236 FLANS OF BE SIDENCES 



Plate XXIX. 



A first-class Suburban Residence and Plantation on a Comer Lot of 

 300 X 540 y^(?/, containing 7,^^^ acres. 



This is one of those elegant places that requires a large income 

 for its maintenance, and which most Americans who have little 

 idea of the breadth of view that the name park implies, are apt to 

 speak of as a private park. "It is by no means a park, but it is a 

 generous pleasure-ground for a retired citizen, with all the elegant 

 appliances that wealth makes practicable. There is room enough 

 here to indulge in a great variety of trees and shrubs without 

 crowding the lawn. The latter opens generously upon the public 

 highway in front, and connects on the right with a supposed good 

 neighbor. The entrance-drive is simple in its character, and from 

 the point A, the visitor in entering would command vistas the entire 

 length of the lot over the lawn in front ; -and at the right, a view of 

 the elaborate flower-garden that forms the principal feature of 

 interest opposite the parlor bay-window. The plan directly violates 

 one rule that is generally desirable to observe in the arrangement 

 of trees, viz. : to plant so as to make the house the centre of the 

 picture from the most prominent or most natural points of view. 

 But on this plan the trees in front, and near the front of the house, 

 "when well grown, will effectually hide it from the entrance at A, 

 and leave but partial views open from the highway to the east side 

 of the house ; while from all other points along the street towards 

 which it fronts, it will be completely shut off by trees. This has 

 been done for the following reason. On so large a lot it would 

 savor of selfish exclusiveness not to have the lawn open generously 

 to the street. But many families have a strong desire for a con- 

 siderable degree of privacy in their front veranda and porch. As 

 in this case they front to the south, not only their free use, unob- 

 served from the street, but their comfort in the face of so much 

 gravelled road, requires a mass of trees to shut off too open a view 

 from the street, and to render the veranda and porch comfortable 

 in hot weather by their cooling shadows. It being desirable for 



