PREFACE. 



A TASTE for rural improvements of every description is 

 advancing silently, but with great rapidity in this country. 

 While yet, in the far west the pioneer constructs his rude 

 hut of logs for a dwelling, and sweeps away with his axe the 

 lofty forest trees that encumber the ground, — in the older 

 portions of the Union bordering the Atlantic, we are sur- 

 rounded by all the luxuries and refinements that belong to 

 an old and long cultivated country. Within the last ten 

 years especially, the evidences of the growing wealth and 

 prosperity of our citizens have become apparent in the great 

 increase of elegant cottage and villa residences on the banks 

 of our noble rivers, throughout our rich valleys, and wherever 

 nature seems to invite us by her rich and varied charms. 



In all the expenditure of means in these improvements, 

 amounting in the aggregate to an innnense sum, professional 

 talent is seldom employed, in Architecture or Landscape Gar- 

 dening, but almost every man fancies himself an amateur, and 

 endeavours to plan and arrange his own residence. With 

 but little practical knowledge, and few correct principles for 

 his guidance, it is not surprising that we witness much incon- 

 gruity and great waste of time and money. Even those who 

 are familiar with foreign works on the subject in question, 

 labour under many obstacles in practice, which grow out of 

 the difference in our soil and climate, or our social and polit- 

 ical position. 



These views have so often presented themselves to me of 



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