212 PLANS OF RESIDENCES 



formal"; for here we have a hedge close to the street line, a single 

 entrance, and a long straight walk in the middle of the lot. To 

 this extent the plan is simpler than the preceding one ; but on 

 approaching the house the style becomes more ornate and costly. 

 The house is elevated on a wide terrace, and the steps to reach 

 the terrace-level are fifteen feet in front of the veranda. These 

 steps should be of stone, not less than twelve inches wide, nor 

 more than seven inches rise, and of a length equal to the width of 

 the main walk. Low stone copings at the side of the steps expand 

 at the top into square pedestals for vases, and thence are continued 

 to meet the veranda. Such copings should, where practicable, be 

 of some warm colored stone. It will be observed that the walk at 

 the foot of these stone steps widens out into quite an area, and at 

 this point the design varies by an easy transition firom the formal 

 to the graceful style ; the form of the front of the terrace conform- 

 ing to the curves of the walks. The walks to the left and right 

 diverge first by geometric curves, and then enter, by more path- 

 like lines, dense masses of shrubbery, ending at seats embowered 

 in foliage. From these, vistas open to the most pleasing features 

 •of the ground. 



The house is supposed to be designed in a half city-style, with 

 a basement-kitchen, and all the principal windows in the front and 

 lear only. The blank sidewalks, if of unpainted brick or stone, 

 may be covered with the Virginia creeper, and on the side-ground 

 iback of the points shown on the plate, fruit trees may be planted. 

 If the lot is three hundred feet deep, there will be room back of the 

 house for the needful kitchen-yard and a pretty little vegetable- 

 garden, or a stable and carriage-space ; but hardly for both. A lot 

 of four hundred feet in depth would be more suitable for a house 

 thrown back so far from the front street as this, unless space were 

 obtained in the rear of the house by a latitudinal development of 

 the lot in the rear of other lots. 



As the entire embellishment of this place lies in front of the 

 house, and as its features are of that gardenesque character which 

 presuppose a decided love of horticultural art in the occupants, 

 and therefore the necessity of constant labors to be done near the 

 street, some thorough protection of their privacy is essential ; and 



