212 
FLANS OF E E SID E NO E S 
formal ; for here we have a hedge close to the street line, a single 
entrance, and a long straight walk in the middle of the lot. To 
this extent the plan is simpler than the preceding one ; but on 
approaching the house the style becomes more ornate and costly. 
The house is elevated on a wide terrace, and the steps to reach 
the terrace-level are fifteen feet in front of the veranda. These 
steps should be of stone, not less than twelve inches wide, nor 
more than seven inches rise, and of a length equal to the width of 
the main walk. Low stone copings at the side of the steps expand 
at the top into square pedestals for vases, and thence are continued 
to meet the veranda. Such copings should, where practicable, be 
of some warm colored stone. It will be observed that the walk at 
the foot of these stone steps widens out into quite an area, and at 
this point the design varies by an easy transition from the formal 
to the graceful style ; the form of the front of the terrace conform- 
ing to the curves of the walks. The walks to the left and right 
diverge first by geometric curves, and then enter, by more path- 
like lines, dense masses of shrubbery, ending at seats embowered 
in foliage. From these, vistas open to the most pleasing features 
of the ground. 
The house is supposed to be designed in a half city-style, with 
a basement-kitchen, and all the principal windows in the front and 
rear only. The blank sidewalks, if of unpainted brick or stone, 
may be covered with the Virginia creeper, and on the side-ground 
back of the points shown on the plate, fruit trees may be planted. 
If the lot is three hundred feet deep, there will be room back of the 
house for the needful kitchen-yard and a pretty little vegetable- 
garden, or a stable and carriage-space ; but hardly for both. A lot 
of four hundred feet in depth would be more suitable for a house 
thrown back so far from the front street as this, unless space were 
obtained in the rear of the house by a latitudinal development of 
the lot in the rear of other lots. 
As the entire embellishment of this place lies in front of the 
house, and as its features are of that gardenesque character which 
presuppose a decided love of horticultural art in the occupants, 
and therefore the necessity of constant labors to be done near the 
street, some thorough protection of their privacy is essential ; and 
