Ritral :3lrcl)Ucctiirc. 



COUNTRY HOtrSES. 



We have long been of the opinion that a book was 

 needed on country houses— a book so cheap as to be 

 accessible to all, and containing plans for houses — 

 not for the benefit of the rich, who can afford to em- 

 ploy an architect, and spend any amount of money ni 

 their construction,— but a book combining economy 

 with taste — one that would furnish the poor man 

 struggling to gain a " sweet home" for himselt and 

 lovedljnes, plans at once cheap and tasteful ; or that 

 would give him, from Uie study of the models fur- 

 nished, such a knowledge of rural architecture and 

 the requirements of correct taste, as to enable hmi to 

 form his own plans to suit his own circumstances. 

 One of the present editors, before his editorial con- 

 nection with the Farmer, furnished the following 

 article for its pages : 



It hns been eaid that " true tnste is a good economist." 

 Now taste, when kept within proper bounds, inay he ecoii- 

 orav ■ but we often see TiSTK pet the upper hand ol reason, 

 and drive rampant, regardless ilike of lunily or economy, of 

 means or ends. I was lead to these perlu-, s rather crude 

 reflections on an examination of " Downing s ■■'""'isj^Pe 

 Gar cning," and " Cottage Residences," in which 1 l.nd the 

 abo%e quotition. The beauty of Mr. »'.»V"«' * "■"';^ "" 

 one will do ibt- the taste and gemus displayed by the ad- 

 mired authoi no one will call in quesUon ; yet, how illy are 

 they adapted to the wants of the American people — how 

 poorly calculated to refine the tastes of the masses or to 

 Live a touch of beauty to the thousands of buildings that are 

 ' • going up" around us. Of how little service to the !• amier 

 or Mechanic— the man of small means and refined taste, wbo 

 vvishcs to make his home pleasant and attracuve. 



From these works the man of wealth may learn how to 

 expend his thousands in building beautiful and costly man- 

 sions. They may encourage a taste for display— for princely 

 residences and retinues. They may cause aristocratic • es- 

 tablishments" to spring up over our land. The ghost of some 

 ancient castle, or the effiey of some lordly manor-honse, with 

 its 'Hodges" and '-Ih-eried" attendants, maybe made to sup- 

 plant the plain republican " homestead" — European indo- 

 lence and luxury to encroach upon American industry and 

 simplicity ; but, I doubt whether this will improve the taste 

 or the morals, or add much to the peace ami happiness of 

 the American people. I doubt whetlier it will promote that 

 EQUALITY of which We boast, or make us more worthy the 

 respeet and imitation of the world. 



In this country, thanks to our republican institutions and 

 the smiles of a kind Providence, we have but few very rich, 

 and few exU-emely poor. Here, with slight excepHons, al 

 labor in some sphere, and all alike enjoy the necessaries and 

 luxuries of life. And I regret, that under n plea of improv- 

 ing the "taste" of our people, Ameucans should be taught 

 , a love of pomp and show, and costly establishments, laste 

 may be purchased at too great an expense. 



That the taste of our people needs improving in respect to 

 buildiniJ and beautifying their homes, and that snch im- 

 provem'ent might be made consistent with simplicity and 

 economy, no one can doubt. But a work to aid m its ac- 

 compUsliment, must, as fru- as possible, be witlun the means, 

 and meet the wants of all, so that the man with four or live 

 hundred dollars may find assistance in enabling him to make 

 a home at once convenient and tasteful. I long for the time 

 when not only the mansions of the rich, but the cottages of 

 the poor, shaU have the benefit of that " true taste which is 

 good economy." ■,,■.! 



The traveller in many parts of Europe, particularly in the 

 agricultural districts of England, is enchanted with the beauty 

 of its rural residences. And this delight is not caused by 

 the elegance iind splendor of the palaces of the "getilry" 

 occasionally met with, but by the beautiful, though humble 

 cottages of the porr, which, with the Howenng hedges so 

 common in England, gives to it the appearance of a vast 

 garden, with here and there a summer-house, shaded by a 

 cluoter of overspreading trees, and covered with roses and 

 honeysuckles. 



We need another work on Cottage Residences— a work 

 for the million. 



This was published in the September number for 

 1848. Mr. Barrt, on his way to Ewrope, called on 

 Mr. Downing early the ensuing winter, and wrote 

 us at the time, staling that Mr. D. was preparing a 

 work on clieap cottage residences. We have since 

 that time been an.xiously awaiting the announcement 

 of the book. A month or two since it was adver- 

 tised in the eastern papers, and most of the agricul- 

 tural papers acknowledged its receipt. Although 

 the publishers did not furnish us with a copy, w^e 

 took the first opportunity to procure one of the agent 

 in this city, Mr. D. M."Di;wev. It is a large work 

 of nearly 500 pages, beautifully printed on tine paper, 

 and illustrated with over 300 engravings. It is divi- 

 ded into two parts. The first part, of about 2o0 

 pages, contains many useful suggestions on rural 

 architecture, and about 20 designs for cottages and 

 farm-houses — the lowest estimate $300, and the 

 highest $5,000. It also contains various plans for 

 barns, stables, yards, fcc. There are over 100 en- 

 gravings in this part. 



The second part contains thirteen designs for a 

 more e.xpensive class of country houses, or what 

 the author calls villas. The estimate for the cheap- 

 est plan is §3,500, and the highest f 14,000. — 

 And unless some of our readers may not know the 

 difierence between a villa and a cottage, we must 

 give the author's own definitions. A cottage is "a i 

 dwelling so small that the household 'uties may all 

 be performed by the family, or with t.ie assistance 

 of not more than one or tw^o domestics." "A villa 

 is a country house of larger accommodation, requir- 

 ing the care of at least three or more servants." 

 We think after this the all-important distinction will 

 be perfectly understood, and settled beyond the reach 

 of cavil ; so if the daughters residing in the villa, 

 with a due regard to their own health, and a desire 

 to understand thoroughly the mysteries of hous^e- 

 keeping, undertake to do the work, and dispense with 

 one or two of the servants, the house must no longer 

 be called a villa, but a cottage. This part also con- 

 tains various suggestions, enforced by illustrations, 

 for decorating and furnishing the interior of houses 

 to correspond with the style of the e-\terior. Also, 

 plans for ventilating and warming. 



The price of the^book is #4 : and this is so high 

 that many, we fear, will be deterred from purchasing 

 it, who might read it with great benefit. The pub- 

 lishers, however, Messrs. Ai'pleton &i Co., of New 

 York, in a note, inform us that they intend to pub- 

 lish the first part separate, which will reduce the 

 price about one-half, we suppose. And this is the 

 part most needed, and most useful. We hope the 

 publishers will get up a fair readable edition which 

 they can afford to sell for about tl.50, and then wo 

 liave no doubt thousands of them will find their way 

 into the hands of farmers and mechanics, who would 

 never purchase the more expensive work. We 

 would at all events urge those who have the least 

 idea of building, to procure it ; and we can assure 

 them that it will in all probability save them more 

 than ten-fold its cost. No one who passes througn 

 this section of country, can fail to witness the im- 

 provements of the last few years in the style of build- 

 ino-s. For this we are indebted in a very great de- 

 gree to Mr. Downing. The publishers liave kind- 

 fy furnished us with several designs of cottages, one 

 of which, with the author's description, will be lound 

 on the next page. We shall make further extracts 

 from the book, in future numbers. 



