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  AMERICAN 
  HOMES 
  AND 
  GARDENS 
  

  

  August, 
  1907 
  

  

  In 
  the 
  formal 
  gardens 
  of 
  

   suburban 
  Philadelphia, 
  espe- 
  

   cially 
  those 
  connected 
  with 
  

   the 
  country 
  seats 
  of 
  German- 
  

   town, 
  Chelten 
  Hills 
  and 
  

   Ashbourne, 
  the 
  use 
  of 
  cement 
  

   in 
  constructive 
  and 
  decorative 
  

   work 
  is 
  especially 
  notable. 
  

  

  American 
  gardens. 
  In 
  con- 
  

   nection 
  with 
  the 
  most 
  modern 
  

   methods 
  of 
  introducing 
  con- 
  

   crete 
  walls 
  and 
  boundaries 
  

   with 
  distinctly 
  modern-look- 
  

   ing 
  but 
  graceful 
  designs 
  in 
  

   concrete 
  garden-seats, 
  there 
  

   will 
  be 
  added 
  numerous 
  for- 
  

  

  The 
  Statue 
  of 
  Spring 
  in 
  a 
  

   Fountain 
  Pool 
  

  

  Probably 
  the 
  best 
  example 
  

   of 
  the 
  extensive 
  use 
  to 
  

   which 
  it 
  is 
  attaining 
  is 
  evi- 
  

   denced 
  at 
  the 
  Ashbourne 
  

   country 
  seat 
  of 
  Peter 
  A. 
  B. 
  

   Widener, 
  Esq., 
  with 
  its 
  

   rarely 
  beautiful 
  formal 
  

   gardens. 
  Beautiful 
  garden-marbles 
  have 
  been 
  introduced 
  in 
  

   these 
  formal 
  gardens 
  in 
  connection 
  with 
  the 
  cement 
  castings 
  

   and 
  the 
  durable 
  concrete 
  constructive 
  work; 
  but 
  there 
  has 
  

   been 
  no 
  attempt 
  to 
  display 
  antiquities. 
  This 
  is 
  the 
  mistake 
  

   too 
  frequently 
  made 
  in 
  the 
  decorative 
  features 
  of 
  formal 
  

  

  A 
  Sunken 
  Garden 
  Rich 
  in 
  Design 
  and 
  Effective 
  

   in 
  Ornamentation 
  

  

  A 
  Central 
  Fountain 
  Statue 
  of 
  

   a 
  Sunken 
  Garden 
  

  

  eign 
  marbles, 
  supposed 
  to 
  

   possess 
  additional 
  charm 
  

   from 
  their 
  antiquity. 
  

   Among 
  these 
  will 
  be 
  found 
  

   curious 
  wall-fountains 
  and 
  

   old 
  tree-tubs, 
  with 
  figures 
  

   in 
  relief. 
  Ancient 
  flower- 
  

   jars 
  and 
  quaint 
  well-curbs, 
  Italian 
  Renaissance 
  fish-basins, 
  

   huge 
  French 
  vases, 
  an 
  antique 
  sarcophagus, 
  with 
  drain-holes 
  

   drilled 
  in 
  to 
  form 
  a 
  plant-holder, 
  stately 
  garden-urns 
  of 
  

   Italian 
  design 
  and 
  elaborate 
  benches 
  — 
  all 
  displaying, 
  if 
  pos- 
  

   sible, 
  the 
  charm 
  of 
  the 
  antique. 
  In 
  fact, 
  so 
  great 
  has 
  become 
  

  

  Statue 
  of 
  Autumn 
  in 
  the 
  Fountain 
  Pool 
  

   of 
  a 
  Sunken 
  Garden 
  

  

  A 
  Handsome 
  Balustrade 
  Surrounding 
  a 
  Sunken 
  Garden. 
  

   Example 
  of 
  Concrete 
  Work 
  

  

  A 
  Good 
  

  

  