238 [Senate 



lumns, ornamental pediments, moulded friezes, and the like, have 

 little or nothing to do with farm-houses. They will give an ambi- 

 tious and flashy character to the front • it will be belied by the use- 

 ful and every day character of the rear. 



The truth is, a farmer's house looks as ill when bedecked with the 

 stolen ornaments of a highly architectural villa, as the honest, digni- 

 fied, plain farmer himself would, if tricked out in the fashionable fin. 

 ery of the reigning Paris exquisite. The beauty of propriety is a 

 species of moral beauty even in houses and clothes. 



There should be a kind of homely country-like air about every 

 genuine farm-house. It ought at the first glance to be recognised as 

 belonging to the open meadows, orchards and pastures, that surround, 

 and the fresh luxuriant trees that wave over it. It should be neat 

 and strong, and capacious, and comfortable. If something is wanted 

 beyond this— and we are sure our farming countrymen will more and 

 more desire a manifestation of the agreeable about their houses — -then 

 should something ornamental combine itself with the most important 

 and useful features of the house. Let a veranda be added, which may 

 be adorned, not so much with expensive pillars, as with beautiful and 

 flagrant climbing plants. Let the porch be made a suitable covering 

 to the principal entrances. Let the gables be enriched with simple 

 ornaments, and the chimney stacks be built in some pleasing forms. 

 These are the first points that really demand attention in a farmer's 

 house, w^hich we wish to raise to its highest expression of fitness and 

 beauty. Some examples of this kind of rural architecture we hope 

 to be able to offer at no distant time. These trifling hints may per- 

 haps lead some agricultural friend to consider what is essential to 

 the character of a farm-house, and thus at least prevent his marring 

 the beauty of simplicity and propriety. 



A. J. DOWNING, 

 Highland Gardens, JVewburgh^ Jan^ 1846, 



