214 



THE VILLA GARDEXER. 



chalk and flints, or gravel, rammed hard, and finished with a level surface. 

 On this are raised the bases of the rustic pillars which support the roof, which 

 bases should each consist of a single stone ; or, if it is wished to be economical, 

 of brickwork, which will reach as high as the intended surface of the floor, 

 and be there covered with a square or an octagonal paving-tile. On these 



jdinths the rustic columns are placed, and connected temporarily at top by 

 strips of deal nailed to their sides. The colunms, or props, for the back part 

 of the structure, will be placed upon projecting plinths, from one continued 

 plinth : because they are not intended to be seen on the inside, and to appear 

 detached only an inch or two from the wall on the outside. Standards must 

 now be raised, so as to form the skeleton for the solid part of the back wall ; 

 and this skeleton must first be covered with thin boards on both sides. This 

 being done, the columns all round the structure are to have caps placed on 

 them, consisting of squared blocks of wood, somewhat longer than the nine- 

 inch tile which formed the plinth below, but of the same width. On these, 

 skeleton arches are to be constructed, and afterwards a skeleton roof. The 

 roof, on the inside, is to be clothed with thin boards, so as to form the interior 

 of a cone ; and on the outside with laths, so as to render the exterior of the 

 same shape. The next step is to clothe the exterior of the cone with reeds or 

 thatch, as in the figure. The interior being now secured from rain, the floor 

 may be paved with pebbles, or with sections of the trunks of trees placed 

 endwise, or with brick-bats placed on end ; and the interior of the back wall 

 may be covered with strips of wood, of such kinds as have a thin bark, such 

 as hazel, birch, &c., disposed as in the figure. The exterior of this wall may 

 be clothed with rough bark, such as that of the oak, covered with lichens, 

 moss, &c. The soflits of the arches should also be covered with strips 

 of smooth-barked trees, with the bark on ; as should the whole of the interior 

 of the cone, which forms the ceiling. There remains only to fix the seat, 

 which is a simple bench, attached to the wall behind, and with supports in 

 front. 



