GARDEN FURNITURE 3 



buildings in perishable materials, fountains, and other 

 objects, which, though appropriate in summer, are sadly 

 out of keeping with the winter landscape. During 

 Queen Elizabeth's reign, the gardens at Hatfield, which 

 have always maintained a high reputation, contained 

 much statuary, together with fountains and summer- 

 houses. In James I.'s time, Theobald's is described by 

 Mandelso as being extensively decorated with fillery or 

 trellis-work. Garden buildings are supposed to have 

 been first erected during the reign of Charles II., and 

 they served a variety of purposes, but were chiefly used 

 for banquets. Iron screens and gateways, arched treillage 

 and urns, were to be seen in most of the large gardens 

 of the time. Reference to some of the old gardening 

 books will furnish abundant proof of the popularity 

 which garden furniture has enjoyed during almost every 

 age. Occasionally it was lamentably overdone, at other 

 times banished altogether, and the constant disagreement 

 between extremists led to the perpetration of the most 

 absurd follies. 



This brings us to an important question, one which 

 must be duly considered before we can hope to achieve 

 any good results with garden furniture. What is its true 

 place in the gardens of to-day ? Is it to occupy a leading 

 or subordinate position among the many details which go 

 to make up a satisfactory ensemble? Those who have 

 seen a great variety of gardens and noted by what means 

 the best effects are usually obtained, will seldom hesitate 

 in declaring that the less of it the better. If this be true 

 why devote a whole book to its discussion ? For the 

 simple reason, that the little we use must be good of its 

 kind, simple and artistic in construction — all of which 

 points are only too frequently violated. Although many 

 accessories of this description are in bad taste, and serve 

 only to demonstrate a desire for mere opulent display, it 

 must not be thought that " furniture " is unimportant, 



