Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/1019

 ORNAMENTAL GARDEN STIIUCTURES. 995 1780 1781 ^ a situation, that imitations of it ai-e commonly made of copper and painted green ; in order that the plant may appear always to remain of the proper size, and retain its proper archi- tectural shape. A sun- dial is one of the most agreeable and useful of architectural appen- dages, and in this coun- try is become venerable, as a piece of garden fur- niture. Its situation should always be central, and where it can be walked round, and viewed on every side. There are many elegant forms in artificial stone by Coade and Seeley ; and also by Austin, fig. 1771 ; in pottery, by Peake j and in cast iron, by Cottam and Hallen. Figs. 1772, 1773, 1774, 1775, 1776, and 1777t are vases of Austin's artificial stone. Figs. 1778, 1779, and 1780 are urns of artificial stone, also by Austin, and, with the vases of the same artist, are well adapted for decorating parapets, walls, or other architectural objects in gardens. Fig. 1781 is a pedestal of Austin's artificial stone, on which may be placed either vases or urns. 1983. Grottoes, Root-houses, and si- milar structures, were formerly common in English pleasure-grounds. The idea of a grotto in a British garden is of Italian origin ; as in Italy the grotto, in the summer season, is frequently the family dining-room. In Britain they are generally damp, un- wholesome places, fit only to be glanced at in passing through. However, they add to the nimiber of interesting objects of a demesne ; and, in certain stages of society, grottoes, like many other objects, may form appropriate overflowing places for superfluous wealth. The same may be said of root-houses and other rustic structures; which, in landscape gardening, may be compared to tapestry and other ancient needlework in furnishing, or the elaborately enriched ornaments of Gothic Architecture in the old cathedrals. In an enlightened age, labour employed in this manner will be considered as in a great measure thrown away. The same observation will also apply to the rustic stands and vessels for plants, formed of roots, bark, and pieces of branches, which are found scattered about in various pleasure grounds, often to the utter destruc- tion of harmony and repose. They no doubt serve to amuse the proprietor, and to employ labourers ; but the same labour, bestowed on a more durable material, would be equally beneficial to the labourer, and much more advantageous to the public. But the possessors of wealth must be free to spend it as they choose ; and therefore all that an author, writing on the subjects now treated of, is entitled to do, is, to state his opinion, and his reasons for having formed it, with a view to the improvement of the general taste. Decidedly the best grotto in England is that at Pain's Hill, Surrey. 1 984. Trellisivorli is a frequent ornament in gardens ; and, in many cases, forms a useful structure for training climbing plants on ; for forming a shady arcade ; or for clothing a naked wall. In ancient geometrical gardens, it was customary to form arbours entirely of trelliswork, and to cover them with vegetation, so that the carpentry or iron wire forming the trelliswork became a mere frame for the plants. In this case, it ceased in a great measure to be considered an architectural object, and might be set down in any situation where a seat was desirable. The employment of trelliswork as arcades to connect one scene with another is very frequently overdone : there is nothing either grand or beautiful in walking under such an arcade, covered with a thick roof of impruned plants, with their decayed leaves or twigs ; or with the sickly green appearance in their leaves and young shoots which is the inevitable consequence of the want of direct light. On the other hand, where the plants covering a trellis