66 
House & G ar d ei 
of the Stock from which they are ob¬ 
tained. The reputation of the House of 
Carter is justified—^even to the man who 
knows nothii% of gardening—the moment 
he views a garden or lawn grown from 
Te sted 
The most famous gardens of the world are the re¬ 
sults of Carters Tested Seeds and The Carter Sys¬ 
tem. Why not make your garden this year and for 
years to come a thing of notable beauty? 
CARTERS iqiq CATALOG 
"Garden and Lawn" Sent on Request 
CARTERS TESTED SEEDS INC. 
102-6 Chamber of Commerce Building Boston, Mass. 
Branch of James Carter and Co.. London. England 
TOWNSEND’S TRIPLEX 
Floats over the 
uneven Ground as 
a Ship rides the 
Waves. 
S, P. Townsends Co. 
17 Central Ave., Orange, N.l. 
Plasterwork in Modern Decoration 
{Continued from page 64) 
worked on must be properly wet and 
sufficiently roughened or scored to give 
the plaster of the decoration a firm hold. 
Small separate items of modeled orna¬ 
ment, such as single sprigs, flowers, ro¬ 
settes, or the leaf banding for small 
Adam panels previously alluded to, may 
be applied to old plaster by chopping 
away a corresponding portion of the 
surface, wetting it and roughening it, as 
before noted, to give a sure hold, and 
setting in place with lime putty and 
plaster. 
Using Gesso 
For low or moderate relief decora¬ 
tions to be applied to an old surface, 
gesso is an admirable medium and easily 
worked. Trace the outline of the deco¬ 
ration to be added, then scratch the 
ground well to make the gesso adhere, 
stop absorption by a thin coat of shel¬ 
lac or a couple of coats of thin glue 
over the roughened surface, and then 
apply the gesso, either by modeling it, 
in a thick consistency, or by painting 
it on with a brush, keeping the mixture 
about the consistency of thick cream. 
Gesso applied in this way has been 
aptly termed “relief painting.” If a 
continuous surface, such as a lunette 
or a chimney-piece decoration is to be 
done in gesso, glue thin canvas on scrim 
over the old plaster and apply the 
gesso. This method commends itself 
especially also for small decorations to 
be executed in conjunction with panels 
made by applied wooden moldings. 
Tempera colors are the best to use for 
polychroming either gesso or other plas¬ 
ter decorations. Admirable results may 
be gained by using color either partially 
or fully. In applying decoration to old 
surfaces, the use of color becomes al¬ 
most a necessity to cover up the traces 
of recent addition. 
If the reader is minded to essay any 
plaster modeling for his or her own 
satisfaction, it would be well to make 
friends with a good local plasterer 
(who probably won’t prove very en¬ 
couraging) and profit by his hints. It 
will also be advisable to get the plasterer 
to prepare the plaster, as well as to put 
the finished results in place, as this is 
work in which experience counts. 
The Small House for the Multi-Rich 
{Continued from page 12) 
the smallest poor “souvenir of Viterbo.” 
Plenty of light, air and out-door feel¬ 
ing would be given by three great 
French windows opening directly onto 
view terrace, avoiding the need of 
a separate sun room. 
The Dining Room 
Sense of sociability would be found 
in the small octagonal dining room, com¬ 
pelling that conviviality so lacking in 
the long state dining room of old. Fare¬ 
well ! chilling expanses of white, crowded 
with much silver, hills of candy, shaded 
lamp-posts and landscape gardens in 
curving cut-glass beds; distances and 
barriers that made all general repartee 
out of the question and forced unes- 
capable tete-a-tetes. 
Good-bye to the rows of uncomfort¬ 
able thickly carved high-backed chairs, 
with host and hostess marooned at far 
ends in throned grandeur! Farewell 
pompous bulging sideboards, thick 
crummy rugs and layers of stuffy hang¬ 
ings! Au revoir to the tedious' ten- 
course dinners hurriedly served and 
wantonly wasteful. Instead, hail little 
round painted table bringing a few chos¬ 
en friends close together; almost bare 
save for one low Venetian glass bowl of 
fruit in the center, a bright-colored pivot 
to cross conversation. Hail unbroken 
circle of small low-backed comfortable 
chairs, with host and hostess informally 
seated among their friends with no 
marked separation! Welcome small 
practical consoles'for serving—bare tile 
floors and plain paneled walls—nothing 
to distract from the central interest, the 
diners! Welcome the simple four-course 
meal, slowly and quietly served by one 
neat and competent servant! 
The Study and Bedrooms' 
The wish for the intime would be 
satisfied in the small study—or “cabinet 
de travail,” as the French would call it. 
Here the walls would be lined with 
books to the ceiling, with secret cup¬ 
boards between and below for various 
practical uses. A room to work in, un¬ 
disturbed, apart from the household; 
rarely, if ever, to be invaded by friends. 
Upstairs there would be only three 
bedrooms, but each one large, and well 
aired by huge French windows, opening 
out onto iron balconies. The ceilings 
would be high, the walls treated with 
big simple panels, giving a sense of rest¬ 
fulness and well-being. Connecting with 
each, would be an unusually large dress¬ 
ing and bathroom, with all the latest 
appointments. An extra dressing room 
would he so arranged that -it could be 
conveniently used as bedroom for gov¬ 
erness or nurse, if so desired. 
No attic would be provided for stor^- 
age of unused and unusable what-nots. 
Poor things would be destroyed and 
good things given away. Trunks would 
be stored in a special dry room in the 
basement. There would be an air-space 
only above the bedrooms for coolness 
in summer and warmth in winter. 
The Service Wings 
In one low wing would be the service. 
An up-to-date kitchen with white tile 
walls and plenty of cross-ventilation. A 
comfortable servants’ sitting and dining 
room, with fireplace and other attrac¬ 
tions. Three servants’ bedrooms and 
bath, conveniently adjacent yet suffi¬ 
ciently separate. 
In the other wing would be the garage ■ 
— for two cars only (all the others be¬ 
ing sold to help pay the new taxes). 
Also a chauffeur’s room and bath, and 
a room'for garden tools and equipment. 
If such a house is too small for the 
needs of a large and hospitable family, 
let there be a second small house for 
the children on one side, and a third 
house for guests on the other, closely 
connected to the owner’s house in the 
middle by short brick paths through the 
garden. When the children are grown 
and guests become fewer^ — one side 
house could be used by a married son 
or daughter, and the other rented to 
congenial friends. 
Three such small houses would be 
much easier to rent or sell than one 
great whale of a mansion; and, what 
is more to the point, would make life 
much more flexible and free. 
Well, rather! 
