series of Designs for Rustic Cottages^ ^-c. 417 



but a whitened object is already lighted up; it remains so when every 

 thing else has returned into obscurity; it still forces itself into notice, 

 still impudently stares you in the face. An object of a sober tint un- 

 expectedly gilded by the sun, is like a serious countenance suddenly 

 lighted up by a smile: a whitened object, like the eternal grin of a 

 fool. 



The designs are ten in number, and include several styles, 

 among which are the English or rural Gothic, the pointed or 

 Tudor, the bracketed villa, the Italian villa, the Tuscan cot- 

 tage, and the Gothic villa — each accompanied with practical 

 details for carrying the same into execution. Designs II. and 

 VIII. are pretty specimens, much to our taste. 



But it is not the good examples of architecture alone, which 

 give the value to this volume: they are only a portion of its 

 contents. A larger part is devoted to the laying out of the 

 grounds, plans of which accompany each of the designs, in- 

 cluding places from half an acre to fifty acres in extent. 

 These plans are accompanied with details for forming the 

 pleasure ground, flower garden, kitchen garden, orchard, &c.; 

 making fountains, erecting rustic arbors, &c., with a list 

 of the most desirable ornamental trees and shrubs, the most 

 beautiful and showy plants, and the choicest fruit trees to be 

 obtained, accompanied by all the information in regard to 

 height, time of blooming, season of ripening, &c. 



In the appendix may be found many useful hints upon the 

 composition of cements, for the exterior of buildings — on 

 building contracts — and on the employment of professional 

 men. 



The only objection we can make to the volume is, the ex- 

 pensive character of the designs, several of them exceed- 

 ing seven or eight thousand dollars in the cost of their erec- 

 tion. Very few villa residences cost near that sum, and we 

 think, if Mr. Downing had brought his estimates between 

 ^2000 and $5000, they would have served a better purpose, 

 and have furnished more examples from which dwellings would 

 have been erected. 



The work is a beautiful specimen of typography, and the 

 designs are in the best style of wood engraving. We be- 

 speak for the volume an attentive perusal, persuaded that those 

 who wish to cultivate an acquaintance with architecture and 

 ornamental planting, will find it a valuable assistant. 



VOL. VIII. — NO. XI. 53 



