Embellishments 119 



The width of a terrace around a house may vary from 

 five to twenty feet, or more, in proportion as the building 

 is of greater or less importance. The surrounding wall, 

 which supports its level, may also vary from one to eight 

 feet. The terrace, in the better class of English residences, 

 is paved with smooth flag stones, or in place of this, a sur- 

 face of firm well-rolled gravel is substituted. In residences 

 where a parapet or balustrade would be thought too expen- 

 sive, a square stone or plinth is placed at the angles or four 

 corners of the terrace, which serves as the pedestal for a 

 vase or urn. When a more elegant and finished appearance 

 is desirable, the parapet formed of open work of stone, or 

 wood painted in imitation of stone, rises above the level of 

 the terrace two or three feet with a suitably bold coping. 

 On this vases may be placed, not only at the corners, but 

 at regular intervals of ten, twenty, or more feet. We have 

 alluded to the good effect of climbers, here and there planted, 

 and suffered to intermingle their rich foliage with the open 

 work of the parapet and its crowning ornaments. In the 

 climate of Philadelphia, the Giant Ivy, with its thick sculp- 

 turesque looking masses of foliage, would be admirably 

 suited to this purpose. Or the Virginia creeper (the ivy of 

 America) may take its place in any other portion of the 

 Union. To these we may add, the Chinese twining honey- 

 suckle and the Sweet-scented Clematis, both deliciously 

 fragrant in their blossoms, with many other fine climbers 

 which will readily recur to the amateur. 



There can be no reason why the smallest cottage, if its 

 occupant be a person of taste should not have a terrace 

 decorated in a suitable manner.* This is easily and cheaply 

 effected by placing neat flower-pots on the parapet, or 



' f Modern American taste, as expressed by leading architects, would 

 not insist so strongly on terraces for every house. Indeed, such terraces 

 are to be seen on only a small minority of the popular residences of the 

 present, and their lack in the majority is not felt as a defect. Rather 

 have the modern architects and landscape architects boon able to adapt 

 the residence to the ground most effectively by other means, especially 

 by foundation plantings, an expedient apparently little minded by Mr. 

 Downing. -- F. A. W. 



