236 
PLANS OF RESIDENCES 
Plate XXIX. 
A first-class Suburban Residence and Plantation on a Corner Lot of 
300 X 540 feet^ containing acres. 
This is one of those elegant places that requires a large income 
for its maintenance, and which most Americans who have little 
idea of the breadth of view that the name park implies, are apt to 
speak of as a private park. It is by no means a park, but it is a 
generous pleasure-ground for a retired citizen, with all the elegant 
appliances that wealth makes practicable. There is room enough 
here to indulge in a great variety of trees and shrubs without 
crowding the lawn. The latter opens generously upon the public 
highway in front, and connects on the right with a supposed good 
neighbor. The entrance-drive is simple in its character, and from 
the point A, the visitor in entering would command vistas the entire 
length of the lot over the lawn in front ; and at the right, a view of 
the elaborate flower-garden that forms the principal feature of 
interest opposite the parlor bay-window. The plan directly violates 
one rule that is generally desirable to observe in the arrangement 
of trees, viz. : to plant so as to make the house the centre of the 
picture from the most prominent or most natural points of view. 
But on this plan the trees in front, and near the front of the house, 
when well grown, will effectually hide it from the entrance at A, 
and leave but partial views open from the highway to the east side 
of the house ; while from all other points along the street towards 
which it fronts, it will be completely shut off by trees. This has 
been done for the following reason. On so large a lot it would 
savor of selfish exclusiveness not to have the lawn open generously 
to the street. But many families have a strong desire for a con- 
siderable degree of privacy in their front veranda and porch. As 
in this case they front to the south, not only their free use, unob- 
served from the .street, but their comfort in the face of so much 
gravelled road, requires a mass of trees to shut off too open a view 
from the street, and to render the veranda and porch comfortable 
in hot weather by their cooling shadows. It being desirable for 
