MOSS-HOUSES. 



395 



rods aft as a dovetail ; and, if the moss be properly rammed in, it cannot be 

 pulled out again without tearing it to pieces. Tlie bottom part being com- 

 pressed between the rods, the top expands, and so completely covers the rods 

 that not a vestige of them is to be seen in the whole building. Its evenness 

 of surface, closeness of texture, and variety of colour, give moss thus 

 arranged an appearance not unlike that of a Turkey carpet. The most com- 

 mon species of moss adapted for the purpose are, Cenomyce rangiferina, the 

 pure white of which contrasts well witli that of most of the other sorts ; Di- 

 cranum glaucum, whitish green, and iJrjaun hornum, yellowish green, these 

 are two of the best, and quite distinct in colour ; ^^phagnum acutifolium, the 

 pink variety, and S. obtusifoliutn, yellowish white, form a striking contrast 

 with the greater part of the others ; ^ryum roseum, pink, B. cuspidatum, 

 light green, Dicranmii scoparium, deep green, T/j'pnum Schreberz, reddish, 

 H. squarrosum, bright green, are all good ; and H. loreum, bright green, H. 

 triquetrum, yellow-green, II. (Leskea) dendroides, yellowish green, and some 

 others, serve to make a variety. 



Fig. 252. shows another mode of arranging the side panels, without moss, 

 and solely placing hazel rods. Fig. 253. shows the ground plan of a rustic 

 summer-house, which may be built either with or without moss ; the elevation 

 of which is shown in Jig. 254. The ground plan of this rustic structure has 

 nine equal sides, with a portico all round, supported on nine pillars, each of 

 a young fir-tree, 1 ft. in diameter, with capitals 1 ft. 2 in. square, formed of 

 square boards 4 in. thick. On these caps rest four courses of rustic planks, 

 with the bark on each, 6 in. thick, and perfectly horizontal, which connect 

 the whole of the columns, and support the rafters of the projecting roof, 

 which may be formed of heath or reeds, or of larch, birch, or oak bark. The 

 floor on which the columns are placed is raised on a base 1 ft. high, and sur- 

 rounded by a gravel walk. The position and form of the seat, which is made 



