588 Summary View of the Progress of Gardeyiing^ 



so many cheap books containing designs for cottages, that this 

 neglect seems almost inexcusable. Nearly all country gentlemen 

 retain a carpenter for repairs, and for work to be done under 

 their own inspection, and it would be for their interest to put 

 into the hands of such persons books of designs which might 

 tend to cultivate their taste. It is much to be wished, also, that 

 ladies would take a greater interest in the picturesque beauty 

 and comfort of the cottages erected by their friends; and, in 

 short, that they would bestow a portion of their time on the 

 study of architecture. 



There is one department of rustic architecture to which we 

 would earnestly invite the attention of country gentlemen, the 

 ladies of their families, and also their gardeners and stewards, 

 and that is, the erection of rustic structures formed of the thin- 

 nings of plantations with the bark on. We are far from recom- 

 mending the imitation of those grotesque seats and summer- 

 houses, formed of peeled oak branches, so commonly exhibited 

 for sale in the neighbourhood of London, because the different 

 parts of these structures are put together without any evidence 

 of cultivated design. The materials that we recommend are poles 

 or young trees, of from 6 in. to 9 in. in diameter at the thickest 

 end, of Scotch pines, larches, spruce firs, oaks, alders, and a few 

 others which grow straight, and in every case we prefer them 

 with the bark kept on. These can be formed into a great variety 

 of structures, useful and ornamental, at very little expense be- 

 yond that of the labour of the carpenter. By these poles the 

 most common-place exteriors of cottages may be rendered 

 picturesque ; every variety of covered seat in pleasure-grounds ; 



materials, 60/. ; then, to render it artistical, it may be submitted to an archi- 

 tect, say in London or Edinburgh, who, for indicating certain changes and 

 additions, may charge two guineas ; and those additions, when executed, may 

 cost 4/. or 51. Thus, it may be calculated, that to render a homely country 

 cottage of any kind artistical, and an ornament to the country, will, all 

 expenses included, not exceed 10 or 12 per cent. 



On reading to Mr. Lamb what we have written, he says that the architect, 

 in the case of improving cottages of the lowest description, ought not to 

 charge more than a guinea for altering a design ; and that the improvements, 

 when carried into execution, need very seldom exceed 5 per cent on what 

 would otherwise be the cost. It is not so much, Mr. Lamb observes, decora- 

 tion which is v/anted, as an artistical distribution of materials. Those who 

 have looked into our Encyclopcedia of Cottage Architecture, or the Archi- 

 tectural Magazine, will recollect Mr. Lamb's beautiful designs for cot- 

 tages and villas in the former work, and his interesting historical papers 

 on Gothic architecture in the Magazine; and when we mention that he has 

 been one of our travelling companions in Scotland and the North of England 

 for the last two months, and has been as far north as Taymouth, as far west 

 as Stranraer, and as far south as Newcastle, it will be allowed, we think, that 

 he is competent to give an opinion on the improvement of both Scotch and 

 English labourers' cottages. (Gard. Gaz. for ISII, p. 596.) 



