October, 1907 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



371 



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 Philadelphlan 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 

 trom 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 

 ilistributing 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. 



