PKRGOI.AS. 



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-can he done by a garden designer who respects the genius of his materials and has that sen-.e &amp;lt;&amp;gt;t fitness 

 upon wliich all real artistic achievement is founded. The purpose of the pergola to be a support for 

 climbing and flowering plants and to be covered eventually with nr.isses of greenery is by no means 

 forgotten ; but equally the designer has renieinbered that the structure when completely covered with 

 vegetation, and when its external details are hidden by leaves and flowers, should still be, when seen from 

 within, an architectural f;i t showing a serious decorative intention and right consideration as a design. 

 In such examples there is proof enough that wood construction, frankly and characteristically uscil, can 

 be made dignified in effect and yet agreeably unpretentious. Indeed, not a little of the beauty of thc-e 

 paiticular pergolas comes from their simplicity; no fantastic devices are employed in them to give an 

 unnecessary (|uaintness and no ]&amp;gt;urposeless ornament is introduced. 



There is a similar reticence in the treatment of another feature which Mr. IVto ha-- placed on the 

 edge of the lake at Kaston Lodge. Though it is used as a tea-house, it may well be included with pergolas, 

 as the decorative problems involved are the sr.tne. In this case he has looked to the Japanese, rather than 

 to the French lor inspiration, but he has used his own discretion free] v in turning this inspiration to practical 

 account, and the tea-house as he has designed it is much more an expression of his own arti-lic feeling than 

 a reproduction of anything existing elsewhere. It is an attractive piece of wood construction, solid and 

 substantial, and yet light and graceful in general effect. The true genius of building in wood is observed 

 both in the main lines and in the smaller ornamental additions, and the proportion of the whole tiling is 

 very rightly adjusted. 



It must not be forgotten that the essentially architectural type of pergola is not the only one 

 wliich is permissible ; the familiar rustic kind is not unworthy of consideration Such a one as 

 exists at Apethorpe can be included among the varieties of wood construction. In HIN type the 

 designer, having a general scheme of arrangement, profits by the accidents of hue which come from 

 the use of curiously curved and contorted pieces of wood. It he does not allow his taste tor irregu 

 larity to get out of reasonable control, lie can produce effects undeniably picture-vine, lint the hand 

 of the artist is as necessary here as in more formal designing. In one case everything is thought out 

 beforehand ; in the other the designer trusts to some extent to the inspiration of the moment and modifies 

 his first intention as circumstances dictate. In both cases, however, the artist does not forget that there 

 lies upon him an obligation to be true to the vital principles of his craft A. l.vs l!.\l I&amp;gt;KY. 



199. A TEA-HOUSE. 



