January, 1911 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS Vii 
—— a 
American Homes and Gardens 
for February 
Notable American Homes 
The country seat of R. R. Colgate, Esq., at Sharon, 
Conn., forms the opening article for this issue. The 
estate is a splendid one, comprising an area of over 
three hundred acres which is thoroughly cultivated 
and developed. The article, prepared by Barr Ferree, 
is well illustrated by many fine engravings of the 
mansion, the garden and the various buildings erected 
on the property. It is a subject that will be of interest 
to those who would like to take a look into one of 
the palatial homes of America. 
Lemonade-Well for a Winter’s Party 
The success of a social entertainment depends in a 
large measure upon the decorations. A pleasing sug- 
gestion for a Valentine party, or any other home en- 
tertainment of a Winter’s evening, is made by A. R. 
Van der Veer. Out of a sugar barrel and a soap box 
a unique lemonade-well may be made, in which lemon- 
ade is hauled up by means of buckets from a pail 
placed within the barrel. How to make this odd well 
curb and the best method of disguising the wooden 
parts with crépe paper, bricks, cotton snow, glass ici- 
cles, etc., is described in sufficient detail to enable 
anyone to duplicate the work. 
Quaint Dessert Dishes 
All mothers realize the difficulty which attends the 
preparations for a children’s party. Percy Collins has 
prepared an excellent article on the subject which is 
illustrated by many designs for quaint dessert dishes 
suitable for the amusement of a party of youngsters. 
The designs are quite easily made, and the shouts of 
delighted laughter which greet their appearance at the 
table amply compensate one for the small expenditure 
of time and patience involved in making them. 
China Embroidery 
One of the latest novelties in the art world is the copy- 
ing of the designs found in the old china plates and 
pitchers for the decoration of linen cloths for table 
use. Monica Bastin presents some excellent examples 
of this kind of work and tells in a very interesting 
way how it may be accomplished. 
The Fascination of an English Cottage 
There is an immutable art principle in domestic archi- 
tecture which few people appreciate. It is in the devo- 
tion to the fundamental truth of all that is best in that 
which has been done from generation to generation, 
and which is representative of all the parts which go to 
make good domestic architecture of the present day. 
Joy Wheeler Dow has prepared an interesting paper 
on the subject, which is illustrated with many excellent 
drawings. 
An Indoor Garden of Moss and Fern 
Modern gardening is always difficult by reason of the 
fact that it is only a certain number of plants which 
can stand the trying conditions of room culture. The 
formations of the moss garden is very simple, and S. 
Leonard Bastin tells in his article and also by illus- 
tration, how to grow plants in a nearly air-tight case 
with effective results, for those who would like to 
have something green in the house during the Win- 
ter months. 
The Small House 
The small house is always interesting to the home 
builder, and the group of houses shown on a double 
page are representative of some of the best designs 
in small dwellings built in this country. A study of 
the houses will show a varied assortment of styles in 
home architecture. 
Flower Preservation 
One of the most distressing sides to botanical study is 
the transitory beauty of flowers. Those who have 
felt that the usual method of preserving plants by 
pressure between paper is unsatisfactory, will be in- 
terested to learn of a German treatment whereby it 
is declared that many kinds of flowers may be dried so 
that they retain a good deal of their natural form and 
color. S. Leonard Bastin has prepared an illustrated 
paper on the subject which will be of service to those 
who are interested in the preservation of plants. 
Dutch Furniture 
Collectors of furniture and students of decorative art 
rarely realize how much is owed to the Dutch in the 
development of form and ornamentation. It is in- 
teresting to follow the progress of the Renaissance 
in the Low Countries, and still more to trace the ad- 
vent of the curve and the adaptation of the jar and 
dragon and other fantastic forms and. devices of dec- 
oration that have their birth in the far East. Esther 
Singleton, who is an authority on the subject, has pre- 
pared an interesting and instructive paper which is 
properly illustrated by engravings of the pieces of 
furniture belonging to the famous Clarke cédllection, 
recently sold at public auction in this city. 
Houses of Moderate Cost 
Paul Thurston, who is well known to the readers of 
this magazine, has prepared a paper on houses of 
moderate cost, which is well illustrated. The engray- 
ings show exterior and interior views, as well as floor 
plans of the various houses presented, and the text 
gives a comprehensive idea of the treatment of each 
of the houses. 
The Lone Pine” 
This is an interesting little house built of hollow tile, 
containing one large room with an ingle-nook, and two 
bedrooms provided with ample closets:.* Mabel Tuke 
Priestman has prepared a paper telling how the build- 
ing was constructed, and has illustrated it by engray- 
ings of the exterior and the interior of the building, 
and also of the floor plans, showing the arrangement 
of the rooms. 
Garden Notes 
Charles Downing Lay, who conducts the department 
of “Garden Notes,” will devote it to the planning of 
a small place. This is an important subject and is one 
that ought to appeal to the owners of small properties 
who desire to improve their surroundings. Improve- 
ment of this kind not only enhances the value of one’s 
estate, but it also creates a beauty in the development 
of all property of which it is a component part. 
