December, 1907 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



IX 



and ^ivc a imiltitiule of suti^cstions and ideas 

 to the owner and proprietor. It is, in short, 

 a discussion of the artistic side of gardens from 

 the practical and real point of view, and is 

 thus a hook of unusual value. 



Houses for Town or Country. By Wil- 

 liam Herbert. New York: Duffield & Co. 

 Pp. 240. Price, $2.00 net. 



That much of this book has already ap- 

 peared in the pages of a technical architectural 

 magazine by no means detracts from its value. 

 It aims, as its title states, to discuss the vari- 

 ous types of modern houses as shown by recent 

 dwellings in cities and in the country. The 

 two classes of structures are, in truth, widely 

 different, but the discussion of their most mod- 

 ern types as shown by current American prac- 

 tice gives the author of this handsome book 

 an opportunity for much sane criticism and 

 illuminating discussion. 



A rapid conmient on American architecture 

 of to-day is followed by a discussion of the 

 typical tow n house. Then come chapters on the 

 American country estate, the typical country 

 house, the house for all the year, followed by 

 separate chapters on the chief or ornamental 

 rooms. The concluding chapters deal with the 

 house in relation to out-of-doors and new uses 

 of old forms. Written from the critical rather 

 than from the descriptive point of view there 

 is much of value and interest in these pages. 

 The author's comment that in large estates or 

 properties the layout of the land is adapted to 

 the location and design of the house, instead 

 of the proper and reverse process, is character- 

 istic of the general tone of the book, and is an 

 observation so very true that no one in Amer- 

 ica has yet thought of acting upon it, even 

 when acres and acres, and practically miles of 

 landscape are within the owner's control. 



It is a charming book to read and is a 

 volume that will give a great deal of pleasure 

 to every one interested in houses, whether in 

 the city or in the country. And it is a book 

 of brilliant criticism that will help prospective 

 builders and owners amazingly. There are nu- 

 merous illustrations, adequately reproduced, 

 and, for the most part, endowed with real in- 

 terest. Many of the full-page illustrations, 

 however, are printed with inscriptions to the 

 inner margin, and are hence awkward and 

 sometim.es difficult to study. 



Daffodils, Narcissus and How to Grow 

 Them. By A. M. Kirby. New York: 

 Doubleday, Page & Co. Pp. 235. Price, 

 $1.10 net. 



The publication of books on separate groups 

 of flowers has a tendency to overweight the 

 shelves of the bookish plant lover, but com- 

 pleteness of treatment is impossible by other 

 method, and hence this little book on daffodils 

 and narcissus will be welcomed by every lover 

 of these beautiful plants. And who does not 

 love them and enjoy their delicate beauty in 

 early spring or, if one is more fortunate, and 

 takes the necessary trouble, in autumn and 

 winter ? 



The author of this book has undertaken to 

 treat the subject in its entirety and does so 

 with great detail. Perhaps every one will not 

 care to read the volume through, but it is use- 

 ful to know exactly where every needed item 

 of information on these plants can be had, and 

 the book is none tlie less valuable because it is 

 chiefly concerned with cultural directions. 

 They, indeed, make it valuable, for the photo- 

 graphic illustrations have been inserted as ex- 

 planatory of the text rather than as embellish- 

 ments. It is issued in convenient form and is 

 supplied with an ample and very detailed 

 index. 



FLOORS 



i ROOFS 



Ceilings 



A concrete tank erected on estate of Edmund Tatham, 

 Katonah, New York 



Frederick J. Sterner, Architect - - New York 

 De Lancey A. Cameron, Builder - New York 



Tank designed for storage supply of 15,000 

 gallons, built entirely of concrete reinforced 

 with Clinton welded wire. Before roof was 

 placed over tank, and during winter months, 

 ice 10 inches thick formed on water stored 

 therein. No cracks or leakage have developed. 



Clinton Wire Cloth Company 



CLINTON, MASS. 



FIREPROOFING DEPARTMENT 



ALBERT OLIVER 



1 MADISON AVE,, NEW YORK 



Seattle: i. a. norris, 909 auska building 



ST. LOUIS : HUNKINS-WILLIS I IME^ CEMENT CO., SOUTH END18THST. BRIOQE 



SYRACUSE, N. Y.: PARAGON PLASTER CO, 



SAN FRANCISO: L. A. NORRIS, 835 MONADNOCK BUILDING 



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