place except in gardens of some considerable magnitude, laid out in an im¬ 
posing style, with terraces, fountains, statuary, and formal walks ad lib. A 
more suitable style of summer-house for the average large garden is shown in 
the illustration (Fig. 2) on p. 323. Another appropriate design is a summer¬ 
house standing under a canopy of leafage, with an uninterrupted view of 
beds of roses, handsome trees, lawn and woodland scenery of the most 
exquisitely beautiful character. It lies in a snug, retired nook, hidden from 
the general view, but yet sufficiently exposed to render its existence fully 
visible to those wending their way to this part of the garden. This example 
is one of two in the beautiful garden of the Viscountess Portman, Buxted 
Place, Uckfield, and was built by an ordinary workman many years ago. It 
is an example which those who, living in country districts and having an 
opportunity of getting the necessary oak and hazel wood, might do well to 
imitate. If the inside cannot be so elaborately finished off as this is, the 
front part and general form may be the same, since the roof and back can be 
made of ordinary stained deal. Those, however, who desire to build a 
similar example may, we doubt not, succeed in doing so with the aid of very 
little trouble, by following the detailed instructions given below. 
The house is hexagonal in shape. Having made the ground level, fix a kerb 
stone nine inches wide so as to form the above figure. At the six points of 
the hexagon, oak posts having the bark left on them, and about nine inches in 
diameter and seven feet long, should be fixed. One end must be drilled to 
receive a pin let into the kerb stone about four inches from each of the points 
of the figure. The pins should be six inches long, two inches being let into 
the stone and four into the wood ; by this means the posts will be made firm 
at the bottom and kept in position. Six other pieces of wood, the length of 
the sides of the figure, must next be fixed to the top of the posts to form the 
plates for the roof to rest on. Leave the three front sides open, and plant 
climbers against the pillars to grow up to the roof. From the three front sides, 
which are left open, gables should be formed. These may be made by 
causing two rafters to meet the ridge boards, meeting together over the centre 
of the building. Cover the gable ends with hazel and birch rods, split and 
nailed on to the boards in the most artistic manner, so as to form diamonds 
and triangles. The weather board should project about four inches beyond 
the face of the building, and be scalloped and covered with hazel and birch 
rods. Then the three back sides of the house should be boarded from floor 
to ceiling, the boards being fixed between the pillars, and covered with hazel 
