EMBELLISHMENTS. 
397 
abroad. The skeleton or frame- work of the arbor or house 
is formed as we have just stated ; over this small rods half 
an inch in diameter are nailed, about an inch from centre 
to centre ; after the whole surface is covered with this sort 
of rustic lathing, a quantity of the softer wood-moss of 
different colors is collected ; and taking small parcels in 
the hand at a time, the tops being evenly arranged, the 
bottoms or roots are crowded closely between the rods with 
a small wooden wedge. When this is done with some 
little skill, the tufted ends spread out and cover the rods 
entirely, showing a smooth surface of mosses of different 
colors, which has an effect not unlike - that of a thick 
Brussels carpet. 
The mosses retain their color for a great length of time, 
and when properly rammed in with the wedge, they cannot 
be pulled out again without breaking their tops. The 
prettiest example which we have seen of a handsome 
moss-house in this country, is at the residence of Wm. H. 
Aspinwall, Esq., on Staten Island. 
A prospect tower is a most desirable and pleasant 
structure in certain residences. Where the view is com- 
paratively limited from the grounds, on account of their 
surface being level, or nearly so, it often happens that the 
spectator, by being raised some twenty-five or thirty feet 
above the surface, finds himself in a totally different 
position, whence a charming coup d’oeil or bird’s-eye view 
of the surrounding country is obtained. 
Those of our readers who may have visited the de- 
lightful garden and grounds of M. Parmentier, near 
Brooklyn, some naif a dozen years since, during the life- 
time of that amiable and zealous amateur of horticulture, 
will readily remember the rustic prospect-arbor, or tower 
