174 PLANS OF RESIDENCES 



grounds, as between those of Plates VIII and IX ; the one here 

 described having a less extent of drive, walks, and ornamental 

 plantations than the plan shown by Plate XI. All the surround- 

 ings are supposed to be the same, and the different modes of laying 

 out the grounds are meant to represent simply the different tastes 

 or means of occupants. Here the proprietor is supposed to desire 

 grounds of the most simple character, which will be at the same 

 time suitable to the mansion and the lot. The entrance road, 

 turnway, and drive to the stable are the most direct and simple 

 that can be made ; and they constitute also the only entrance 

 walks to the house. Ninety feet of the rear of the lot is devoted 

 to utilities, viz. : to carriage-house conveniences, to a kitchen- 

 garden, and an orchard ; the ground in the latter being also de- 

 voted to culture for small fruits and vegetables until the fruit trees 

 are large enough to shadow the whole ground. The front two 

 hundred and ten feet, is all devoted to the house and its ground 

 embellishments. The drive is ten feet in width ; the circle around 

 which it turns is thirty feet in diameter. An avenue of three elm 

 trees on each side of the entrance-drive are its only decorations, 

 though the street-trees in a line with them will give it the appear- 

 ance of an avenue of eight instead of six trees. In the centre of 

 the circle a pine tree is designated to be a white pine if the soil 

 is sandy, otherwise an Austrian. These trees are chosen because 

 they are of rapid and healthy growth, and cast their lower branches 

 as they grow large, so that the lawn beneath them, while it is 

 deeply shadowed, is not destroyed, and the view under the 

 branches is unobstructed. This will be rather an objection than 

 a merit with those persons who desire the main entrance to be' 

 quite secluded and concealed from view. We would recommend 

 for them that the circle be planted with a group of firs, whose 

 branches rest upon the ground during all stages of their growth, 

 and would eventually cover the whole circle with an impene- 

 trable mass of foliage. A single Norway spruce planted in 

 the centre will do this. So, probably, would a Nordmanns .fir, 

 Picea nordmaniana. While these trees are small, the borders of 

 the circle (supposing it to be desirable to shut out the view of the 

 approach road from the porch) may be planted, four feet from the 



