PRACTICAL BOOK OF GARDEN ARCHITECTURE 



massed about the base of the temple, to take away 

 the bareness of the approach when it is situated on a 

 high terrace; but the remainder of the building 

 should stand in bare, unadorned beauty, against its 

 background of green. 



Another mistake in the finish of the building is 

 frequently made in overfurnishing. The presence of 

 rustic chairs, benches, and tables, filling the floor 

 space, will be entirely out of harmony with the stately 

 white columns and their broad open spaces. Nat- 

 urally, one will desire that his favorite type of gar- 

 den architecture shall be inviting and comfortable to 

 those who enjoy the view from its elevated position; 

 but that does not necessitate lack of taste in its fur- 

 nishing. If one would follow closely the finish of 

 Italian and Greek temples, one should make the floor 

 of marble when marble columns complete the struc- 

 ture; and a long marble bench with ends quaintly 

 carved and an oblong marble table made stationary 

 in the centre of the building, within easy reach of 

 the bench, should be the only furnishing allowed in 

 the purely classic building. All suggestion of cold 

 formality may be avoided by the floral beauty about 

 the base, by the green background, and by the low 

 formal hedges of approaching paths. 



For the cheaper structures of concrete, or the 

 white-wood finish of Colonial types, the same general 



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