, with a roof shaped like those on 

 Indian temples ; but, however small and unpretentious 

 these styles, they are rarely happy in English gardens, 

 where our own styles of architecture are the best which 

 can be adopted. 



As I have mentioned previously, not the least valued 

 use to which summer-houses lend themselves, is that of 

 affording support to decorative climbers, which often look 

 their best when associated with well-built structures of 

 good and artistic design. Too often the summer-house 

 is completely embowered in ivy, which, besides being 

 employed far too freely in our gardens, is sure to bring 

 insects and dirt along with it. Flowering shrubs and 

 flowering climbers have been far too much neglected 

 hitherto, and the heavy-looking masses of evergreens 

 which are found everywhere in such profusion, are really 

 crowding out a number of plants, which are far more 

 graceful, as well as being varied in colour and habit. 

 First, on account of their acknowledged supremacy in the 

 garden, come the roses, in every shade and with a 

 diversity of habit which fits them for a great variety of 

 situations. In southern counties, good use may be made 

 of the climbing Teas, which last in bloom for a long 



