COTTAGES AND COTTAGE LIFE. 



181 



planatory text accompanies each of these 

 plates. 



The following remarks, on the gromids 

 of cottages, which the author makes, under 

 the head of Landscape Gardening, will 

 best show his method of treating practical 

 subjects: — 



''The Landscape Gardener should pre- 

 cede the Architect and Builder ; as the best 

 site for the house is a matter of moment. 

 This should not be, as it seems to me, on 

 the highest point of land, because such 

 portions are bleak, exposed on all sides, 

 furnish no relief, no back-ground to the 

 building. To command a view — to have 

 the advantage of shade, and shelter, and 

 water — to have the barn and out-buildings 

 near, yet not conspicuous ; to permit of easy 

 drainage from the cellar, if it is necessary; 

 to be easy of access from the highway ; 

 these are to be considered. Should a man 

 have it in view to build, he should at once 

 have more or less of his planting done, 

 both shade and fruit trees, as they will be 

 so much in advance when he comes to live; 

 and if he should not build, it is no loss. 

 As far as practicable, make divisions which 

 are 7iecessary about the house of the ha-ha 

 or blmd fence, or of hedges, for which 

 purpose the Madura or Osage Orange is 

 believed to be one of the most desiiable 

 plants. 



" The carriage-way is of consequence. 

 It is idle to say that it should in no case be 

 straight. A fine, wide, shaded avenue is a 

 desirable thing. But, should the distance 

 be considerable, any person will see that it 

 may be monotonous. At present, the car- 

 riage-way is allowed to take the direction 

 which the face of the ground makes the 

 easiest, if it does not lead too much out of 

 the course. 



" It is a sort of vexation to have the ob- 

 ject in our eye, and be taken out of your 



way to get to it. One should take care 

 that the turns are not too sudden. The 

 proper width of this road must vary with 

 the size of the house and grounds, from 

 nine to twenty feet. A depth of six inches 

 of gravel answers for carriages and light 

 weights ; let this come up even with the 

 turf, and be slightly rounded towards the 

 middle. Keep the edges of the road and 

 the walks closely mown, and rolled smooth. 



"In planting upon it, a constant succes- 

 sion of one variety of tree, at regular dis- 

 tances, is also tame and uninteresting. It 

 is desirable to introduce a variety, and to 

 arrange them in groups, having a connec- 

 tion with one another ; each variety of foli- 

 age and form in harmony, as in contact 

 with the rest. 



" The /oo?-?<7aZA-5 should be four or five 

 feet wide, and should, when practicable, 

 lead to some object — a view — or a summer 

 house — or a fine tree, and continue on, so 

 that the return may be b}^ another path. 

 If at convenient points, rough seats are 

 placed, it adds to their pleasures; for one 

 can rest, if necessarj\ 



" As to the jlower-heds, it is desirable, in 

 any place of considerable extent, to set 

 apart a portion of ground for them; of 

 which some of the windows of the house 

 command a sight, and through which one 

 might go to a grapery or a green-house. 

 But a very beautiful way, is to cut them in 

 circles, or other graceful shapes, upon the 

 edges of the walks, making the soil rich 

 and deep. 



" A group of rocks, partially covered with 

 creepers and flowering plants, is a pleasing 

 object. 



" Water is always desirable, in the dis- 

 tance and at hand. In very many situa- 

 tions, a spring, or a small stream, will sup- 

 ply the evaporation of a pretty sized pond, 

 in which the lilies and water plants will 



