The Summer-House, 
and birch rods to form panelling, each opening being formed into four panels. 
Fix a rustic seat round the three enclosed sides, make the legs of pieces of 
oak with the bark on, and the seat with strips of wood. Underneath the 
roof, and on a level with the top of the pillars, fix the ceiling by means of 
boards secured to the plates. To these boards nail hazel and birch rods in the 
form of diamonds. The whole of the inside and gables should then be 
varnished, to give the place a noble appearance. Pave the floor with glazed 
hexagon tiles, and in the centre stand a rustic table, the legs of which should 
be of oak, and the top covered with hazel and birch rods, forming an octagon. 
The building must next be roofed with sheet zinc, this being much lighter 
than any other material. For an ornamental, and at the same time a rustic 
house, this is neat in appearance and substantial in build. Some of the 
gables may be covered with golden ivy, and the pillars with the Dutchman's 
Pipe (.Aristolochia sip ho). On the left a plant of Berberis Darwinii may be 
planted, and the whole be well backed with rhododendrons. 
The disadvantage of summer-houses of this type is they are not tenant’s 
fixtures. The law lays down the axiom that “ whatever is attached to the 
freehold becomes part of it, and hence cannot be removed by the tenant.” 
Too many of us, alas, cannot afford, except on our own freehold, to spend a 
large sum of money on the erection of a summer-house, and then on the 
expiration of a tenancy to have to leave it behind. It is clear, therefore, 
that we want something of a more portable nature, something, in fact, that 
will answer the purpose of the expensive permanent summer-house and yet 
remain the property of the tenant. Happily we have long been able to 
gratify this wish, for several manufacturers of repute have made the tenant’s 
fixture or portable summer-houses a speciality. Those, therefore, who have 
a few pounds only to spend on the luxury of a summer-house can easily 
obtain what they require ready made and quite complete for placing in any 
position in the garden. 
But there are many perhaps who would prefer to construct their own, and 
hence it behoves us to give the needful instructions to enable them to do it 
satisfactorily. 
A summer-house only large enough to comfortably seat one person is the 
smallest we can conceive, but this hermit idea is too suggestive of a sentry 
box to be pleasant. The house should be large enough to accommodate 
four persons at least. A house to hold and seat two persons comfortably, 
similar to Figs. 3 and 4, should have a floor space of 4 feet by 3 feet 6 inches. 
