182 Walks and Talks of an American Farmer. 



The building should, even to its minutest detail, be studied and deter- 

 mined on the spot; and an architect who has the interests of his noble sci- 

 ence at heart, will always insist upon the necessity for this very first step. 

 Both the architect and the contemplator of the building must be guided by 

 such simple rules as I will here attempt to state. Endeavor first to be im- 

 pressed with the suggesting influences of the spot. If the range of vision 

 be limited, the scenery quiet, and possessing a self-contained charm of 

 beauty or grandeur complete in itself, the character of the house may be 

 left more to the bent of the owner's taste, than were the building a promi- 

 nent feature in an extended range of landscape, — a connecting link in the 

 chain of beauties around. If the first be the case, the house, — governed, 

 however, by certain rules, — maybe more fancifully developed, more profuse 

 in details, and more whimsical, than in a situation like the latter. There 

 every outline must accord Avith the prevailing character of the natural forms 

 around, and the details and architectural features must be bolder, more 

 marked and expressive, in order to be defined by the eye that views them 

 after a scale formed upon the bold fragments of nature's architecture. 

 These considerations are the text from which all rules for the choice of 

 styles may be deduced. General outlines and efiects, rather than minutiae 

 of details, are to be studied, to secure congruity between art and nature ; 

 the niceties of particular styles are only to be so attended to that they may 

 not conflict with the first great truth of harmony of the general masses. 

 Almost any style may, in the hands of a master, be made suitable for a given 

 location ; and there are few modern styles that may not architecturally be 

 moulded to the requirements demanded. 



In conclusion, we can recommend Mr. Wheeler's Rural 

 Homes as every way worthy of attentive perusal. 



Art. II. Walks and Talks of an American Farmer in 



England. Being No. 3 of Putnam's Semimonthly Libra- 

 ry for Travellers and the Fireside. 1 vol., 12mo, pp. 246 : 

 New York, 1852. 



This is the title of a small but rather interesting volume 

 of an American farmer, detailing his personal views of Eng- 

 lish husbandry, as observed in a leisure journey " a-foot " 

 through the country, in order to obtain a home knowledge of 

 the system, practice, and progress of English farming, and 

 the character, condition, and general intelligence of the agri- 



