House and Garden 
picture is observed closely, it will be 
noticed that the upright posts, of which 
there are eight, are set in the ground at 
an angle of about ten degrees off the 
perpendicular. I'his idea was suggested 
by the two pine trees which grow out of 
the ground at the same angle and them¬ 
selves act as posts for the support of the 
structure. The floor and roof are made 
by fitting together as closely as possible 
the smaller poles, three to four inches 
in diameter at the butts. The rounded 
surfaces of these were roughly flattened 
by the use of an adze. The roof was 
made water-tight by a covering of tarred 
felt paper. Over this was painted a thick 
coating of coal-tar, and while it was still 
soft, brown pine-needles were stuck on to 
the depth of about two inches, with the 
result of producing an attractive thatch, 
d he pine trees overhead produce a yearly 
supply of dry needles that drop on to the 
roof in quantities enough to make up for 
those that disappear in the process of weathering. 
At each post are planted vines and climbers, and 
around the house is a two-foot border planted with 
lilies and ferns. This is raised some six inches 
above the natural level of the ground, in order that 
plenty of nourishment may he supplied and the plants 
GARDEN TEMPLE IN THE HAMLET OF MARIE 
ANTOINETTE, VERSAILLES, FRANCE 
RECESSED GARDEN-HOUSE, VILLA BORGHESE, ROME 
kept cultivated without disturbing any more than 
possible the roots of the trees. 
The cost of stock was twenty-four dollars. As 
the author did all the construction, no charge was 
made for labor, but it required a month’s time. 
Besides red cedar, one could use white cedar or 
larch, also the second growth of white oak and 
chestnut; but these woods all decay sooner than red 
cedar. Both cedars have a pleasing odor, and the 
bark clings well to the wood provided it is cut in 
the fall when the sap is not running. The chief 
qualities that recommend all these woods are their 
straight and gradual tapering habits of growth, and 
their durability. 
Red cedar should stand for fifty or sixty years, 
but posts set in the ground often show bad decay 
after ten or twelve years. To prevent this they 
should be treated with a creosote preventative or 
set on stone foundations so the wood will not touch 
the earth. 
The illustrations in this article suggest but few 
of many types that are attractive. All four have in 
common an appearance of stability and a lack of 
finical ornamentation. Summer-houses of classic 
design are now built with good effect of cement and 
at a smaller cost than stone or brick. 
Hoping that some of the readers of this article may 
wish to try their hand at building a rustic summer¬ 
house, or having one built by a carpenter under their 
directions, rather than attempting one of classic 
design, the author has given a description of one he 
built himself. He believes that some of the sugges¬ 
tions here set forth may be of assistance to all who 
appreciate the comfort and delight that one of these 
outdoor living-rooms affords. 
i86 
