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fungoid growths as far as their influence extends, it is impossible for 

 the house to be dry, comfortable, or healthy for human beings. Many 

 of the older houses throughout the country are rendered almost unin- 

 habitable by the dense surroundings of trees and shrubbery, and the 

 evil is greatly aggravated when the trees are of evergreen species. 

 Ventilation is produced by heat, and a building shaded from the rays 

 of tbe sun by lofty trees and sheltered from, currents of air by thickets 

 of shrubbery is deprived of the influences most conducive to health, 

 and is a fitting subject for the attention of a sanitary commission. 



Plantings of the finer species of dwarf flowering shrubs may be 

 placed in moderately large masses on the lawn near the house with- 

 out any great injury if not too frequently repeated; but even the 

 smaller growing shrubbery, if planted in continuous thickets near 

 the building, in any way except a northerly direction, will sensibly 

 exclude the genial cool breezes so grateful during the summer. A 

 house nestling on the sunny side of an evergreen plantation is sug- 

 gestive of comfort, and presents a cheerful, sheltered appearance dur- 

 ing winter. It is as economical as it is attractive, as many persons can 

 testify who have had the foresight to plant sheltering borders of ever- 

 greens in bleak and treeless situations, and in consequence are realizing 

 a higher thermometric temperature ; but even these, to be of greatest 

 benefit, should not approach within 100 feet of the house, at least not 

 in a mass. Isolated specimens of rare or otherwise specially interesting 

 trees may be planted nearer, but only on the northern sides of the house. 



A certain amount of shade is very desirable in connection with a 

 house, especially in climates where, during a great portion of the time, 

 it is more agreeable out of doors than it is in rooms ; yet it had better 

 be secured by covered verandas than by trees. It is also more con- 

 ducive to health to sit under a covered roof. Exposure to evening dews 

 is a well-known fruitful source of sickness, and the partial protection 

 afforded by the overhanging branches of trees is not sufficient when 

 dew is forming. 



Trees of the large-growing species should not be planted nearer than 

 60 feet to the walls of a dwelling house. Such trees are the sugar and 

 the silver maple, the sycamore, elm, linden, ash, chestnut, and poplar. 

 Trees of medium growth, such as the Norway and the English maple, 

 and others of this class that do not attain a height of more than 30 feet x 

 may be planted 30 to 40 feet from the building. 



Another disadvantage resulting from surrounding the building with a 

 thicket of foliage is, that it shuts out the views of immediate and distant 

 scenery ; as seen from the house at the same time the house, as an object 

 of the local landscape, is completely hidden from view. If the architec- 

 ture of the structure has received any study as a work of artistic design, 

 it should in itself form a picture which to be properly appreciated must 

 be seen and viewed as a whole, so that its proportions, outlines, eleva- 

 {4ons ? and ornamental details may be taken in at one view. Even beds 



