SITE OF THE HOUSE AND OF THE GARDENS. 21 



work to take away, or utilise by transference, great quantities of the 

 earth, deep valleys should be excavated up the steep banks, in proper 

 places, with calculated irregularity of direction, and the promontories 

 so created, should be planted with judgment. In suitable geological 

 positions rocks may be .developed, or rockwork used in like manner. 

 Such hollows fix in the mind the general ratio of the slope. The 

 base or ground-line of the house should always be level. It frequently 

 occurs, however, that the ground-line of the offices is at a lower 

 level. In such case the difference should be marked by low planting. 



(/). With regard to the subsoil, most frequently there is little 

 room for choice. Much prejudice exists against building a residence 

 on any but a gravelly or a sandy soil. Where a dwelling-house 

 has to be erected on a fresh position, a porous soil is to be pre- 

 ferred ; but in a fully inhabited district, where perfect drainage is 

 carried out, and the whole site of the structure can be overlaid 

 with a flooring of concrete, there need not be any fear of building 

 on clay. In gravelly districts that have been formerly old river 

 bottoms, especially when near to existing great rivers, or when 

 they are low-lying, and in similar districts that are thickly in- 

 habited, it is necessary to adopt precautionary means for preventing 

 the exhalation of noxious gases through the light soil, from depths 

 where percolated moisture may be stagnant ; whereas in a moderately 

 dry clay, although there may be a dampness that can be removed 

 by efficient drainage, there will not be any harmful vapours. 



The site of a house, the design and arrangement of the structure, 

 the position of its chief entrance and of its principal apartments, 

 greatly influence judgment as to the position and arrangement of 

 the gardens. In due course the details of such arrangements will 

 be more fully treated of. 



If we imagine a place that possesses most desirable features, the 

 site of a dwelling-house should have fine prospects to the south-east, 



