PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 219 



such treatment, and this was the extent of the attempt of artificial adorn- 

 ment of the grounds. 



Of course the trees and grass had but a stinted growth, for the land had 

 never been prepared. Evei'ything within the house, as well as the house 

 itself, showed that no expense had been spared, yet all around looked deso- 

 late. What an influence such a home exercises upon children! What a 

 contrast to such a one as that of Mr. Robinson, who, with but little expense, 

 has made a neat, pleasant, convenient cottage, which in summer is per- 

 fectly enshrined in flowers, and surrounded with shrubbery, green grass, 

 shade and fruit. When 1 first saw the place it was most unattractive and 

 lacking in home comforts. Where it was then covered with swamp bushes 

 and briers, it is now garden, with strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, 

 blackberries and other fruit. Comfortable as it looks, it shows no labored 

 style, but all of the adornments and comforts seem to have come naturally, 

 and without extra expense. 



I see around me gentlemen whose places are an ornament to the country. 

 Many gentlemen of this city spend large sums of money to build country 

 seats, and when the surroundings are completed by tasteful and experienced 

 artists, they lend a charm to country life. 



There is another place that is worthy of the attention of a.l who are 

 about to build upon a very rough spot. It is that of Henry A. Underwood, 

 at Yonkers. It was covered with forest trees and rocks, nearly all of 

 which have been utilized and made ornamental. The steep hill-side has 

 been terraced and made fruitful, and altogether it is one of the most lovely 

 spots and delightful homes for a family of refinement. Such improvements 

 of rough spots have an influence far beyond that upon the families who 

 occupy them. It a great pity they were not more frequently to be seen. 



Prof Mapes. — It is but a few years ago that all of our designs were 

 imported, and, to bring out native talent, the school of design was estab- 

 lished in this city; and now its fruits are seen everywhere, yet we need a 

 great deal more of art, especially in the adornment of country homes. 

 Everywhere we see examples of the grotesque. For instance, a house 

 without a curved line in its architecture, nor a bracket added to fill up a 

 corner and break the harshness of abrupt angles. The house with its 

 square doors and windows and peaked roof, presents its flat side to the 

 road, with nothing to break the monotonous appearance of its bad form 

 and color but a row of gaunt, ragged, Lombardy poplars. I recollect that 

 Prof Morse lectured in this city a few j'ears ago upon landscape gardening, 

 and imparted some very valuable information. One of the prominent 

 matters to be insisted upon is that the letter S should be kept constantly 

 before the artist's eyes. Let curved lines be the rule in everything, and 

 straight ones only adapted as a necessity. Never plant trees for orna- 

 mental purposes in rows, and never arrange them so that a view in any 

 direction will disclose an abrupt termination, but rather that the view shall 

 fade away into obscurity. The science of chromatography must be care- 

 fully observed by all who undertake to beautify a homestead. You may 

 write red, yellow, blue, in an endless circle, and then, no matter what other 

 colors you use, you will find that the three colors on your circle must occur 

 at every third, fifth and seventh position. So in planting, building, paint- 



