158 THE VILLA GARDENER. 



243. The house. — In proceeding to lay out the grounds of a country 

 residence, the first point that requires to be determined is, the situation of the 

 house and domestic offices ; the latter including the kitchen-court and the 

 stable-court. We have already said so much on the advantages of a situation 

 for the house so far elevated as to be commanding, and on a soil so dry, and 

 a surface so open, as to be healthy, that we shall not enlarge further upon 

 these subjects here ; but the site of the house, relatively to the public road 

 and the boundary fence, remains to be considered. Where there are offensive 

 objects in or near the boundary, there is a motive for placing the house at a 

 distance from it ; but, where this is not the case, the house may be set down 

 on the spot containing the best views, provided that spot allows of properly 

 placing and disposing of the offices and kitchen-garden. Where it is intended 

 that the establishment shall be small, there will often be found great conve- 

 nience in placing the house near the public road and main entrance, in order 

 to lessen the labour of servants in attending the gates. On the other hand, 

 in the case of complete establishments, a situation at some distance from the 

 public road has the advantage of concentrating the business of the establish- 

 ment, and thus bringing all the servants more immediately under the eye 

 and control of the master and mistress. Where it is desired to make a place 

 look larger than it is, an advantage is gained by placing the house at a great 

 distance from the entrance-lodge ; because the approach road is thus 

 lengthened, and the impression on the stranger, in regard to the extent of 

 the place, is heightened in proportion to the length of space which he has to 

 travel over between the entrance-lodge and the front door of the mansion. 

 This idea of extent is greatly increased when the approach road separates into 

 two branches at a short distance within the entrance-gates, and where one 

 road is devoted to going to the mansion, and the other to returning from it; 

 provided, however, that the one road is not seen from the other. 



244. The offices. — It is almost needless to observe that the kitchen-court 

 should always be immediately connected with the mansion ; and that in some 

 cases, as in small houses, the kitchen and other offices should be, in a great 

 measure, under the principal floor of the house. The drying-ground is most 

 conveniently placed between the kitchen-court and the stable-court; and 

 between the latter and the drying-ground is a suitable situation for a poultry- 

 yard, which, in our opinion, is an essential addition to every kind of 

 residence which contains an acre or two of land ; and, also, for the cow-house 

 and piggery, where only one or two cows are kept, and no more pigs than 

 are necessary to eat up the refuse. The stable offices should be as near as 

 possible to the kitchen offices, in order that the servants employed in them 

 may be within hearing of the bells by which they are called ; that as little 

 time as possible should be lost after ordering a carriage, till it appears at the 

 door; and that the master may inspect his horses, carriages, and dogs, with 

 little trouble, during severe weather. 



245. The extent of the accommodation of the house and offices will vary with 

 the style of expenditure of the family; and the st}le of architecture will 

 depend on the taste of the proprietor ; and, therefore, neither require to be 

 here enlarged on. In order that access may be readily obtained to both the 

 kitchen and stable offices by servants and tradesmen, without crossing before 

 the entrance-front of the house, these offices should always be placed on that 

 side of the house which is next the entrance-lodge. 



