﻿October, 
  1907 
  

  

  AMERICAN 
  HOMES 
  AND 
  GARDENS 
  

  

  37i 
  

  

  year 
  or 
  two 
  a 
  new 
  bit 
  of 
  land 
  has 
  been 
  brought 
  under 
  floral 
  

   cultivation, 
  until 
  now 
  the 
  gardens 
  of 
  "Millbrook 
  Farm" 
  

   cover 
  a 
  considerable 
  extent 
  and 
  are 
  veritable 
  bowers 
  of 
  

   beauty. 
  The 
  ground 
  slopes 
  down 
  somewhat 
  from 
  the 
  site 
  

   chosen 
  for 
  them 
  toward 
  the 
  creek 
  which 
  runs 
  through 
  the 
  

   place, 
  so 
  that 
  a 
  terrace 
  effect 
  is 
  obtained 
  quite 
  naturally. 
  

  

  Just 
  below 
  the 
  house, 
  and 
  growing 
  out 
  of 
  the 
  side 
  of 
  the 
  

   first 
  terrace, 
  is 
  an 
  immense 
  catalpa 
  tree, 
  a 
  splendid 
  specimen 
  

   rarely 
  seen 
  of 
  this 
  size. 
  It 
  frames 
  with 
  its 
  branches 
  the 
  

   sunken 
  garden 
  from 
  this 
  end 
  of 
  the 
  porch 
  and 
  shelters 
  a 
  vine- 
  

   covered 
  house, 
  once 
  ignominously 
  put 
  to 
  the 
  utilitarian 
  pur- 
  

   pose 
  of 
  storing 
  ice 
  — 
  in 
  plain 
  words, 
  an 
  ice-house 
  — 
  but 
  now 
  

   transformed 
  into 
  a 
  summer 
  house, 
  with 
  an 
  open 
  end 
  and 
  side 
  

   forming 
  a 
  porch, 
  the 
  roof 
  thickly 
  vine 
  laden 
  with 
  roses, 
  

   honeysuckle 
  and 
  clematis, 
  and 
  the 
  whole 
  surrounded 
  by 
  a 
  

   hedge. 
  Beyond 
  is 
  the 
  sunken 
  garden 
  in 
  a 
  panel 
  design, 
  hedge- 
  

   inclosed 
  and 
  filled 
  with 
  many 
  hardy 
  flowers 
  growing 
  in 
  rich 
  

   profusion. 
  In 
  the 
  grassed 
  center 
  is 
  a 
  capacious 
  bird 
  fountain 
  

   — 
  brought 
  from 
  Italy 
  — 
  and 
  an 
  ivy 
  covered 
  sun-dial. 
  Above 
  

   and 
  before 
  this 
  garden 
  is 
  reached 
  is 
  the 
  rose 
  garden, 
  im- 
  

   mediately 
  below 
  the 
  dining-room 
  window. 
  And 
  quite 
  in 
  the 
  

   hollow, 
  at 
  the 
  base 
  of 
  the 
  hillside 
  across 
  the 
  stream, 
  is 
  the 
  

   water 
  garden, 
  with 
  a 
  wealth 
  of 
  lilies 
  and 
  other 
  water 
  plants 
  

   thriving 
  in 
  its 
  placid 
  waters, 
  and 
  almost 
  surrounded 
  by 
  a 
  

   hedge 
  of 
  Michaelmas 
  daisies 
  in 
  late 
  summer. 
  Nor 
  does 
  this 
  

   exhaust 
  the 
  loveliness 
  of 
  the 
  grounds. 
  

  

  And 
  then, 
  beyond, 
  moving 
  in 
  the 
  direction 
  of 
  the 
  back 
  of 
  

   the 
  house, 
  is 
  the 
  pergola, 
  leading 
  through 
  the 
  trellis 
  garden 
  

   by 
  the 
  Venetian 
  well 
  head 
  to 
  the 
  dahlia 
  garden 
  and 
  tennis 
  

   court, 
  so 
  arranged 
  as 
  to 
  seem 
  quite 
  endless 
  in 
  its 
  vine-covered 
  

   perspective. 
  It 
  is 
  lusciously 
  overgrown 
  with 
  climbing 
  roses 
  

   of 
  many 
  varieties 
  and 
  wistaria 
  and 
  clematis 
  — 
  a 
  wonderful 
  

   combination 
  of 
  beautiful 
  flowers 
  and 
  sweet 
  odors 
  that 
  suc- 
  

   ceed 
  each 
  other 
  so 
  closely 
  that 
  scarce 
  a 
  month 
  is 
  without 
  its 
  

   fragrant 
  bloom. 
  And 
  on 
  either 
  side 
  are 
  little 
  bosquets, 
  each 
  

   hedge-inclosed, 
  each 
  with 
  its 
  distinctive 
  flower 
  and 
  a 
  pot 
  or 
  

  

  jar 
  to 
  give 
  special 
  emphasis 
  — 
  a 
  lovely, 
  delicious 
  place, 
  full 
  of 
  

   beautiful 
  garden 
  growth 
  and 
  color, 
  full 
  of 
  surprises, 
  full 
  of 
  

   charm 
  and 
  beauty. 
  

  

  Presently 
  one 
  emerges 
  upon 
  the 
  dahlia 
  garden 
  and 
  tennis 
  

   court, 
  very 
  spacious, 
  and, 
  like 
  all 
  other 
  parts 
  of 
  these 
  fine 
  

   grounds, 
  inclosed 
  within 
  its 
  own 
  hedge. 
  A 
  brick-paved, 
  

   walled 
  inclosure 
  on 
  one 
  side 
  serves 
  as 
  a 
  resting-place 
  for 
  the 
  

   spectators. 
  On 
  the 
  ground 
  above 
  and 
  behind 
  it 
  is 
  the 
  dahlia 
  

   garden, 
  where 
  the 
  many 
  plants 
  are 
  carefully 
  cut 
  back 
  to 
  

   insure 
  late 
  blooming 
  when 
  most 
  of 
  the 
  earlier 
  flowers 
  have 
  

   contributed 
  their 
  quota 
  to 
  the 
  loveliness 
  of 
  the 
  grounds 
  and 
  

   finished 
  their 
  yearly 
  growth. 
  It 
  is 
  closed 
  by 
  a 
  row 
  of 
  lusty 
  

   poplars, 
  through 
  whose 
  leaves 
  can 
  be 
  distinguished 
  the 
  out- 
  

   lines 
  of 
  the 
  carriage 
  house 
  and 
  stable. 
  

  

  There 
  is 
  still 
  much 
  to 
  see 
  on 
  the 
  other 
  side 
  of 
  the 
  house 
  — 
  • 
  

   in 
  the 
  land 
  on 
  the 
  left 
  of 
  the 
  entrance 
  drive. 
  First 
  one 
  enters 
  

   the 
  orchard, 
  and 
  then 
  beyond 
  are 
  the 
  house 
  farm 
  and 
  kitchen 
  

   garden. 
  The 
  vegetable 
  garden 
  is 
  inclosed 
  within 
  a 
  thick 
  

   hedge. 
  Down 
  its 
  center 
  runs 
  a. 
  path 
  with 
  rose-covered 
  arches 
  

   and 
  widely 
  bordered 
  on 
  either 
  side 
  with 
  gaily 
  flowering 
  an- 
  

   nuals 
  and 
  perennials, 
  a 
  brilliant 
  color 
  note 
  in 
  what 
  otherwise 
  

   would 
  be 
  the 
  somber 
  growing 
  of 
  vegetables. 
  They 
  quite 
  

   transform 
  this 
  utilitarian 
  spot 
  and 
  give 
  it 
  real 
  life 
  and 
  beauty. 
  

  

  One 
  other 
  feature 
  calls 
  for 
  mention, 
  and 
  that 
  a 
  most 
  

   curious 
  and 
  interesting 
  one. 
  In 
  the 
  flower 
  garden 
  on 
  the 
  

   right 
  are 
  several 
  flights 
  of 
  steps 
  made 
  of 
  old 
  street-crossing 
  

   stones 
  from 
  Philadelphia. 
  Are 
  these 
  stones 
  really 
  older 
  than 
  

   other 
  stones? 
  I 
  do 
  not 
  venture 
  the 
  suggestion; 
  but, 
  of 
  

   course, 
  their 
  worn 
  surfaces 
  have 
  a 
  quality 
  and 
  texture 
  that 
  

   no 
  other 
  stones 
  would 
  give. 
  This 
  was 
  the 
  real 
  reason 
  — 
  and 
  

   a 
  very 
  good 
  reason- 
  — 
  for 
  their 
  use 
  ; 
  but 
  at 
  the 
  same 
  time 
  I 
  

   can 
  not 
  help 
  feeling 
  that 
  this 
  utilization 
  of 
  these 
  much-used 
  

   stones 
  conceals 
  an 
  affection 
  for 
  the 
  good 
  old 
  city 
  of 
  Phila- 
  

   delphia 
  which 
  the 
  true 
  Philadelphian 
  never 
  forgets, 
  and 
  the 
  

   loss 
  of 
  which 
  in 
  those 
  who 
  have 
  wandered 
  elsewhere, 
  is 
  to 
  

   him 
  the 
  greatest 
  of 
  human 
  failings. 
  

  

  Heating 
  the 
  House 
  

  

  CENTRAL 
  heating 
  plant 
  is 
  the 
  only 
  effec- 
  

   tive 
  and 
  satisfactory 
  way 
  of 
  heating 
  a 
  house 
  

   in 
  a 
  cold 
  climate. 
  It 
  consumes 
  less 
  fuel 
  in 
  

   proportion 
  to 
  the 
  results 
  obtained; 
  its 
  

   operation 
  is 
  more 
  uniform 
  and 
  equitable 
  

   than 
  in 
  the 
  separate 
  fire 
  system, 
  and 
  it 
  is 
  

   easier 
  and 
  cleaner 
  to 
  operate. 
  The 
  cost 
  of 
  

   installation 
  is 
  apt 
  to 
  be 
  considerable, 
  and 
  this 
  is 
  particularly 
  

   so 
  when 
  a 
  central 
  plant 
  is 
  installed 
  in 
  an 
  old 
  house, 
  entailing 
  

   the 
  taking 
  up 
  of 
  floors 
  and 
  the 
  building 
  of 
  flues. 
  The 
  better 
  

   service 
  in 
  the 
  end, 
  however, 
  will 
  generally 
  be 
  found 
  ample 
  

   compensation 
  for 
  any 
  expense 
  incurred 
  for 
  installation. 
  

  

  The 
  warm-air 
  furnace 
  is 
  the 
  simplest 
  general 
  heating 
  ap- 
  

   paratus 
  and 
  the 
  one 
  most 
  in 
  use, 
  although 
  not 
  regarded 
  as 
  

   the 
  best 
  for 
  large 
  houses. 
  The 
  size 
  must 
  be 
  proportioned 
  to 
  

   the 
  space 
  to 
  be 
  warmed; 
  the 
  parts 
  and 
  joints 
  must 
  be 
  gas- 
  

   tight; 
  the 
  furnace 
  air 
  must 
  be 
  obtained 
  from 
  without 
  and 
  

   from 
  above 
  ground 
  by 
  means 
  of 
  a 
  clean 
  cold-air 
  box, 
  pro- 
  

   tected 
  against 
  vermin 
  and 
  readily 
  cleaned; 
  the 
  air 
  should 
  not 
  

   be 
  overheated 
  ; 
  the 
  furnace 
  should 
  occupy 
  as 
  central 
  a 
  posi- 
  

   tion 
  as 
  possible 
  in 
  order 
  that 
  the 
  various 
  pipes 
  be 
  of 
  relatively 
  

   the 
  same 
  length, 
  but 
  may 
  be 
  placed 
  somewhat 
  toward 
  the 
  

   cold 
  side 
  of 
  the 
  cellar. 
  Furnaces 
  are 
  portable, 
  that 
  is, 
  made 
  

   with 
  galvanized 
  iron 
  coverings, 
  or 
  contained 
  within 
  brick 
  

   settings. 
  The 
  former 
  type 
  has 
  almost 
  completely 
  super- 
  

   seded 
  the 
  latter. 
  Twin 
  furnaces, 
  which 
  are 
  two 
  single 
  fur- 
  

   naces 
  coupled, 
  are 
  sometimes 
  used 
  for 
  large 
  houses. 
  Local 
  

   conditions 
  will 
  govern 
  their 
  employment 
  instead 
  of 
  two 
  sep- 
  

   arate 
  furnaces. 
  

  

  Hot-water 
  heating 
  apparatus 
  is 
  used 
  in 
  two 
  systems, 
  low 
  

  

  pressure 
  and 
  high 
  pressure. 
  Small 
  pipes 
  are 
  used 
  for 
  the 
  

   latter; 
  large 
  ones 
  for 
  the 
  former. 
  The 
  hot 
  water 
  is 
  gene- 
  

   rated 
  in 
  a 
  boiler 
  and 
  is 
  conveyed 
  in 
  the 
  main 
  pipe 
  to 
  the 
  high- 
  

   est 
  point 
  of 
  the 
  system; 
  several 
  feet 
  above 
  this 
  it 
  is 
  connected 
  

   with 
  an 
  expansion 
  tank, 
  which 
  acts 
  as 
  a 
  safety 
  valve. 
  Feed 
  

   pipes 
  connect 
  the 
  main 
  pipe 
  with 
  the 
  radiators, 
  and 
  a 
  return 
  

   pipe 
  brings 
  the 
  cold 
  water 
  back 
  to 
  the 
  furnace. 
  In 
  the 
  high 
  

   pressure 
  system 
  the 
  expansion 
  tank 
  is 
  closed 
  and 
  the 
  appa- 
  

   ratus 
  works 
  under 
  more 
  or 
  less 
  pressure. 
  

  

  Steam 
  heating 
  is 
  very 
  similar 
  to 
  hot-water 
  heating 
  in 
  re- 
  

   sults, 
  and 
  the 
  apparatus 
  for 
  both 
  systems, 
  while 
  distinctively 
  

   different, 
  are 
  not 
  dissimilar 
  in 
  a 
  certain 
  general 
  way. 
  Several 
  

   forms 
  of 
  steam 
  heating 
  have 
  been 
  devised 
  and 
  are 
  in 
  use. 
  

   Steam 
  gives 
  a 
  greater 
  intensity 
  of 
  heat 
  than 
  water, 
  but 
  the 
  

   pipes 
  must 
  be 
  stronger 
  and 
  able 
  to 
  withstand 
  pressure. 
  

  

  Steam 
  for 
  heating 
  purposes 
  is 
  used 
  in 
  both 
  the 
  high 
  and 
  

   the 
  low 
  pressure 
  system, 
  but 
  the 
  former 
  is 
  more 
  adapted 
  to 
  

   large 
  buildings, 
  and 
  requires 
  the 
  attendance 
  of 
  an 
  expert 
  

   engineer. 
  Domestic 
  heating 
  by 
  steam 
  is 
  chiefly 
  by 
  the 
  low 
  

   pressure 
  system. 
  Another 
  classification 
  is 
  based 
  on 
  the 
  pip- 
  

   ing. 
  The 
  two-pipe 
  system 
  is 
  most 
  commonly 
  used, 
  and 
  is 
  

   identical 
  with 
  that 
  for 
  hot-water 
  heating. 
  A 
  partial 
  circuit 
  

   system 
  is 
  also 
  much 
  used 
  in 
  private 
  houses. 
  The 
  main 
  flow 
  

   pipe 
  is 
  carried 
  to 
  the 
  highest 
  part 
  of 
  the 
  basement, 
  with 
  dis- 
  

   tributing 
  pipes 
  running 
  at 
  slight 
  inclines, 
  finally 
  connecting 
  

   with 
  the 
  boiler 
  below 
  the 
  water 
  line. 
  The 
  radiators 
  are 
  con- 
  

   nected 
  with 
  risers 
  containing 
  flow 
  and 
  return 
  from 
  and 
  to 
  the 
  

   distributing 
  pipes. 
  A 
  third 
  system 
  is 
  the 
  one-pipe 
  system, 
  

   sometimes 
  called 
  the 
  complete 
  circuit 
  system, 
  in 
  which 
  one 
  

   pipe 
  answers 
  for 
  the 
  steam 
  supply 
  and 
  the 
  water 
  return. 
  

  

  