PAKKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS 



AMERICAN NOTES 



CHAPTER I. 



THE HOUSE AND OFFICES. 



Inti'oJuction — Climate of tbe Site — Soil and Subsoil — Drainage — Sup- 

 ply of Water — Shelter — Position of the House in tlie Park — Elevation 

 of the Site — Extent of the Site — Style of the House — Arrangement 

 of the Interior of the House — Consers-atory — Stable Court and Offices. 



The liouse, being the head-quarters of the family — 

 the capital, as it were, of the park or demesne — is by 

 far the most important object within the grounds, and, 

 as snch, the selection of the site must take precedence 

 of all other matters, whether it be a castle or a cottage, 

 and whatever be its form and construction. While 

 tfiis ought to be the dominant principle in the forma- 

 tion of a country residence, and while the house should 

 be made the central point, to which all operations con- 

 nected with the laying out of the park and pleasure- 

 o-rounds should be referred ; tliere are certain require- 

 ments belonging to a mansion-house, as a comfortable 

 dwelling, which must be allowed to modify the final 

 choice of site as the best upon the whole world. 



