The following is the method in which the work is performed. The first thing necessary, before commencing operations, is to have an even close-boarded surface to work upon; and upon this ground draw whatever figures, forms, or devices you intend to represent. The next thing is to get round rods, about half an inch or five-eighths of an inch in diameter, nearly of equal size, and well seasoned. These rods are to be nailed on agreeably to the drawing, about an inch from centre to centre, this being the average space, though it is necessary to regulate the distance, in some measure, according to the space allotted for each sort of moss. Each species should be collected separately, when perfectly dry. It must be adjusted by placing the top of each piece as evenly as possible, and cutting off a part of the root end, if it should be found too long. Take a small quantity at a time, and ram it in between the rods with a blunt wedge-shaped piece of wood. The rods act as a dovetail; and, if the moss be properly rammed in, it cannot be pulled out again without tearing it to pieces. The bottom part being compressed between the rods, the top expands, and so completely covers the rods that not a vestige of them is to be seen in the whole building.

Its evenness of surface, closeness of texture, and variety of colour, give moss thus arranged an appearance not unlike that of a Turkey carpet. The most common species of moss adapted for the purpose are, Cen6myce rangiferina, the pure white of which contrasts well with that of most of the other sorts; Di-cranum glaucum, whitish green, and Bryum hornum, yellowish green, these are two of the best, and quite distinct in colour; Shagnum acutifolium, the pink variety, and S. obtusifolium, yellowish white, form a striking contrast with the greater part of the others; Bryum roseum, pink, B. cuspidastum, light green, Dicranum scoparium, deep green, Hypnum Schreberi, reddish, H. squarrosum, bright green, are all good; and H. loreum, bright green, H. triquetrum, yellow-green, H, (Leskea) dendroldes, yellowish green, and some others, serve to make a variety.

of well-seasoned wood, are shown at a in fig, 253. The floor of the cell maybe laid with flints, pebblei, bricks of different colours, or with broken bottles.

Fig. 252. shows another mode of arranging the side panels, without moss, and solely placing hazel rods. Fig. 253. shows the ground plan of a rustic summer-house, which may be built either with or without moss; the elevation of which is shown in fig, 254. The ground plan of this rustic structure has nine equal sides, with a portico all round, supported on nine pillars, each of a young fir-tree, 1 ft. in diameter, with capitals 1 ft. 2 in. square, formed of square boards 4 in. thick. On these caps rest four courses of rustic planks, with the bark on each, 6 in. thick, and perfectly horizontal, which connect the whole of the columns, and support the rafters of the projecting roof, which may be formed of heath or reeds, or of larch, birch, or oak bark. The floor on which the columns are placed is raised on a base 1 ft. high, and surrounded by a gravel walk. The position and form of the seat, which is made with their bottoms upwards, and filled-in with Roman cement and sea-shells. The floor of the portico may be paved in any fanciful manner, with bricks, or with small stones of various colours, from the nearest convenient locality, or from the sea-beach. The rafters are 4 in. broad, and 5 in. deep; and, to secure them from wet, they may be first covered with a layer of slates, and above that with a coat of heath or of reeds, 9 in. thick.

If heath or reeds cannot be conveniently procured, chips of wood, or of birch or hazel spray, may be used; and covered, or not, according to the taste of the party, with plates of larch, birch, or oak bark, laid in the manner of slates, with the outer surface upwards. If bark is not used as an outer covering, the materials may be Kyanised. The wall of the cell is 9 in. thick, and consists of nine upright posts, on the inside of which are nailed horizontally (the upper edge standing out about 1 in. from the post) fillets of wood 3/4 in. square, and 1 in. apart. In the interstices between the strips, moss is rammed in with a wedge-shaped piece of wood. The ceiling is formed in the same manner, except that in the centre there is a polygonal star, formed by moss of a different colour. On the supposition that the general surface is clothed by the common ground moss, the star may be formed of the same moss, dyed by steeping it in a decoction of logwood; or of the white moss found on trees. The cornice in the inside is made of the cones of the common Scotch pine, or of the pinaster; three rows being laid horizontally, and one row projecting a little outward.

The door is made of rustic work, and has the two upper panels filled in with latticework and stained glass, as are the two other windows in the side walla, shown in the plan. The seat is formed of different kinds of wood with the bark taken off, as shown in the plan. The best kinds of wood to use for the columns, and the horizontal planks over them which form the frieze, are spruce, fir, and larch; because these retain their bark a longer time without its decaying, than any other common British wood. If these kinds cannot be procured, then it is better to remove the bark. Structures of this kind are not uncommon in pleasure-grounds: that now described was erected, some years age, at Murtle, in Aberdeenshire, by Mr. James Alexander, then gardener there. The cost is chiefly labour, the whole timber and other materials not exceeding in value 5l. For other moss-houses, see figs. 123. and 124., in p. 214 and p. 215.