PRACTICAL BOOK OF GARDEN ARCHITECTURE 



such surroundings one's inspiration should come 

 as spontaneously as the bird songs caroled in the 

 upper branches. 



These open crows '-nests may be situated closer 

 to the ground than the tree house that is enclosed 

 with roof, walls, and windows. The real crow's-nest 

 is never roofed over, the shade and shelter of the 

 green foliage being sufficient. Board tables and 

 benches or rustic chairs are the only furnishing. 

 Nothing should be used in any part of the building, 

 or its furnishing, that will be injured by the weather. 

 It is important that the floor should be evenly and 

 firmly laid, either on large tree limbs or on strong 

 posts imbedded in the ground. Winding rustic 

 stairs can be built about the posts, with tall grow- 

 ing vines, such as wistaria, draped about the rail- 

 ings, thus converting the utilitarian posts into ob- 

 jects of beauty. The upper railing, built to enclose 

 the floor space of the crow's-nest, will require special 

 attention as to its strength and durability. When a 

 rustic finish is desired to correspond with the deco- 

 rative stair railing, the frail decorative portions must 

 be confined to the spaces between the rails. The 

 stout corner posts and connecting rails must be 

 strictly "fall-proof " that is, so well secured and 

 of such heavy material that there is no possibility of 

 a careless visitor pushing over or breaking through 



124 



