126 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



is partially shaded from view by a natural clump of bushes, and partly by 

 an artificial grassy mound covering a large cave cellar. 



In making the wagon entrance and drive ai'ound the house and to the 

 barn, the soil was dug out, forming a receptacle for a great many loads of 

 loose pebbles, and giving rich earth to cover a ragged spot near the house, 

 now planted with some forty grape vines. 



All the land, by deep plowing, underdi-aining and proper manuring, 

 proves exceedingly productive of all that it is asked to produce. The best 

 of the old apple trees have been trimmed and saved, and the worst ones 

 removed, and others that were thrifty but bore poor fruit, have been set 

 with a thousand grafts of choice varieties. Currants, gooseberries, cran- 

 berries, strawberries, pears and grapes ai-e all growing beautifully^, and in 

 a few years more it will be a home in the country worth having. It is 

 really a pleasant one now, though only half emerged from its barbarous 

 condition. 



The house makes no pretension to show, but it has a very pleasant home 

 look, as seen from the road — the look of a real country cottage — particu- 

 larly of a summer evening when the family occupy the piazza, and the little 

 girl runs along singing, "there comes grandpa, and now we shall have 

 tea, and strawberries and cream; and there comes a gentleman to stay all 

 night." 



And there is plenty of room in the cottage if it does not look large. Let 

 us see: opening upon the piazza, with a pleasant summer and winter 

 aspect, are the sitting room and dining room, and three steps below that 

 lead to the kitchen, milk room, store room and fuel room. The cistern 

 pump is in the kitchen; from this room there are also opened ways to the 

 chamber and cellar. 



The literary proprietor has arranged his study with two pleasant win- 

 dows, and with an eye to economy, so that it is warmed by the stove of the 

 adjoining sitting room. On this floor there are also two bedrooms and a 

 small parlor, and hall and stairway leading to four or five bedrooms on the 

 upper floor. 



The house, built upon the cheap balloon-frame plan, is made warm by 

 having double walls and floors and ceilings, and good coal fires. It is 

 made comfortable by its general plan, its compactness, convenience, by 

 having most of its room on the same level, and its most used rooms on the 

 side that has the most pleasant aspect. 



On the whole, it is one of the few homes in the country that has been 

 cheaply built without great mistake, and one where I have learned some- 

 thing useful. 



The consideration of the butter question was laid over until the next 

 meeting. 



Adjourned. JOHN W. CHAMBERS, Secretary. 



