44 THE VILLA. GARDENER. 



class, indeed, diiFer but little in their external appearance from ordinary 

 street houses, except in having a little garden before them : whereas those of 

 the larger class closely resemble country villas, except in having smaller 

 gardens, and in being frequently built in pairs. 



We shall first give some general observations on all suburban houses, and 

 then take the different kinds in detail. 



SECTION I. 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON SUBURBAN RESIDENCES. 



67. As there are several circumstances connected with suburban houses, 

 different from other houses, but which exercise considerable influence upon 

 the health and comfort of the occupier, we shall endeavour to point them out 

 separately. 



68. The garden being one of the principal objects in a suburban residence, 

 its shape or outline should be first considered; and, in the case of resi- 

 dences of the smallest size, this is of great importance. A narrow slip of 

 ground, as it must be enclosed, must always include an atmosphere more 

 or less stagnate, and unfit for the purposes of breathing, or walking in, 

 gardening, and even of drying clothes. A form approaching to a square or a 

 circle, will generally be found to admit, in the greatest degree, the influence 

 of the sun and wind, and to be the most advantageous for domestic purposes, 

 as well as for gardening. On a larger scale, the shape of the ground is com- 

 paratively of little consequence in point of health ; though, with regard to 

 variety within the enclosure, it is of the greatest moment. In this case, a long 

 narrow slip may have advantages, instead of disadvantages, by increasing the 

 extent of the home views from the house ; by lengthening the straight walks 

 of the garden ; and even, in some cases, by affording an opportunity of form- 

 ing an avenue of trees as an approach-road. When the piece of ground is 

 long, and the outline circuitous, then the opportunity of varying the interior 

 by planting, and by extending the walks, is much increased; and when to 

 length and circuitousness is added irregularity in breadth, everything, as far 

 as beauty is concerned, is obtained that can be desired in point of form. 

 Where economy is the great object with reference to shape, then that form 

 which requires the smallest quantity of boundary fencing will be the best ; 

 and this is obviously the square or the parallelogram. Theoretically, the 

 circle or the polygon would be more perfect ; but in practice, the application 

 of these figures would be found inconvenient. 



69. The position of the house relatively to the shape or outline of the plan 

 of the garden in which it stands, is a matter of importance in residences of 

 the smallest size. The reason is, the house may be so placed as to throw a 

 shadow over a gi-eat part of the garden every day in the year; or it may be 

 so placed as to throw no shadow on it at any time, or only a partial shadow. 

 The great disadvantage which every small garden has, as compared with a 

 large garden, is the shadow thrown on it by the boundary walls, or by the 

 house or adjoining houses; and, if an intending occupant will bear this in 

 mind while looking out for a house, it will aid him in obtaining what ought 



