'324 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
houses and their offices or out-buildings, we think every 
reasonable person will, at the first glance, see how 
lamentably deficient are many of the productions of our 
architects and builders, in one of the leading principles of 
the art. The most common form for an American countrj 
villa is the pseudo-Greek Temple ; that is, a rectangular 
oblong building, with the chimney-tops concealed, if 
possible, and instead of a pretty and comfortable porch, 
veranda, or piazza, four, six, or eight lofty wooden 
columns are seen supporting a portico, so high as neither 
to afford an agreeable promenade, nor a sufficient shelter 
from the sun and rain. 
There are two features, which it is now generally 
admitted contribute strongly to the expression of purpose 
in a dwelling-house, and especially in a country residence. 
These are the chimney-tops and the entrance porch. 
Chimney-tops, with us, are generally square masses of 
brick, rising above the roof, and presenting certainly no 
very elegant appearance, which may perhaps serve as the 
apology of those who studiously conceal them. But in a 
climate where fires are requisite during a large portion ot 
the year, chimney-tops are expressive of a certain comfort 
resulting from the use of them, which characterizes a 
building intended for a dwelling in that climate. Chimney- 
tops being never, or rarely, placed on those buildings 
intended for the inferior animals, are also undoubtedly 
strongly indicative of human habitations. Instead, there- 
fore, of hiding or concealing them, they should be in all 
dwellings not only boldly avowed, but rendered ornamental; 
for whatever is a characteristic and necessary feature, 
should undoubtedly, if possible, be rendered elegant, or at 
least prevented from being ugly. 
