KEPOSE AND SECLUSION, 43 



ideasi In all suburban residences of the smaller size it should be 

 impressed on the owners not to attempt too much ; it should be 

 understood at the outset that gardening is a luxury, and cannot 

 be carried out siiccessfull}^ and satisfactorily without expense. 

 How often do we see a fine residence erected at great cost, and 

 then all improvements of any importance cease ; the expense of 

 mowing the lawn every ten days, keeping up the walks in firm 

 condition, dressing the flower beds, etc., being too great for the 

 purse of the owner. He thought the ordinary " lean-to " green- 

 houses, adjoining a mansion, entirely out of place, but for such 

 situations they can be erected of wood or iron in style suited to 

 the main building and without detracting from the general archi- 

 tectural eflfect, though the expense of such structures would be 

 considerable. Too often utility is the all absorbing motive, and 

 we frequently see persons erect greenhouses for the sale of the 

 surplus product. As long as this is done there can be no true 

 progress in artistic gardening. We too often see places which 

 cause no other remark than on the amount of money expended, 

 instead of exciting our admiration by the beauty of the plants or 

 the artistic arrangement of the grounds. He thought Dr. Slade 

 correct in regard to the principle of congruity, as well as of 

 repose and seclusion about our suburban residences. In a visit to 

 Rochester, N. Y., recently, he found people removing their front 

 fences and throwing their grounds open to the street. There was 

 there no opportunity to enjoy your own garden by yourself. Mr. 

 Hovey would do away with interior fences, which too often mar 

 the premises, but he would retain a front fence, ornamented 

 perhaps with vines, and grouped with low shrubs, so as to afford 

 that degree of seclusion which should be a character of every 

 suburban home. He believed that the publication of the essay 

 would lead to a better examination of the whole subject of Land- 

 scape Gardening. He questioned, however, the correctness of the 

 division into the Picturesque and Beautiful, and preferred Mr. 

 Loudon's division into the Picturesque and Gardenesque. 



William C. Strong agreed with the President in his remarks 

 and, to some extent, with Mr. Hovey's ideas in regard to front 

 fences. As the essayist had said, we want to be protected from 

 publicity, but Mr. Strong said he would have also a sense of open- 

 ness ; he disliked high fences and close hedges, but he would plant 

 trees so as to affoi'd protection without causing exclusiveness, and 



