228 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



October, 1905 



right scale was adopted. They are ample as a decorative ad- 

 junct to the house, and they are large enough to count 

 sufficiently in any rapid survey of the entire property. 



As has been intimated, the formal garden is at the back of 

 the house. Immediately below the porch is a grassed terrace. 

 A broad, central path, crossed by another just before the in- 

 closing wall, leads to a short flight of steps by which the 

 lower and larger terrace is reached, on which is the formal 

 garden proper. On the side next the house this garden ter- 

 race is inclosed within a wall which supports the upper ter- 

 race; on the other three sides it is inclosed within a grano- 

 lithic balustrade, already taking on a fine discoloration sug- 

 gestive of age. At the steps, at the corners, and at other 

 points of emphasis are high piers surmounted with vases; 



Beyond the bounding balustrade the ground dips rapidly, 

 so that the next terrace is considerably below the fountain 

 terrace. In the center is a flight of steps, monumental in 

 design and scale, dividing to the right and left, and return- 

 ing below, where, underneath an archway, is a delicious 

 wall fountain. The beautiful green sward here is set 

 apart on one side as a tennis court and on the other as 

 a bowling green. The outer borders on all sides are in- 

 closed within a hemlock hedge; an arched opening on one 

 side gives a beautiful view to a lake and the country 

 beyond. 



Then more steps to the lowest level of all. Just before 

 one is a circular pool of water, retained within large stones, 

 and just above it is a wonderful old beech tree, said to be 



" Drumthwacket " — The Library 



smaller piers in the balustrade and walls carry boxes of plants. 

 Exactly in the center, and the focus of the whole garden, 

 is a fountain of white marble, treasure trove from Italy, a 

 work destined by an ancient noble family of Padua for the 

 republic of Venice; it never reached its destination, but re- 

 mained in Padua, and has at last found a permanent resting 

 place in this beautiful American home. Two broad paths 

 cross at the fountain, dividing the surrounding space into 

 four grassed plots edged with flower borders beauti- 

 fully selected and arranged. The planting of these 

 grounds has been so chosen that there is a constant suc- 

 cession and change of bloom, once the season has set in, 

 until fall. Hence it is always beautiful and always alive 

 with flowers, and with interest. 



the largest of its kind in the United States. Then, all 

 at once, you find yourself in the forest, for the garden, 

 on its outer borders, is inclosed within a thick wooded 

 growth of true forest quality. Fine walks run through 

 this beautiful woodland, in which wild flowers are en- 

 couraged to bloom their utmost, the paths marked, from 

 time to time, with fine marble vases; at one corner a marble 

 bird bath carefully emptied and cleaned each day; and 

 so, through the woods, until the open ground is reached 

 once more, passing the deer park the meanwhile, and 

 thence through an alley of young trees back to the formal 

 garden. 



The treatment of the grounds on the entrance front of 

 the house is very different. There is all openness, not bare 



