SUMMER-HOUSES AND SEATS. 4^1 SUMMER-HOUSES AND SEATS. 



tectural summer-houses, Doric arid other 

 temples, &c. , which are not only orna- 

 mental, but highly convenient. A perspec- 



FJG. I. PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF SUMMER-HOUSE. 



five view and plan of a rustic summer-house 

 is given in Figs. I and 2, but to enter here 

 on a description of the manner and method 

 in which such structures may be erected 

 would tend to extend this chapter to too 

 great a length, and therefore no more can 

 be done here than to indicate the purpose 

 and nature of such garden buildings, and 

 to show how desirable it is that they 

 should be found in gardens of all kinds, 

 from the cottager's " bit o' ground" to the 

 extensive domains of the wealthy country 

 gentleman, in which they may be found in 

 number and variety. 



According to Dodsley's description of the 

 Leasowes, there were about three dozen of 

 seats placed in the best possible positions, 

 besides the rustic and architectural build- 

 ings already noticed ; and the majority of 

 them were furnished with appropriate in- 

 scriptions. Doubtless this is a legitimate 

 means of deepening the impression arising 

 from the contemplation of beautiful scenery, 



of inculcating moral lessons, or of setting 

 forth the charms of retirement and rural 

 life. There is a great want of Sitting 

 accommodation in most bf our best gar- 

 dens, and yet nothing can be easier to pro- 

 vide. Many cjf the seats of the Leasowes 

 consist of a single slab fixed at the root df 

 one, or upon the stump's of two trees. 

 Unless in very wild scenery, such seats are 

 scarcely admissible ; but stone, wood, and 

 cast iron are available everywhere ; and^ 

 in many positions, rustic wbo'den chairs are 

 the most appropriate and useml. 



Summer-houses and seats, as we have 

 already observed, are very desirable, and 

 add much to the comfort, as well as the 

 ornament, of pleasure grounds and gar- 

 dens. Almost any clever carpenter can put 

 up a rustic arbour at any rate, with the 

 assistance bf a few hints. Arbours, how- 

 ever, as well ds seats, can be bdught ready 

 made. Very neat buildings may be formed 

 with young oak stands, ornamented with 

 pieces of oak billet and thatched with 

 reed ; also of Scotch fir poles split or sawn 

 in two lengthways, showing the bark on 

 the outside. Such summer-houses as these 



FIG. 2. -PLAN OF SUMMER-HOUSE SHOWN IN 

 FIG. I. 



may be boarded inside and lined with mat- 

 ting, or made more ornamental by a panel- 

 ling of split hazel worked into different 

 patterns. The flooring can be of brick or 

 stone. More substantial houses can be 



