Seats
As resting-places in the pleasure-grounds, park, and woods of a gentleman's domain, Seats are always necessary adjuncts; for the croquet-ground, cricket-ground, &c., they are indispensable. In the gardens of the suburban villa, and of the cottage, they are alike in request. Seats may be of classic design, the work of the sculptor and architect, upon the nobleman's terrace; logs of wood, placed informally at the base of some large tree, in the park; a simple rustic plank, with a more or less grotesque back rail formed of crooked branches, for the shrubbery and the woods. But, as a rule the above are not admissible into dressed grounds. The inventive faculties of manufacturers of garden furniture have of late years placed within the reach of all classes a variety of Seats much more enjoyable and convenient than the uncomfortable rustic Seats of former times. Most of the large furnishing ironmongers, in the principal towns, supply Seats suitable for the margins of walks, croquet-grounds, and other places (where a considerable number of persons require accommodation), that will each afford rest to from six to eight persons; some of these have a back to shut down over the Seat to keep it dry--the "Windsor," the "Osborne," and the "Sandringham," are good examples--others are fitted with awnings, and very ingenious mechanism for opening and closing the same at pleasure. In some, the "awning" forms a screen at the back: by this contrivance persons using the Seat are secured from the chill east winds that prevail in spring and early summer, and which often render the employment of an open Seat dangerous to health. The awnings also form an agreeable screen from the scorching sun at a later period. These Seats, whilst the most desirable, are not out of keeping in any position in the pleasure-grounds. The framework of the Seats above described is of iron, having laths of pitch pine or other durable wood bolted on to form the seat and back; the whole is painted or stained and varnished. Of chairs, there is an almost endless variety; most of them are very light, and easy to transfer from place to place as occasion may require. They are framed of iron, with wood laths, as described above, or with light steel spring laths, which are more yielding than the wood. Some are made with elbow rests, some to fold up, and others to rock. The names given to these, in the trade, are "Desideratum," "Gwyder," "Spring lounges," "French spring chairs," &c. It is desirable that this class of garden furniture should be carefully stored in a dry loft or outhouse, during the winter months, as its beauty very much depends upon the perfect state of the paint and varnish, and in the spring, when taken out, any defects should be attended to. The Seats fitted with awnings, as already described, are movable; but others, of a more permanent kind, may often find a place, and will form, not only a very comfortable retreat, but also an agreeable feature in the scenery. Should a boundary wall require masking, a bench, say from 10ft. to 12ft. long, may be fixed against it. Over it a pitched roof may be constructed of boards supported on rustic posts at a convenient height, and covered with rough bark or thatch, the ends being closed with boards, also covered with bark, or rough trellis work, and a floor constructed with pebbles or blocks of wood. The wall at the back should be lined with India matting, and a Rose or Honeysuckle trained over the structure, the width of which may be from 3ft. to 5ft. Similar Seats, but constructed independently of a wall, with bark or thatch coverings, may be erected in the more distant parts of the grounds, woods, &c., as shelters in case of sudden showers. In such places, they should have a closely-boarded back and ends, covered with rough bark or heather, and the structure should be flanked by shrubs. Cold draughts should be prevented from entering at the back of the Seat, by stuffing all crevices with moss, and, if a greater degree of ornamentation is desired, patterns in hazel rods or mosses may be worked on the inside surfaces.