234< Select Suburban Residences. 



blages of low buildings, such as those of a farm-house and 

 offices, where the sides are given and the axis is wanting, it may 

 be supplied by an Italian or other tower, campanile, or clock 

 turret. 



For an irregular assemblage of objects to be rendered sym- 

 metrical, it is not necessary that the tower or other object which 

 forms the axis should be in the centre : on the contrary, it will 

 generally effect the intended purpose better if placed somewhat 

 on one side ; because, in that case, the idea of regular symmetry 

 is not raised up in the mind. The spectator does not think of 

 comparing one side with the other, to see if they agree in form 

 as well as in general bulk, but he looks to see whether the one 

 side is balanced by the other, either by bulk, by height, or by 

 distance. Suppose, for example, a group, in which, close by 

 the left of the axis, there are a number of high buildings 

 crowded together, and but very few buildings on the right, and 

 those quite low : in what manner is this group to be rendered 

 symmetrical ? By the extension of the low buildings, on the 

 right, so far as to produce by extension on that side, what is 

 produced by bulk and compactness on the other. Whatever is 

 symmetrical, must have a decided axis of symmetry ; either 

 obvious, as when a tower rises from a straggling mass of low 

 buildings; or disguised, as when the buildings of a group arrange 

 themselves so as to be included within a pyramidal or conical 

 outline. An axis can frequently be given to a group of trees 

 and buildings by tall narrow trees, such as the Lombardy 

 poplar ; but, in such cases, the buildings can never form the 

 main feature in the landscape. These remarks are intended to 

 hint at the proper mode of making the most of old houses in 

 the country, which, from extensive experience and observation, 

 we can assert oueht seldom or never to be altered within, though 

 they may generally be added to without, to an unlimited extent. 



The remaining part of this article being in great part written 

 by the gentleman who accompanied us through the houses at 

 Kingsbury, we shall place it in inverted commas. 



" March 9.5. — The plants here are looking as well as can be 

 expected, after such a long, sunless, damp winter. Frosty 

 winters are always better for house plants, and for all kinds of 

 early forcing, than mild winters, like the last, without sun. The 

 greater portion of the camellias at Kingsbur}' were forced last 

 May, in order to finish their growth, and set their buds. 'J'hey 

 were kept in the house all the summer, and began flowering 

 about the beginning of December ; and they are now past their 

 best. A few that were not forced, and were out of doors all 

 summer, and in cold frames during winter, are biought into the 

 camellia-house in succession, from the end of January till April. 

 These carry on the blooming season till May. In a large col- 



