176 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



Nothing adds more to the beauty of a place, than a well kept lawn. 

 Any of the common grasses that endure the wear and tear of ordinary 

 pastures, will do for this purpose. All small irregularities of the surface 

 should Ix' first removed and then the blue-grass, white-clover, and red-top 

 generally used will, with a little care, make a soft green carpet that will 

 set off the surroundings, and call forth the admiration of all who see it. 



Walks and drives should be as few as possible, both on account of 

 their first cose, and the trouble of keeping them in order. Let them be 

 laid out so as to appear to be the most direct or rather the easiest route to 

 the end, if not really so. They should not wind here and there over the 

 grounds in a useless manner, because "a curve is a line of beauty, there- 

 fore the more curves, the more beautiful the walks;" but gently curve to 

 avoid a clump of trees or rise in ground, avoiding any sharp turns. A 

 cow path winding through a pasture will often furnish a better model 

 for a walk, than some that are laid out by skilled gardeners, not because 

 the old cow has better taste, but because she has at least a strong vein 

 of common sense, that prompts her to get to her journey's end by the 

 easiest route. 



As for the buildings, they should be made to conform as far as pos- 

 sible to the natural characteristics of the place, and all subsequent im- 

 provements should in a measure conform to them. Knowing, as I do^ 

 that it often requires m.ore skill, ingenuit)% and taste, to properly arrange 

 a two thousand dollar dwelling-house, than a fifty thousand dollar public 

 building, I would advise every one i*o consult a competent architect be- 

 fore building; feeling assured, that in the end it will be found a saving 

 of money, time, and trouble ; and above all, result in something 

 satisfactory. 



The work of the architect should not stop with the dwelling-house, 

 but he should furnish designs for the out-buildings as well ; for nothing 

 looks worse than a good house surrounded by shabby, ill arranged build- 

 ings, that might just as well be respectable. 



Fences ought to be open and low, so as not to obstruct the view : 

 except where it is absolutely necessary to have them high and strong for 

 protection. A fence made of ( ominon four-inch fencing can be made to 

 look better, and will cost much less, than one of the great high picket 

 barriers so common ; especially when the latter are left unpainted, look- 

 ing as though the owner had sunk all his money iji building them. 

 There are many patterns of picket fences that are neat and light, and 

 look well if kept in good order. It should be remembered, however, that 

 an expensive fence needs eare to keej) it looking as well as a plain, 

 cheap one. 



Here Ave have all that is necessary to make a place beautiful and 

 homelike; trees, grass, and walks; (flowers I have not mentioned; feel- 

 ing assured that the taste of all the fair sex for these choice gifts of na- 

 ture, will secure them their proper ])lace), together with well designed 

 buildings ; just what everyone can have, and what all tvould have, I 

 think, if they could only be made to understand how much easier it is 



