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DESIGN I. 
 
 A SUBURBAN CO T TAG V. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES; 
 
 OR 
 
 A SERIES OF DESIGNS 
 
 FOR 
 
 RURAL COTTAGES AND COTTAGE VILLAS, 
 
 AND THEIR 
 
 GARDENS AND GROUNDS. 
 
 ADAPTED TO 
 
 NORTH AMERICA. 
 
 By a. J. DOWNING, 
 
 AUTHOR OF A TREATISE ON LANDSCAPE GARDENING, ETC. 
 
 "I long for the preservation of those pure, simple, holy tastes, which have led our country- 
 men, in ail ages, to delight in the pleasant fields, in the pleasant country houses, in the profound 
 peace of noble woods so favorable to high and solemn musings, and in all those healthful and 
 animating sports and pursuits that belong to such a life." — Hoicitt. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS. 
 
 NEW-YORK AND LONDON : 
 
 WILEY AND PUTNAM. 
 1844. 
 
Entered according to the Act of Cougress, by 
 A. J. Downing, 
 the Clerk's otlice of the Southern District of New-York, 
 iu the year 1812, 
 
 NEW-YOBK: 
 "Wiliiam Oiborn, Printer, 
 88 WUliam-streel. 
 
WITH SINCERE REGARD, 
 TO 
 
 BERT DONALDSON, 
 
 OF BLITHEWOOD, ON THK HUDSON, 
 Arbiter elegantiarum. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 A HEARTY desire to contribute something to the im- 
 provement of the domestic architecture and the rural taste 
 of our country, has been the motive which has influenced 
 me in preparing this Httle volume. With us, almost every 
 man either builds, or looks forward to building, a home 
 for himself at some period of his life ; it may be only a log 
 hut, or a most rustic cottage, but perhaps also, a villa, or 
 a mansion. As yet, however, our houses are mostly either 
 of the plainest and most meagre description, or, if of a more 
 ambitious, they are frequently of a more objectionable cha- 
 racter — shingle palaces, of very questionable convenience, 
 and not in the least adapted, by their domestic and rural 
 beauty, to harmonize with our lovely natural landscapes. 
 
 Now I am desirous that every one who lives in the 
 country, and in a country house, should be in some degree 
 conversant with domestic architecture, not only because it 
 will be likely to improve the comfort of his own house, and 
 hence all the houses in the country, but that it will enlarge 
 his mind, and give him new sources of enjoyment. 
 
 It is not my especial object, at this moment, to dwell 
 upon the superior convenience which may be realized in 
 our houses, by a more familiar acquaintance with architec- 
 ture. The advantages of an ingeniously arranged and 
 nicely adapted plan, over one carelessly and ill-contrived, 
 are so obvious to every one, that they are self-evident. 
 This is the ground-work of domestic architecture, the great 
 importance of which is recognized by all mankind, and 
 some ingenuity and familiarity with practical details are 
 
 B 
 
ii 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 only necessary to give ps compact, convenient and com- 
 fortable houses, with the same means and in the same 
 space as the most awkward and unpleasing forms. 
 
 But I am still more anxious to inspire in the minds of 
 my readers and countrymen livelier perceptions of the 
 BEAUTIFUL, in cvcry thing that relates to our houses and 
 grounds. I wish to awaken a quicker sense of the grace, 
 the elegance, or the picturesqueness, of fine forms that are 
 capable of being produced in these, by Rural Architec- 
 ture and Landscape Gardening — a sense which will not 
 only refine and elevate the mind, but open to it new and 
 infinite resources of delight. There are perhaps a few 
 upon whose souls nearly all emanations of beauty fall irn- 
 pressionless ; but there are also many who see the Beauti- 
 ful, in nature and art, only feebly and dimly, either from the 
 want of proper media through which to view her, or a little 
 direction as to \^here she is to be found. How many, too, 
 are there who even discover the Beautiful, in a picture, or 
 a statue, who yet fail to admire her, rounding with lines 
 of grace, and touching with shades of harmony all com- 
 mon nature, and pervading silently all material forms ! 
 " Men," say Goethe, " are so inclined to content themselves 
 with what is commonest, so easily do the spirit and the 
 sense grow dead to the impression of the Beautiful and the 
 Perfect, that every person should strive to nourish in his 
 mind the faculty of feeling these things, by every thing in 
 his power, for no man can bear to be wholly deprived of 
 such enjoyment; it is only because they are not used to 
 taste of what is excellent, that the generality of people 
 take delight in silly and insipid things, provided they be 
 new. For this reason, every day one ought to see a fine 
 picture, read a good poem, hear a little song, and if it were 
 possible, to speak a few reasonable words." 
 
 It is in this regard, that 1 wish to inspire all persons 
 with a love of beautiful forms, and a desire to assemble 
 them around their daily walks of life. I wish them to ap" 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 iii 
 
 predate how superior is the charm of that home where we 
 discover the tasteful cottage or villa, and the well designed 
 and neatly kept garden or grounds, full of beauty and har- 
 mony,-— not the less beautiful and harmonious because sim- 
 ple and limited ; and to become aware that these superior 
 forms, and the higher and more refined enjoyment derived 
 from them, may be had at the same cost afid with the 
 same labor as a clumsy dwelling, and its uncouth and ill- 
 designed accessories. 
 
 More than all, I desire to see these sentiments cherished 
 for their pure moral tendency. " All beauty is an out- 
 ward expression of inward good," and so closely are the 
 Beautiful and the True allied, that we shall find, if we be- 
 come sincere lovers of the grace, the harmony, and the 
 loveliness, with which rural homes and rural life are capa- 
 ble of being invested, that we are silently opening our 
 hearts to an influence which is higher and deeper than 
 the mere symbol; and that if we thus worship in the true 
 spirit, we shall attain a nearer view of the Great Master 
 whose words, in all his material universe, are written in 
 lines of Beauty. 
 
 And how much happiness, how much pure pleasure,^ 
 that strengthens and invigorates our best and holiest affec- 
 tions, is there not experienced, in bestowing upon our homes 
 something of grace and loveliness — in making the place 
 dearest to our hearts a sunny spot, where the social sym- 
 pathies take shelter securely under the shadowy eaves, of 
 grow and entwine trustfully with the tall trees Or wreathed 
 vines that cluster around, as if striving to shut out what-^ 
 ever of bitterness or strife may be found in the open high- 
 ways of the world. What an unfailing barrier again'st 
 vice, immorality, and bad habits, are those tastes which 
 lead us to embellish a home, to which at all times and in' 
 all places, we turn with delight, as being the object and 
 the scene of our fondest cares, labours, and enjoyments ; 
 whose humble roof, whose shady porch, whose verdant 
 
iv 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 lawn and smiling flowers, all breathe forth to us, in true, 
 earnest tones, a domestic feeling, that at once purifies the 
 heart, and binds us more closely to our fellow beings. 
 
 In this volume, the first yet published in this country de- 
 voted to Rural Architecture, I am conscious of offering but 
 a slight and imperfect contribution to this important sub- 
 ject, which I trust will be the precursor of more varied 
 and complete works from others, adapted to our peculiar 
 wants and climate. The very great interest now beginning 
 to manifest itself in rural improvements of every kind, 
 leads us to believe and to hope, that at no very distant day 
 our country residences may rival the cottage homes of 
 England," so universally, and so justly admired. 
 
 The relation between a country-house and its " sur- 
 roundings," have led me to consider, under the term Re- 
 sidences, both the architectural and the gardening designs. 
 To constitute an agreeable whole, these should indeed 
 have a harmonious correspondence, one with the other ; 
 and although most of the following designs have not 
 actually been carried into execution, yet it is believed that 
 they will, either entirely or in part, be found adapted to 
 many cases of every day occurrence, or at least, furnish 
 hints for variations suitable for peculiar circumstances and 
 situations. 
 
 My acknowledgments are due to J. Notman, Esq., Archi- 
 tect, of Philadelphia, for the architectural portion of 
 Design IX ; and to Alexander J. Davis, Esq., Architect, of 
 New-York, for that of Design X, and for a revision of some 
 of the architectural drawings and details. 
 
 A. J. D. 
 
 Highland Gardens, > 
 Newburgh, N. Y., June, 1842. 5 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 ARCHITECTURAL SUGGESTIONS. 
 
 Leading principles of domestic architecture, and their importance, p. 9. 
 The principle of utility or Fitness, p. 10. Value of a convenient ar- 
 rangement, p. 10. Different wants in a cottage, p. 12. Labour saving 
 fixtures, p. 13. The mode of construction, and materials most suitable, 
 p. 16. Fitness in furniture, p. 19. The principle of Propriety, or Ex- 
 pression of Purpose, p. 19. Features most characteristic of this expres- 
 sion, p. 20. The colour of the exterior of cottages, p. 22. Architecture 
 as an art of taste and imagination, p. 25. Beauty of form. The Principle 
 of Unity, p. 26. Of Uniformity and Symmetry, p. 27. Of Harmony and 
 Variety, p. 29. Different styles in architecture, p. 29. Relation of do- 
 mestic architecture, p. 30. The most suitable styles for this country, 
 p. 32. The sentiment of architecture, p. 33. 
 
 DESIGN L 
 
 A SUBURBAN COTTAGE. 
 
 Description of the plan of the house, and its internal arrangements, 
 p. 36. Remarks on its external effect, p. 38. Details of construction, 
 p. 39. Chimneys should be placed in the inner walls, p. 40. Estimate, 
 p. 40. Laying out the garden, p. 41. List of creepers for a trellis, p. 
 42. Choice fruits for the kitchen garden, p. 43. Training them to a 
 trellis, p. 44. The ornamental portion, p. 45. Sweet scented shrubs, to 
 be planted near the windows, p. 46, Border flowers, p. 48. Care ne- 
 cessary to keep the whole in order, p. 49. 
 
 DESIGN n. 
 
 A COTTAGE IN THE ENGLISH, OR RURAL GOTHIC STYLE. 
 
 Object in view in arranging the interior, p. 50. Explanation of the 
 plans, p. 51. Beauty of this style of cottage, p. 53. Introduction of the 
 veranda, p. 53. The chimney-tops, p. 54. Construction and details, 
 p. 55. Estimate, p. 56. Laying out the gal-den, p. 56. Trees to be 
 introduced ; disposing the kitchen garden, p. 59. 
 
Vi 
 
 Contents. 
 
 DESIGN III. 
 
 A COTTAGE IN THE POINTED, OR TUDOR STYLE. 
 
 The situation, p. 61. Size of this cottage suited to the generality of 
 wants in this country, p. 62. Arrangement of the principal floor, p. 62. 
 Of the second floor, p. 66. Of the basement, p. 67. Degree of decora- 
 tion to be employed. The proper materials, p. 69. Introduction of 
 shutters, p. 69. Finish of the interior, p. 70. Details of the exterior, 
 p. 71. The dumb waiter described, p. 73. Estimate, p. 74. Arrange- 
 ment of the grounds, p. 74. Sunk fence, or ha-haj p. 77. Trees most 
 in keeping with the place, p. 77. Preparation of the soil for planting 
 trees, p. 78. Arrangement of trees in the natural style of landscape 
 gardening, and what constitutes the art, p. 80. Flower beds, p. 80. 
 List of the finest hardy ornamental trees of foreign and native growth, 
 suitable for planting in groups and masses, p. 81. List of 42 choice 
 fruit trees, for the orchard of this design, p. 87. 
 
 DESIGN IV. 
 
 AN ORNAMENTAL FARM-HOUSE. 
 
 Aim in: this design, p. 88. Reasons why a farmer's house should be 
 tasteful, p. 89. Description of the first floor plan, p. 90. Of the second 
 floor, p. 91. Why the Rural Gothic style is adopted, p. 91. The mate- 
 rial considered, p. 92. Details of construction and the estimate, p. 93. 
 The Ferrae Ornee, or ornamental portion of the farm, p. 94. Trees to 
 be employed for ornament, p. 96. The introduction of hedges, and the 
 best plants for this purpose, p. 97. Rendering fences ornamental by 
 creepers, p. 98. Harmonising the adjacent portions of the farm ; list of 
 apples for the orchard, p. 98. 
 
 DESIGN V. 
 
 A COTTAGE VILLA IN THE BRACKETTED MODfi. 
 
 Bold character of this mode of building ; its adaptation to this country, 
 and to the souths p. 99. The plan of the principal floor, p. 100. Supe- 
 rior effect of one large apartment for the drawing-room, p. 101. The 
 second floor and the basement arrangements, p. 102. Variation of this 
 design as constructed in wood, p. 103. Details ; the chimney and 
 porch, p. 105 ; the brackets and siding, p. 106. Construction of the 
 water-closet, p. 107. Estimate, p. 108. Laying out the ground, p. 108. 
 The ornamental portions, the kitchen and fruit gardens, p. 111. Hints 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 vii 
 
 for the detached green-house, p. 112. Treatment of the hill in the rear, 
 p. 112. Preparation and treatment necessary to produce a fine lawn, 
 p. 113. The flower-beds cut in the turf, and reasons why this is a su^ 
 perior method of arranging them, p. 114. List of beautiful Verbenas 
 and ever-blooming Roses, for these beds, p. 115. Treatment of the long 
 flo^yer borders, p. 116. List of perennial border flowers, arranged ac- 
 cording to their height, and period of blooming, p. 117. 
 
 DESIGN VI. 
 
 AN IRREGULAR yiLLA IN THE ITALIAN STYLE, BRACKETTED, 
 
 Beauty of irregularity in buildings, and reasons why an irregular 
 design will be disliked by some, and greatly preferred by others, p. 124. 
 Elegant domestic features of the Italian style, p. 125. The accommo- 
 dation of the principal floor of this design, p. 125. Of the chamber floor, 
 p. 126. Trees in keeping with the style, p. 127. Construction, p. 127. 
 Estimate, p. 128. Laying out the grounds, p. 128. Natural character 
 of the situation, and the way in which it should be treated, p. 129. 
 Advantages of walks made in natural woods, p. 130. The importance 
 of studying the natural expression of the place, and of making our im- 
 provements harmonize with it, p. 131. The orchard and fruit garden, 
 p. 132. List of the finest varieties of fruit, p. 133. Hints for their 
 cultivation, and for securing them against insects, p. 136. 
 
 DESIGN yiL 
 
 AN IRREGULAR COTTAGE IN THE OLD ENGLISH STYLE. 
 
 Character of the old English cottage, and reasons why it should only 
 be built in appropriate situations, p. 137. Domestic expression, the 
 characteristic of this style, p. 138. Examination of the interior, p. 138. 
 Fitting up and furnishing, p. 189, Plan of the chamber story, p. 140. 
 Construction and details, p. 142. Care necessary in executing a design 
 of this kind, p. 143. Estimate, p. 144. Laying out the grounds, p. 144. 
 Mode of thinning out a wooded surface, p. 146. Management of the 
 walks, p. 147. An irregular flower garden, p. 148. A cottage in the 
 same style, suitable as a gate lodge to this residence^ or for a small family, 
 p. 149. Beauty of vines and climbing plants on cottages, p. 150. 
 
 DESIGN VIII. 
 
 A VILLA IN THE ITALIAN STYLE. 
 
 Grecian and Italian architecture compared ; characteristic quality of 
 the latter, p. 151. Situation suitable for this villa. The terrace ; its 
 
viii 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 beauty and utility ; union between the house and grounds, p. 153 ; exte- 
 rior features, p. 153 ; of the second floor, p. 154. Comparative cost, and 
 the facility of making additions to buildings in the Italian style, p. 155. 
 Construction and details, p. 156. Estimate, p. 157. Arrangement of 
 the grounds, p. 157. The architectural flower garden described, p. 185. 
 Elegant effect of vases, etc., in connexion with garden scenery, p. 160. 
 Pedestals for vases, p. 161. Details of the garden ; construction and 
 supply of the fountain, p. 162. 
 
 DESIGN IX. 
 
 A COTTAGE IN THE ITALIAN OR TUSCAN STYLE. 
 
 Description of this cottage ; the principal floor, p. 164. The second 
 floor, and basement accommodation, p. 165. Arrangement of the ground, 
 with a view to combine utility and beauty, p. 166. The orchard and 
 kitchen garden, p. 167. Attached conservatory, p. 170. 
 
 DESIGN X. 
 
 A VILLA IN THE GOTHIC, OR POINTED STYLE. 
 
 Character of the exterior, p. 171. Complete interior arrangement, 
 p. 172. The dining, drawing-room and library, and other apartments 
 of the principal floor, p. 172. The second floor and basement accommo- 
 dation, p. 173. Estimate, p. 174. Arrangement of the grounds; treat- 
 ment of the approach, p. 175. Care and judgment necessary in opening 
 a wooded surface, p. 177. 
 
 ADDENDA. 
 
 Cements for the exterior of buildings, p. 179. Building contracts, 
 p. 182. Employment of architects and professional men, p. 165. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 ARCHITECTURAL SUGGESTIONS. 
 
 " True Taste is an excellent economist. She confines her choice to few objects, 
 and delights to produce gi-eat effects by small means ; while False Taste is forever 
 sighing after the new and rare ; and reminds us, in her works, of the scholar of 
 Appelles, who, not being able to paint his Helen beautiful, determined to make her 
 fine." 
 
 There are certain leading principles connected with 
 architecture, which earnestly demand our attention on the 
 very threshold of the subject. In an indefinite manner 
 they are, perhaps, acknowledged by all intelligent minds, 
 but they are only distinctly and clearly understood by 
 those, who, having analyzed the expressions or characters 
 inherent in various forms and modes of building, have 
 traced the impressions derived, whether of utility or beauty, 
 to their proper origin. When the mind has arrived at this 
 point, the satisfaction it enjoys in an admirable work, is 
 proportionably greater ; in the same manner (though in 
 less degree) as the ' devout astronomer' enjoys, with a far 
 more intelligent and fervent rapture, his starry gaze, than 
 the ignorant eye that sees only a myriad of lights hung 
 above to dispel the gloom of midnight. 
 
 As the first object of a dwelhng is to afford a shelter to 
 
 1 
 
10 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 man, the first principle belonging to architecture grows 
 out of this primary necessity, and it is called the principle 
 of Fitness or usefulness. After this, man naturally desires 
 to give some distinctive character to his own habitation, to 
 mark its superiority to those devoted to animals. This 
 gives rise to the principle of Expression of Purpose. 
 Finally, the love of the beautiful, inherent in all finer natures, 
 and its exhibition in certain acknowledged forms, has 
 created the principle of the expression of Style, In other 
 words, all these principles may be regarded as sources of 
 beauty in domestic architecture ; Fitness being the beauty 
 of utility ; Expression of purpose, the beauty of propriety ; 
 and Expression of Style, the beauty of form and sentiment^ 
 which is the highest in the scale. We shall say a few 
 words in illustration of our ideas on each particular 
 division. 
 
 Fitness, or use, is the first principle to be considered in 
 all buildings. Those indeed who care little for any other 
 character in a dwelhng, generally pride themselves upon 
 the amount of convenience they have been able to realize 
 in it ; and nothing could be in worse taste than to embellish 
 or decorate a dwelling-house which is wanting in comfort, 
 as the beautiful is never satisfactory when not allied to 
 the true. 
 
 In a dwelling-house, our every day comfort is so en- 
 tirely dependant on a convenient arrangement of the rooms, 
 or plan of the interior, that this is universally acknow- 
 ledged to be the most important consideration. To have 
 the principal rooms or apartments situated on the most fa- 
 vourable side of the house with regard to aspect, in order 
 that they may be light, warm, or airy, and, in respect to 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 11 
 
 view, that they may command the finest prospects, are 
 desiderata in every kind of dwelling. In all climates the 
 stormy quarters are the worst aspects, and the fair weather 
 quarters the best ones. Thus, in the middle states, a 
 south-west aspect (all other things being equal) is the best 
 for the finer rooms, and a north-east the most disagreeable. 
 In hot climates, a north exposure may be agreeable on 
 account of its coolness, but in all temperate latitudes, a 
 southern one is more desirable for the entire year. 
 
 In arranging the different apartments of a cottage or 
 villa, great variations will naturally arise out of the peculiar 
 circumstances, mode of living, or individual wants of the 
 family by whom it is to be inhabited. Thus, a small 
 family living a secluded life, or one composed of infirm 
 persons, would prefer to have their sleeping apartments, 
 their kitchen, and other conveniences, on the same floor 
 with the parlour or living room, even at the expense of one 
 or two handsome rooms, for the sake of the greater con- 
 venience in conducting domestic affairs, and the greater 
 ease and comfort thereby realized. On the other hand, a 
 family fond of social intercourse, and accustomed to en- 
 ^tertain, would greatly prefer, in a cottage or villa of mo- 
 derate size, to have several handsome apartments, as a 
 drawing-room, library, dining-room, etc., occupying almost 
 exclusively the principal floor, placing the kitchen and its 
 offices in the basement, and the bedrooms in the second 
 story. This arrangement would perhaps be less convenient 
 in a few respects for the family, but it would be more 
 elegant and more satisfactory for the kind of residence in- 
 tended — each department of the house being complete in 
 itself, and intruding itself but little on the attention of the 
 
12 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 family or guests when not required to be visible, which is 
 the ideal of domestic accommodation. A kitchen on the 
 first floor has the advantage of being more accessible, and 
 more completely under the surveillance of the mistress of the 
 house, but, on the other hand, it is open to the objection of 
 being occasionally offensive in the matter of sound, sight, 
 and smells ; unless, in the case of large houses, where 
 these may be excluded by long passages and double doors. 
 Some families have a literary taste, and to them a libra- 
 ry would be an indispensable apartment, while others, 
 caring less for books, would in the same space prefer a 
 bedroom. We mention these circumstances to show in 
 what a relative sense the term fitness, as regards accom- 
 modation, must be used, and how many peculiar circum- 
 stances must be considered before we can pronounce de- 
 cidedly upon the merits or demerits of a plan. What 
 may be entirely fit and convenient for one, would be con- 
 sidered quite unsuitable for another. Hence the great 
 difficulty of arranging plans exactly to suit to all wants. 
 And hence the importance to all persons, and especially 
 ladies, who understand best the principle of convenience, 
 of acquiring some architectural knowledge. There 
 are doubtless many desiring to build a cottage, who 
 will find no one of the plans hereafter submitted pre- 
 cisely what they want, and this will be found to arise 
 mainly from their having certain peculiar wants growing 
 out of their habits, or position, for which no artist, not 
 familiar with these, could possibly provide. 
 
 There are some rules of fitness of nearly universal ap- 
 plication. Thus a dining-room should obviously have con- 
 nected with it, either a pantry or a large closet, or both ; 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 13 
 
 and it should be so placed as to afford easy ingress and 
 egress to, and from the kitchen. The drawing-room, 
 parlour, or finest apartment, should look out on the most 
 beautiful view, either over a distant prospect, if there be 
 such, or, if not, upon the fine home landscape of trees, lawn, 
 or flower-garden. A library may occupy a more secluded 
 position, and requires less attention to outward circum- 
 stances as the materiel from whence it dispenses enjoy- 
 ment is within itself. Again, there are other minor points 
 more generally understood, which may be considered 
 under this principle, and to which we need scarcely allude. 
 Among these are the construction of proper drains to the 
 kitchen and basement, the introduction of water pipes, 
 cisterns, etc. A bathing room requires little space, and 
 may be easily constructed in any cottage, and its great im- 
 portance to health renders it a most desirable feature in 
 all our houses. No dwelling can be considered complete 
 which has not a water-closet under its roof, though the 
 expense may yet for some time prevent their general intro- 
 duction in small cottages. 
 
 In a country like ours, where the population is compara- 
 tively sparse, civil rights equal, and wages high, good 
 servants or domestics are comparatively rare, and not 
 likely to retain their places for a long time. The maximum 
 of comfort, therefore, is found to consist in employing the 
 smallest number of servants actually necessary. This 
 may be greatly facilitated by having all the apartments 
 conveniently arranged with reference to their various uses, 
 and still further by introducing certain kinds of domestic 
 labour-saving apparatus to lessen the amount of service re- 
 quired, or to render its performance easy. Among those 
 
14 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 which we would, from experience, especially recommend 
 for cottages, are the rising cupboard or dumb waiter, the 
 speaking tube, and the rotary pump. 
 
 The rising cupboard is only required in the case of a 
 basement kitchen, and in this instance, it will be found to 
 render the labour of carrying the dinner to and from the 
 kitchen, much easier than that experienced in bringing it 
 from a kitchen on the same floor, with less risk of broken 
 china or dishes. The unsightly appearance of a cupboard 
 rising through the floor in a corner of the dining-room, is 
 obviated by having it enclosed by a fixed case, like a small 
 side-board, and its construction we shall show hereafter. 
 
 Speaking tubes are merely common tin tubes one and a 
 half inches in diameter, terminated by mouth pieces, one 
 of which is in the kitchen, the other in the desired apart- 
 ment. They will usually only be required in two rooms, 
 viz., the dining-room and the family bedroom, and in 
 constructing the house they may be introduced and led 
 through the partitions at a very trifling cost. They save 
 much time and labour, as by their aid we may be able to 
 communicate our wants in a whisper from the chamber 
 floor to the kitchen, and have them complied with more 
 speedily than w^e should be able, by the ordinary use of 
 the bell onh% to bring the servant to our room to learn our 
 wishes. 
 
 The rotary pump may be considered as supplying the 
 place in a cottage of the extensive arrangement of water 
 pipes introduced in the best mansions for supplying the 
 upper or chamber story with water. A rotary pump, 
 placed in some convenient position in the hall of the 
 chamber floor of a cottage, and communicating by a leaden 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 15 
 
 pipe with a cistern outside, may be said to place an abun- 
 dant supply of water within a few steps of every bedroom 
 in that story. This, it is evident, will save much labour in 
 carrying water daily, to say nothing of the comfort of 
 having a fresh supply within reach at any moment. The 
 introduction of a complete set of water pipes in a house is 
 expensive, and to keep them in repair is a considerable 
 additional tax, but the comparative cheapness and effi- 
 ciency of the rotary pump, (which is the neatest and most 
 complete apparatus,) render it, or something of this same 
 description, an almost indispensable convenience in a cot- 
 tage of more than one story. 
 
 The universally acknowledged utiUty of closets, renders 
 it unneceseary for us to say any thing to direct attention to 
 them under this head. In the principal story, a pantry or 
 closets are a necessary accompaniment to the dining or 
 living room, but are scarcely required in connexion with 
 any of the other apartments. Bedrooms always require 
 at least one closet to each, and more will be found conve- 
 nient. One, or sometimes two, may always be provided, 
 in a chamber having a fire-place, by enclosing the space 
 on one side of the chimney breast, and in all cottage villas, 
 or villas of good size, one or two bedrooms should be 
 provided with dressing-rooms attached, which will be 
 found to add greatly to the real comfort of the apartment. 
 Some persons, however, have such a passion for closets, 
 that they not unfrequently destroy all the merit of a 
 plan, by cutting up the interior so as to afford them in 
 abundance. A plan of very moderate size will perhaps 
 only afford a few rooms of good size and proportion, which 
 would be injured or destroyed by cutting off many closets. 
 
16 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 It is far better to substitute wardrobes, or moveable closets, 
 than thus to sacrifice all space, and elegance of arrange- 
 ment, to convenience. 
 
 The mode of construction, and the materials employed, 
 are also comprised under the head of fitness. In this 
 country, from the great abundance and cheapness of wood, 
 it has, until within a few years, been almost the only mate- 
 rial employed in constructing country houses ; but as 
 timber has grown scarcer in the forest, it has become 
 dearer, until, in many parts of the Atlantic states, stone, or 
 brick, is equally economical. Wood is acknowledged by 
 all architects to be the worst material for building, and 
 should never be employed when it is in the power of the 
 builder to use any other. Its want of durability, the ex- 
 pense of painting it and keeping it in repair, and its frailness 
 and liability to decay by the action of the weather, are all 
 very serious objections to it as a material for dwelling- 
 houses. A cottage of wood is, from the thinness of the 
 exterior, necessarily warmer in summer, and colder in 
 winter, than one built of more solid materials. Filling-in 
 with brick decreases this objection, but does not entirely 
 remove it. In point of taste, a house built of wood strikes 
 us the least agreeably, as our pleasure in beholding a 
 beautiful form is marred by the idea of the frailness of the 
 material composing that form. We are aware that the al- 
 most universal prevalence of wooden country houses in 
 the United States has weakened this impression, but the 
 strength with which it strikes an European, accustomed to 
 solidity and permanence in a dwelling, is the best proof of 
 the truth of our remark. And even in this country, the 
 change of feeling which is daily taking place on this sub- 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 17 
 
 ject, shows very plainly in how little estimation wood will 
 be held as a building material, compared with brick or 
 stone, by the next generation. 
 
 Brick is the next best material to wood, and is every 
 day coming into more general use. The walls formed of 
 it, if well constructed, have a solidity and permanence ap- 
 propriate for a dwelling, and requiring little cost to keep 
 them in good repair. The offensive hue of red brick walls 
 in the country, is easily removed by colouring them any 
 agreeable tint, which will also render them dryer and more 
 permanent. Brick-and-stucco (that is, a wall built of rough 
 brick and coated exteriorly with a cement) is, when well 
 executed, one of the best materials for cottages or villas. 
 It is much warmer and dryer than wood or even stone, 
 and is equal to the latter in external effect, when marked 
 off and colored to resemble it. We have no doubt that 
 in a short time it will have a very general preference in 
 most sections of the country.* 
 
 Stone is generally conceded to be superior, on the whole, 
 to any other material for building. This is owing to its 
 great durability and solidity, both in expression and in 
 reality ; and to its requiring no trouble to keep it in repair, 
 as it suffers little or no injury from the action of the ele- 
 ments. 
 
 When houses are built of brick, or stone, the interior 
 plastering should never be put directly upon the inner 
 
 * The common hydraulic cements of New- York are unfit for plastering the exterior 
 of houses, and many persons who have only seen these employed (mixed perhaps 
 with dirty, instead of sharp, clean sand) suppose that ali.cements are equally liable 
 to crumble by exposure to damp and frost. The cement (or hydraulic limes) of Con- 
 necticut and Permsylvania are greatly superior for stucco, or external plaster, becom- 
 ing, when well applied, nearly as firm and durable as stone. 
 
 2 
 
18 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 face of the wall, as is sometimes done by careless or igno- 
 rant mechanics : but the lathing, upon which it is formed, 
 should always be separated from the solid wall by what is 
 technically called " furring-off," which leaves a space of 
 two or more inches between the solid wall, and that of 
 plaster. This vacuity is, of course, occupied by air, which 
 is a better non-conductor than any wall, prevents effec- 
 tually the penetration of all dampness, and renders the wall 
 warmer than would three times the same thickness of solid 
 material. 
 
 When we are necessarily restricted to the employment 
 of a certain material, both fitness and good taste require 
 that there should be a correspondence between the material 
 used and the style adopted for the building. Heavy and 
 massive architecture, a temple, a castle, or a mansion, 
 should be built of stone only, or some solid enduring sub- 
 stance, but cottages in some light and fanciful styles may 
 with'more propriety be erected in wood, that material be- 
 ing in harmony with the expression of the form and out- 
 lines. There cannot well be a greater violation of correct 
 taste, than to build a Gothic castellated villa with thin 
 wooden boards. It is a species of counterfeit coin which 
 will never pass current with cultivated minds. De Tocque- 
 ville, in his remarks on the spirit in which the Americans 
 cultivate the art, says, " when I arrived for the first time 
 at New- York, by that part of the Atlantic ocean which 
 is called the Narrows, I was surprised to perceive along 
 the shore, at some distance from the city, a considerable 
 number of palaces of white marble, several of which were 
 built after the models of ancient architecture."^' His sur- 
 prise was still greater, however, when he went the next 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 19 
 
 day to inspect the temple that had particularly attracted 
 his notice, to find that its imposing portico was supported 
 by huge columns of jpainted wood ! 
 
 Something might be said on the subject of fitness, with 
 regard to the furniture and interior decoration of our 
 dwelling houses. There is a great charm about a country 
 house fitted up or furnished simply, appropriately, and 
 comfortably. A profusion of mirrors, of gilding, or of 
 chairs or sofas too magnificent except for show, strikes us 
 disagreeably amid the freshness, the silence, and simpli- 
 city of nature, which quietly looks us in the face at every 
 window of a house in the country. 
 
 The expression of purpose in architecture is conveyed by 
 features in a building, or by its whole appearance, sug- 
 gesting the end in view, or the purpose for which it is in- 
 tended. A church, for example, is easily known by its spire, 
 or a barn by its plain large doors and the absence of chim- 
 neys, and the reason acknowledges a satisfaction in find- 
 ing them to be what they appear, or, in other words, with 
 the truthfulness of their expression. Whatever, therefore, 
 tends to heighten expression of purpose, must grow out of 
 some quality which connects itself in the mind with the 
 use for which it is designed, and a genuine mode of increa- 
 sing our admiration of any building, is to render it expres- 
 sive of the purpose for which it is built. 
 
 Although, at first thought, it would appear that persons 
 would be little likely to fall into error in violating the 
 truthfulness of a building, yet examples do not unfrequently 
 occur. Some of our dwelling-houses are so meagre and 
 comfortless in their exteriors, that one might be fairly par- 
 doned for supposing them barns, and, on the other hand, 
 
20 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 we have seen stables so decorated with green shutters and 
 pilasters, that they have actually been mistaken for dwell- 
 ing-houses. A blind passion for a particular style of build- 
 ing may also tend to destroy expression of purpose. It 
 would certainly be difficult for a stranger in some of our 
 towns, where the taste for Grecian temples prevails, to 
 distinguish with accuracy between a church, a bank, and 
 a hall of justice. 
 
 Not only should the whole house have a general charac- 
 ter denoting the end in view, but every portion of it should 
 be made, as far as possible, to convey the same impres- 
 sion. The various useful features entering into its com- 
 position, should all be expressive of the end for which 
 they are intended, and should appear to answer their pur- 
 pose. Thus large windows indicate spacious and well 
 ventilated apartments, and although propriety requires the 
 windows of the principal rooms to be made larger than 
 those of the chamber story, yet the latter should not be 
 shorn of their due proportions so as to be expressive of im- 
 perfect accommodation. One of the most common errors, 
 which of late has crept into our suburban builders' heads, 
 is the introduction of short attic windows into the second 
 or third story of their houses. However satisfactory such 
 dwellings may otherwise be, the expression of low and 
 confined chambers, conveyed by these cramped windows, 
 destroys all pleasure in contemplating their exteriors. 
 
 The prominent features conveying expression of purpose 
 in dwelling-houses are, the chimneys, the windows, and the 
 porch, veranda, or piazza ; and for this reason, whenever 
 it is desired to raise the character of a cottage or villa 
 above mediocrity, attention should first be bestowed on 
 these portions of the building. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 21 
 
 The chimney tops, in all countries where fires are used, 
 are decidedly expressive of purpose, as they are associated 
 with all our ideas of warmth, the cheerful fire-side, and 
 the social winter circle. The learned Bishop Hall says, 
 
 " Look to the tower'd chimnies, which should be 
 The wind-pipes of good hospitalitie." 
 
 " In every human habitation," says Loudon, " these chim- 
 ney tops ought to be conspicuous objects, because they are 
 its essentj^l characteristics. They distinguish apartments 
 destined for human beings from those designed for lodging 
 cattle. They also distinguish a dwelhng-house from a 
 manufactory or workshop, by their size, number, form, or 
 disposition." As chimney tops are thus so essential a part 
 of dwelling-houses, we should endeavor to render them 
 pleasing objects and increase their importance by making 
 them ornamental. The clumsy mass of bricks should be 
 enlivened and rendered elegant by varying its form, orna- 
 menting its sides, and summit, or separating the whole into 
 distinct flues, forming a cluster, in modes of which there 
 are a multitude of suitable examples in the various styles 
 of architecture. The chimney tops generally occupy the 
 highest portions of the roof breaking against the sky boldly, 
 and, if enriched, will not only increase the expression of 
 purpose, but add also the picturesque beauty of the com- 
 position. 
 
 The porch, the veranda, or the piazza, are highly cha- 
 racteristic features, and no dwelling house can be consi- 
 dered complete without one or more of them. The en- 
 trance door, even in the humblest cottage, should always be 
 a conspicuous feature in its front, and it may be rendered 
 
22 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 SO, by a porch or veranda of some kind, which will serve 
 to keep the entrance dry and warm in inclement weather. 
 In all countries like ours, where there are hot summers, a 
 veranda, piazza or colonnade, is a necessary and delightful 
 appendage to a dwelling-house, and in fact during a con- 
 siderable part of the year, frequently becomes the favourite 
 lounging apartment of the family. Hence a broad shady 
 veranda suggests ideas of comfort and is highly expres- 
 sive of purpose. For the same reason bay or oriel win- 
 dows, balconies, and terraces, added to villas, increase 
 their interest, not only by their beauty of form, but by 
 their denoting more forcibly those elegant enjoyments 
 which belong to the habitation of man in a cultivated and 
 refined state of society. 
 
 The colour of buildings may very properly be made to 
 increase their expression of truthfulness. Thus a barn or 
 stable being regarded entirely in a useful point of view, 
 may have a quiet, unobtrusive tone of colour, while a cot- 
 tage or villa should be of a cheerful mellow hue harmoni- 
 zing with the verdure of the country. A mansion may 
 very properly have a graver colour than a cottage, to be in 
 unison with its greater dignity and extent. There is one 
 colour, however, frequently employed by house painters, 
 which we feel bound to protest against most heartily, as 
 entirely unsuitable, and in bad taste. This is white, which 
 is so universally applied to our wooden houses of every 
 size and description. The glaring nature of this colour, 
 when seen in contrast with the soft green of foliage, renders 
 it extremely unpleasant to an eye attuned to harmony of 
 colouring, and nothing but its very great prevalence in the 
 United States could render even men of some taste so 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 23 
 
 heedless of its bad effect. No painter of landscapes, that 
 has possessed a name, was ever guilty of displaying in his 
 pictures a glaring white house, but, on the contrary, the 
 buildings introduced by the great masters have uniformly 
 a mellow softened shade of colour, in exquisite keeping 
 with the surrounding objects.* 
 
 We shall quote on this subject some remarks in point by 
 Uvedale Price, whose name is of high authority.t *'One 
 of the most charming effects of sunshine, is its giving to 
 objects not merely light, but that mellow golden hue so 
 beautiful in itself, and which, when diffused as in a fine 
 evening over the whole landscape, creates that rich union 
 and harmony so enchanting in nature and Claude. In any 
 scene, whether real or painted, when such harmony pre- 
 vails, the least discordancy in colour would disturb the 
 eye : but if we suppose a single object of a glaring white 
 to be introduced, the whole attention, in spite of all our ef- 
 forts to the contrary, will be drawn to that one point ; if 
 many such objects be scattered about, the eye will be dis- 
 tracted among them. Again, (to consider it in another 
 view,) when the sun breaks out in gleams, there is some- 
 thing that delights and surprises, in seeing an object, be- 
 fore only visible, lighted up in splendour, and then gradu- 
 ally sinking into shade : but a whitened object is already 
 lighted up ; it remains so when every thing else has retired 
 into obscurity; it still forces itself into notice, still impu- 
 dently stares you in the face. An object of a sober tint, 
 
 *To render the effect still worse, our modem builders paint their Venetian window 
 shutters a bright green ! A cool dark green would be in better taste, and more agreea- 
 ble to the eye, both from the exterior and the interior. 
 
 t Essays on the Picturesque. 
 
24 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 unexpectedly gilded by the sun, is like a serious counte- 
 nance suddenly lighted up by a smile : a whitened object 
 like the eternal grin of a fool." There may be a little sar- 
 casm in the tone of these remarks, but that they are strict- 
 ly true everj'- fine colon rist will admit. 
 
 As it is difficult to convey in words a proper idea of de- 
 licate shades of colour, and as we think the subject one of 
 very great importance in domestic architecture, we have 
 given specimens on the opposite page of six shades of 
 colour highly suitable for the exterior of cottages and villas. 
 A, B, and C, are shades of gray, and E, F, G, of drab or 
 fawn colour; which will be found pleasing and harmonious 
 in any situation in the country. Stuccoed or cemented 
 buildings should be marked off in courses, and tinted to 
 resemble some mellow stone ; Bath, Portland stone, or 
 any other of the light free-stone shades, are generally most 
 agreeable. 
 
 A person of correct architectural taste will carry his 
 feeling of artistical propriety into the interior of his house, 
 and confer on each apartment, by expression of purpose, 
 a kind of individuality. Thus, in a complete cottage-villa, 
 the hall will be grave and simple in character, a few plain 
 seats its principle furniture ; the library sober and digni- 
 fied, or bookish and learned in its air; the dining-room 
 cheerful, with a hospitable sideboard and table ; the 
 drawing-room lively or brilliant, adorned with pictures or 
 other objects in art, and evincing more elegance and gayety 
 of tone in its colours and furniture. The bedrooms would 
 be simple, or only pretty, with abundant ventilation, and 
 ceilings of full height, and not low or contracted. 
 
 We have thus sketched the ground work upon which 
 
A 
 
 B 
 
 C 
 
 D 
 
 E 
 
 F 
 
# 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 25 
 
 architecture rests, fitness and expression of purpose, but 
 architecture which goes no further is only a useful, not a 
 fine art. It is only building. The true artist breathes a 
 life and soul, which is beauty, into the dead utilitarian ma- 
 terials, stone and wood, atid they speak a language that is 
 understood as readily as that of animate nature. The 
 mechanic blocks out the stone from the quarry, he even 
 gives to it the semblance of the human form, but the 
 sculptor only moulds the cold marble into a passion or a 
 sentiment that endures for ages, and strikes men of speech 
 dumb with its voiceless eloquence. A Greek temple, or 
 an old cathedral, speaks to the soul of all men as audibly 
 as could a Demosthenes. Even a Swiss chalet, with its 
 drooping, shadowy eaves, or an old English cottage, with 
 its quaint peaked gables, each embodies a sentiment in its 
 peculiar form, which takes hold of the mind, and convinces 
 us that, in some way or other, it has a living power. To 
 rep!roduce the beautiful in this manner, and to infuse a 
 spirit and a grace in forms otherwise only admirable for 
 their usefulness, is the ideal of architecture as an art of 
 taste, and its inspiration may be seen here and there in 
 some humble nook-hidden cottage, as well as in the dome 
 of St. Peters. 
 
 As all the satisfaction which the reason experiences in 
 building as an useful art, arises from fitness, and expres- 
 sion of purpose, so all the delight which the imagination 
 receives from architecture as an art of taste, is derived 
 from beauty of form, and from the sentiment associated with 
 certain modes of building long prevalent in any age or 
 country. 
 
 Aside from certain styles of architecture, which have 
 
 3 
 
26 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 received the approbation of all men for their acknowledged 
 beauty, and which are generally followed by architects, 
 there are also some leading rules which should govern 
 us in the composition of buildings in any style, however 
 simple, because they are inherent sources of beauty, com- 
 mon to all styles. 
 
 The first of these is the principle of Unity, a principle 
 of the highest importance in all works of art. There 
 should be an unity of design in all portions of the same 
 building, showing, by a correspondence of its various parts, 
 that they all originated in the same mind ; an unity of 
 forms, producing harmony instead of a discordant whole ; 
 an unity of style, avoiding the introduction in an established 
 mode, of any portions or members not in keeping with that 
 mode ; and an unity of decoration, evinced in the appro- 
 priate application of enrichment to the whole, rather than 
 to a single part, of an edifice. These rules of Unity are not 
 unfrequently violated by architects, but always at 'the 
 expense of the beauty and perfection of their works, as no 
 artist is superior to principles.* The production of a whole 
 follows as the result of attention to the principles of Unity, 
 and our pleasure in every work of art is enduring, precisely 
 in proportion as it forms a perfect whole. Unity is the 
 principle of Oneness, and its violation always shocks a 
 tasteful and consistent mind. As an example of the vio- 
 lation of unity of style, we might refer to a number of 
 country chapels, or churches, within our knowledge, 
 where a Grecian portico and Gothic or pointed windows 
 
 * " Every opportunity should be taken to discountenance that false and vulgar 
 opinion, that rules are the fetters of genius; they are fetters only to men of no 
 genius."— Sir Joshua Reynolds. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 27 
 
 occur in the same composition ! Or to illustrate the like 
 in unity of decoration or of design, how many country 
 dwellings have we all seen, with a highly elegant colonnade 
 in front, accompanying bare sides, without the least cor- 
 responding enrichment in the windows ! 
 
 The next principles of composition are those of Uni- 
 formity, and of Symmetry; two words which frequently 
 pass as synonymous in common language. 
 
 Uniformity in building is the repetition of the same forms 
 in the different portions or sides of a building. " A hut 
 may be recognised as a work of art, however rude or 
 anomalous its form ; because, according to human expe- 
 rience, its sides, its roof, and its door, could never have 
 been arranged so as to form a hut by chance. Such a hut 
 is satisfactory as a work of art, but nothing more ; but a 
 hut in a square form, gives additional satisfaction by the 
 regularity of its figure ; which gives an idea not only of 
 art; but of cultivated or improved art. There can be no 
 doubt, therefore, that the love of regularity is strongly im- 
 planted in the human mind ; since regularity is the first 
 principle which displays itself in the works of man, com- 
 posed with a view to beauty."* Hence, those persons who 
 have the least taste or imagination, will be found to prefer 
 a plain square or cube, above all others, for a house, as 
 being the first principle of beauty which they are able to 
 discover in architecture. t 
 
 * ArcMtectural Magazine, 1, 221. 
 
 t As besides this, a square or parallelogram is the most economical form in which 
 a house can be built, and as a small house does not easily permit irregularity, we 
 have adopted it in designing the greater number of cottages which follow, but we 
 have endeavoured to raise them above mere uniformity, by adding such character- 
 istic ornaments as give also some variety to the compositions. 
 
 % 
 
28 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 As Uniformity is the balance of two regular parts, so 
 the principle of Symmetry may be defined the balance of 
 two irregular parts ; in other words, Uniformity in works 
 of art is artistical regularity, Symmetry, artistical irregu- 
 larity. There are irregular buildings without symmetry, 
 but in all irregular compositions entirely satisfactory, it 
 will generally be found that there is a kind of hidden pro- 
 portion which one half of the whole bears to the other, 
 and it is this balance which constitutes symmetry. 
 
 A building may be highly irregular, it may abound in 
 variety and picturesqueness, and yet be perfectly symme- 
 trical. In the annexed rough sketch, (Fig. 1,) the pile of 
 
 [Figure 1.] 
 
 building represented, which is full of irregularity, is also 
 symmetrical, for if we divide it by the imaginary line a, the 
 portion on the right balances that on the left ; that is, 
 though not in shape, yet in bulk and in the mass of com- 
 position ; while in Fig. 2, which is a uniform or regular 
 building, the portion to the right balances that on the left 
 both in form and bulk. Now almost all persons, who have 
 not cultivated a taste for architecture, or whose organiza- 
 tions are deficient in this faculty, would prefer a regular 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 29 
 
 [Figure 2.] 
 
 house to a symmetrically irregular one, because with them 
 the reason only demands to be satisfied, but with more 
 cultivated minds the taste and imagination are active, and 
 call for a more lively and varied kind of beauty, and the 
 irregular building would be chosen, as affording more in- 
 tense and enduring pleasure. 
 
 As the principles of Harmony, Variety f &c., are intimately 
 connected with, and may be said to grow out of Unity, 
 Uniformity, and Symmetry, we shall not in our present 
 limits offer any remarks upon them. 
 
 The different styles in architecture are certain modes of 
 building, which have had their origin in different countries, 
 and may be considered as standard forms of architectural 
 beauty. They have almost, without exception, had their 
 origin in some lofty enthusiasm of the age, which was 
 embodied by the master artists of the time, generally in 
 the enthusiasm of rehgion. To the pagan gods were 
 reared the beautiful temples of the Greeks, and, under the 
 more spiritual influence of Christianity, arose those Gothic 
 cathedrals, in which the ponderous stone was wrought in 
 the most exquisite modifications of intricacy and beauty — 
 those cathedrals which, says an eloquent writer, are " a 
 
30 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 blossoming in stone, subdued by the insatiable demand of 
 harmony in man-" In like manner the oriental style, dis- 
 tinguished b}^ its mosques and minarets, and the Egyptian, 
 by its pyramids and cavernous temples, have all had their 
 origin in the same lofty aspirations of the artist. 
 
 All domestic architecture, in a given style, should be a 
 subdued expression or manifestation of that style, adjusted 
 to the humbler requirements of the building and the more 
 quiet purposes of domestic life. Hence it would evidently 
 be absurd to copy a cathedral, in building a dwelling in 
 the Gothic style, or a temple in a cottage after the Grecian 
 mode. 
 
 Nearly all the modes of building in modern use may be 
 referred to two original styles, of which they are only 
 modifications or varieties, viz., to the Grecian, in which 
 horizontal lines prevail, and to the Gothic, in which verti- 
 cal lines prevail ; and there have not been wanting artists 
 who have caught something of the spirit and beauty of the 
 original masterpieces of art, and transfused them into the 
 more domestic styles which have grown out of these, to 
 suit the wants of civilized life. Thus, although the pure 
 Grecian style (the temple) was not intended, and is not 
 suitable for domestic purposes, the Roman and the Italian 
 styles, which are modified forms of it, are elegant adapta- 
 tions of its characteristic forms to this purpose. The 
 Italian style, by its verandas and balconies, its projecting 
 roofs, and the capacity and variety of its form, is especially 
 suited to a warm climate. 
 
 In the same manner the Swiss, the Flemish, and other 
 continental modes of building, with exterior galleries, and 
 wide horizontal cornices, are all variations of this mode, 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 31 
 
 only differing in some peculiar adaptation to the climate 
 of the country, or the customs of the people. 
 
 Neither has the Gothic been confined to the cathedral, 
 where, as the noblest form, it exists in its grandeur and 
 purity, but its beauty and picturesqueness have reappeared 
 in the old English styles of domestic architecture. The 
 most perfect examples are those of the castles and mansions 
 of England of the time of the Tudors, but the whole of the 
 cottage architecture of England is imbued with its spirit, 
 and the manifestations are every where visible, in quaintly 
 carved gables or verge boards, wreathed and clustered 
 chimneys, beautiful windows ornamented with tracery, 
 and numberless other details, highly expressive and cha- 
 racteristic. 
 
 In adopting any style for imitation, our preference should 
 be guided not only by the intrinsic beauty which we see 
 in a particular style, but by its appropriateness to our 
 uses. This will generally be indicated by the climate, 
 the site, or situation, and the wants of the family who are to 
 inhabit it. In a high northern latitude, where it is evident 
 colonnades and verandas would be unsuitable for most of 
 the year, the Italian or Grecian styles should not be 
 chosen, and in a tropical one, the warm, solid, comfortable 
 features of the old English architecture would not be 
 necessary or appropriate. In a country like the middle 
 portions of the United States, where the summers are hot 
 and the winters cold, there is sufficient latitude for the 
 adoption of various styles of building, and therefore more 
 judgment or taste is requisite in the selection. 
 
 The different styles of architecture have been very aptly 
 compared to different languages, employed by various 
 
32 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 architects to express their ideas, and which, when perfect, 
 always remain nearly fixed, and best express the wants of 
 a particular age or country. We may safely carry out 
 this illustration, and say that the temples and cathedrals 
 are the orations and epic poems, the dwelhng-houses the 
 familiar epistles, or conversations of the particular styles. 
 
 In expressing our architectural ideas by the medium of 
 a certain style or language, we shall succeed best, and our 
 efforts will afford n:iost delight, the more nearly we ap- 
 proach to the nature of the circumstances under which 
 the style or language originated. Thus, if we talk pure 
 Greek, and build a Grecian temple for a dwelling, we shall 
 be little understood, or perhaps only laughed at by our 
 neighbours. It is not much better in the present day to 
 recite an epic poem by building a cathedral, or a heroic 
 one by constructing a castle for our habitation. Let us 
 rather be more sensible, though not less graceful in our 
 architectural utterance, and express a pleasant, every-day 
 language, in an old English mansion, a Rural Gothic cot- 
 tage, or an Italian villa. 
 
 For domestic architecture, we would strongly recommend 
 those simple modifications of architectural styles, where 
 the beauty grows out of the enrichment of some useful or 
 elegant features of the house, as the windows or verandas, 
 rather than those where some strongly marked features, of 
 little domestic beauty, overpower the rest of the building. 
 The Rural Gothic style, characterised mainly by pointed 
 gables, and the Italian, by projecting roofs, balconies and 
 terraces, are much the most beautiful modes for our 
 country residences. Their outlines are highly picturesque 
 and harmonious with nature. Their forms are convenient, 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 33 
 
 their accessories elegant, and they are highly expressive 
 of the refined and unostentatious enjoyments of the country. 
 We have pointed out in another work the objections that 
 may fairly be urged against the false taste lately so preva- 
 lent among us, in building our country houses in the form 
 of Greek temples, sacrificing thereby the beauty of 
 variety, much convenience, and all the comfort of low and 
 shady verandas, to the ambitious display of a portico of 
 stately columns ; and we are happy to see that the fashion 
 is on the decline. Let us hope speedily to see in its place 
 a correct taste springing up in every part of the country, 
 which shall render our Cottage homes beautiful, not by 
 borrowing the features or enrichments of a temple or 
 palace, but by seeking beautiful and appropriate forms, 
 characteristic of domestic life, and indicative of home 
 comforts. 
 
 Not a little of the delight of beautiful buildings to a cul- 
 tivated mind grows out of the sentiment of architecture, or 
 the associations connected with certain styles. Thus the 
 sight of an old English villa will call up in the mind of one 
 familiar with the history of architecture, the times of the 
 Tudors, or of " merry England," in the days of Elizabeth. 
 The mingled quaintness, beauty, and picturesqueness of 
 the exterior, no less than the oaken wainscoat, curiously 
 carved furniture and fixtures of the interior of such a 
 dwelling, when harmoniously complete, seem to transport 
 one back to a past age, the domestic habits, the hearty 
 hospitality, the joyous old sports, and the romance and 
 chivalry of which, invest it, in the dim retrospect, with a 
 kind of golden glow, in which the shadowy lines of poetry 
 and reality seem strangely interwoven and blended. 
 
 4 
 
34 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 So too an Italian villa may recall, to one familiar with 
 Italy and art, by its bold roof lines, its campanile and its 
 shady balconies, the classic beauty of that fair and smiling 
 land, where pictures, sculptured figures, vases, and urns, 
 in all exquisite forms, make part of the decorations and 
 " surroundings" of domestic and public edifices. A resi- 
 dence in the Roman style (more suitable than the Grecian) 
 may, by its dignified elegance of arrangement and decora- 
 tion, recall to the classic mind the famed Tusculum retreat 
 of Pliny. And one fond of the wild and picturesque, 
 whose home chances to be in someone of our rich mountain 
 valleys, may give it a peculiar charm to some minds by 
 imitating the Swiss cottage, or, at least, its expressive and 
 striking features. A great deal of the charm of architec- 
 tural style, in all cases, will arise from the happy union be- 
 tween the locality or site, and the style chosen, and from 
 the entireness with which the architect or amateur enters 
 into the spirit and character of the style, and carries it 
 through his whole work. This may be done in a small 
 cottage, and at little cost, as well as in a mansion, at great 
 expens^; but it requires more taste and skill to achieve 
 the former admirably, although the latter may involve ten 
 times the magnitude. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 35 
 
 DESIGN 1. 
 A suburban cottage for a small family. 
 
 We have supposed this cottage to be situated in the 
 suburbs of a town or village, and, for the sake of illustra- 
 ting the treatment of a small portion of ground, we shall 
 also imagine it to be placed on a lot of ground 75 feet front 
 by 150 deep, which, at the time of commencing the building, 
 has upon it no trees or improvements of any description. 
 
 By referring to the plan of the first floor of this cottage, 
 Fig. 4, the reader will perceive on the left of the hall, the 
 parlour, or living-room, 16 feet by 22 feet, having in com- 
 munication with it, a pantry, and a closet for books — each 
 4 feet by 8 feet. On the opposite side of the hall are, the 
 kitchen 14 feet by 16, and a bedroom 12 feet by 16 feet. 
 In the plan of the chamber floor, Fig. 5, there are four bed- 
 
 [Fig. 5.] 
 
 rooms of good size, and one of small dimensions. Suffi- 
 cient cellar room will be obtained under the living-room, 
 
36 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 closets, and hall, and it will not therefore be necessary to 
 excavate for this purpose under the kitchen and first floor 
 bedroom ; a circumstance which will lessen the expense 
 in building the foundation walls. 
 
 This simple cottage would be a suitable one for a small 
 family when the mistress wishes to have the management 
 of the domestic affairs directly under her own personal 
 care and supervision. In such a case it is indispensable to 
 have the kitchen on the same floor with the living-room, 
 though, if possible, not opening directly into it ; as, in such 
 a case, the smell arising from the cooking would be in un- 
 pleasant proximity to the latter. We have therefore placed 
 it on the opposite side of the hall, though but a few steps 
 from the living-room.. In a cottage of this description, the 
 master and mistress will generally prefer to have their own 
 bedroom on the first floor, and we have accordingly placed 
 it opposite the living-room. 
 
 Although this cottage is of very moderate size, yet, to 
 a family of small means, leading a comparatively retired 
 life, it will afford a great deal of comfort, and even a 
 considerable degree of taste or neatness. The parlour 
 or living-room, is comparatively large ; its outline is 
 agreeably varied by the bay window opposite the fire- 
 place — and the closet of books connected with it, indica- 
 ting a certain degree of mental cultivation, may very fairly 
 stand in the place of the library which forms one of the 
 suite of apartments in a larger cottage or villa. On the 
 other hand, the pantry opening into the same apartment 
 renders it equally eligible and convenient as a dining- 
 room. However large our dweUing-houses may be, inclu- 
 ding every grade from a cottage to a palace, if they are 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 37 
 
 occupied by a family of moderate size, it will be found 
 that more than one room is seldom used at a time, and that 
 all the actual comforts of domestic life maybe realized in a 
 cottage of this class, containing only a single parlour or liv- 
 ing-room, as well as in a mansion of a dozen apartments. 
 " I must confess," says Cowley, "I love littleness almost 
 in all things. A little cheerful house, a little company, and 
 a very little feast." Whatever is necessary beyond this, 
 arises either from the desire to enjoy a more luxurious 
 style of living, or from the wish to entertain a larger circle 
 of friends. Now as neither of these are supposed to come 
 within the wishes or means of the inmates of a cottage like 
 the present, its accommodation will be found ample. And 
 supposing one or two of the attic chambers occupied by 
 younger members of the family, and another by a domestic 
 or domestics, there will still remain a *' spare room" w^hich 
 we shall suppose always neat and clean, ready for the 
 friend or stranger who may enjoy the cordial welcome of 
 the cottage. 
 
 In building this cottage, the kitchen should be provided 
 with a brick drain, leading from the sink to some large 
 drain at a distance from the house, or, in case this is im- 
 practicable, to a reservoir dug at a distance of thirty or 
 fifty feet from the house in a gravelly stratum, where the 
 drainage may lose itself in the soil. This reservoir may 
 be of the size of a cistern of ordinary capacity, the sides 
 built up with a dry wall, the top covered by flag 
 stones, and the whole finally covered by soil. In order to 
 prevent smells arising to the kitchen from the drain, it 
 must be provided with a smell-trapy which is easily con- 
 structed. If the water from the well, or cistern, or both, is 
 
38 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 introduced by a leaden pipe and small pump into a corner of 
 the kitchen over the sink, it will add still further to the con- 
 venience of performing the culinary labour of the dwelling. 
 
 As regards external effect, we think this cottage will be 
 allowed to be very pleasing to the eye. Aside from any 
 other quality, its uniformity will be a source of satisfaction 
 to a larger class of persons who do not relish irregularity 
 in any building. There are also several features entering 
 into the composition of this cottage, which give it at once 
 the air of something superior in design to ordinary build- 
 ings of the same class. The first of these is the veranda, 
 ornamented by brackets between the supports, which shel- 
 ters the entrance door and affords an agreeable place both 
 for walking in damp or unpleasant weather, and to enjoy 
 a cool shaded seat in the hotter portions of the season. 
 The second feature, is the projection of the eaves, with the 
 ornamental eave-board, which serves to protect the exte- 
 rior more completely than any other form against the 
 effects of storms, and gives character by its boldness and 
 the deep shadows it casts upon the building. The chim- 
 ney tops are rendered suflSciently ornamental to accord with 
 the degree of decoration displayed in the other portions of 
 the cottage ; and something of the bracketted character is 
 kept up in the dressings of the window and door-frames. 
 The projecting dormer-window adds beauty and gives im- 
 portance to the entrance front. 
 
 If we suppose this cottage, stripped of its projecting 
 eaves, its bracketted veranda, its dormer-window, and the 
 little decoration visible in the^chimneys tops and other de- 
 tails, we shall have a building in the form of a parallelo- 
 gram of the very plainest description. Such a building 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 39 
 
 would be distinguishable from a barn or outhouse only by 
 the presence of chimneys and windows of larger size, and 
 would convey to the mind no impression whatever of re- 
 finement in its occupants. By a trifling additional outlay 
 at the time of building, amounting to from 7 to 10 per cent, 
 on the whole cost, such a plain dwelling may be made the 
 ornamental cottage shown in Design I., which we think 
 would strike every observer as being tasteful and agree- 
 able to the eye. 
 
 Construction* This cottage, being light and somewhat 
 fanciful in its character, may be 
 
 built of wood filled in with brick. 
 
 ?o The roof should project 20 inches 
 
 ^ ' or 2 feet, and the roof of the ve- 
 randa in proportion. A portion 
 of this veranda is shown in Fig. 
 6, and a section of the pillars or 
 [Fig. 6.] supports in Fig. 7. z. The or- 
 
 namental cornice, which surrounds the . 
 
 building, is shown more in detail at?/; ^^^^^^^^ 
 the pendant portion being cut out of inch 
 board, and the points terminated by 
 acorns turned, and nailed on. The de- ^ 
 tails y and z, are to the scale of one half ^^ig. 7] 
 of an inch to a foot. 
 
 Brick-and-cement would be a very suitable mode of 
 construction for this cottage, as the projecting roof would 
 afford perfect security for the dryness and preservation of 
 the walls. In this mode of building the roughest bricks 
 may be used, and are really preferable, as affording a bet- 
 ter surface for receiving and retaining the stucco than 
 
40 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 smooth ones. In many districts, where bricks are easily ob- 
 tained, this kind of building will be found as cheap as wood. 
 
 It will be observed that in this design and the seven 
 others that follow, we have placed the chimneys in the 
 interior, not in the exterior walls, a point of considerable 
 importance, which is greatly overlooked by our builders. 
 When a stack of chimneys is built in the outer walls, it 
 seldom continues w^arm during the whole twenty-four 
 hours, as it parts with its heat rapidly to the cold external 
 air. Now as a good draught depends, in a great degree, on 
 the warmth of the column of air, and this upon the heat of 
 the chimney, it is evident that chimneys in the interior of a 
 house must draw better than in the exterior walls. Be- 
 sides this, a great deal of heat is retained in the body of 
 the house by carrying the stacks of flues through it. And 
 in point of external eflfect, it is much more pleasing to see 
 the chimney tops rising from the apex, or highest part of 
 the roof, than from its lowest edge. 
 
 Estimate. The estimated cost of this cottage, finished 
 in a neat and suitable manner, is $1800. This, as well as 
 the estimates which follow, is intended to apply to the ma- 
 jority of situations in the middle and eastern states, where 
 timber is comparatively scarce, and bricks of second quality 
 suitable for stuccoing upon, are worth about $4 per 
 1000. In districts where wood is much cheaper, the cost 
 of erection would be much less, if this material were 
 wholly employed. 
 
 Laying out the ground. As this cottage is decidedly 
 ornamental in its character, it may fairly be presumed, that 
 it would be required that a considerable portion of the 
 
42 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 limited ground nearest the house should be rendered orna- 
 mental also. In the suburbs of a town or village, the 
 more common kinds of vegetables may generally be pur- 
 chased as cheaply as they can be raised by the inmates of 
 such a cottage. The more delicate kinds of fruit, and a few 
 of the earlier or finer kinds of vegetables, may however be 
 produced, of fine flavor, and with more satisfaction to the 
 proprietor, on the spot. We have therefore devoted one 
 third of the area of the lot. Fig. 8, to the kitchen garden a, 
 and the remaining two thirds will remain to be occupied 
 by the house, and for ornamental purposes. In order to 
 separate these two portions, and to prevent the eye of a 
 person looking from the house, or from any of the walks 
 across the little lawn Z>, from seeing the kitchen garden 
 at the same time with the ornamental portion, we shall 
 place an ornamental trellis across the lot at c, which may 
 be covered by the following vines, remarkable for the 
 beauty of their foliage and flowers, or for their fragrance. 
 
 2 Chinese Twining Honeysuckles, blooming in June and October. 
 
 VIZ : 
 
 2 Monthly Fragrant " 
 1 Yellow Trumpet " 
 1 Red " " 
 
 1 Sweet Scented Clematis, 
 1 Virginian Silk, or Periploca, 
 1 Chinese Wistaria, 
 
 1 Climbing Boursalt Rose, 
 
 2 Noisette Climbing Rose, 
 
 May to November. 
 May to November. 
 May to November. 
 August. 
 
 July. 
 May, 
 
 June. 
 
 May to December. 
 
 These, after a couple of years growth, will form a 
 verdant barrier, which in no season, except winter, will 
 be without flowers. Across the walks leading into the 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 43 
 
 kitchen garden, the lattice fence may be continued in the 
 form of light gates, and the vines may be trained so as to 
 form archways overhead. 
 
 Around the exterior of the kitchen garden is a border 6 
 feet wide, which will be an excellent situation for a few 
 choice fruit trees ; because, if planted on this exterior 
 border they will not shade the beds devoted to vegetables, 
 which if planted in the middle of the compartment, they 
 would soon do to such an extent as to render the situ- 
 ation unfit for raising a crop of any kind. On the right 
 hand border, which is the warmest aspect, we would 
 advise the planting of some grape vines, which may either 
 be trained to the fence, or to a trellis placed four or five 
 inches from the fence. These vines may consist of a Ca- 
 tawba, an Isabella, an Elsingburgh, and a Bland's Virginia, 
 all hardy varieties, very productive, and requiring little 
 care. On the other two outer borders, there will be suffi- 
 cient room for one tree of each of the following fruits, viz : 
 a Bartlett, a Seckel, and a Dutchess of Angouleme Pear ; 
 a George the Fourth, and a Yellow Rareripe Peach ; an 
 Imperial Gage and a Golden Drop Plum ; a Mayduke, 
 and a Downer's Late Red Cherry ; and a Moorpark Apri- 
 cot. In the same borders, and beneath these fruit trees, 
 strawberries may be planted, making a bed about one 
 hundred and twenty feet long, which if kept in good con- 
 dition, will be sufficient to supply a small family with this 
 delicious fruit. The border to the right, containing the 
 grape vines, we shall suppose (except immediately around 
 the vine) to be kept in grass, in which neat posts are set 
 at a distance of twelve feet apart, for the purpose of 
 stretching a line for drying clothes upon. These posts 
 'being half way between the frame or trellis, upon which 
 
44 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 the grapes are trained, and the walk, the hne would 
 be easily commanded, by a person standing upon the 
 walk. The space devoted to culinary vegetables, we have 
 merely indicated by beds four feet wide on the plan, leav- 
 ing the occupant to apportion the same to their various 
 uses, premising that the large bed in the centre, at a, is 
 intended for asparagus the three smaller ones, dy lor 
 sweet herbs ; and the long bed, x? behind the trellis, 
 covered b}^ ornamental vines, for the esculent rhubard, 
 which is so valuable an article for tarts, or pies, that no 
 cottage garden, however small, should be without it. 
 
 Such a thing as a wall for fruit trees, in a cottage garden, 
 is nearly unknown in the United States, and therefore we 
 need say nothing respecting training them to a wall. But 
 a cottage garden is usually surrounded by a neat board 
 fence or paling, painted some dark or inconspicuous 
 colour, and as the number of fruit trees that could be judi- 
 ciously planted here, is small, we w^ould strongly advise 
 the owner of this garden to train the branches to this 
 fence, or to a trellis formed by nailing narrow strips of 
 board, trellis like, at a distance of four or five inches from 
 the fence. The luxuriance and fruitfulness of trees planted 
 as ordinary standards, in most parts of the country, is the 
 very obvious reason w^hy, except in gardens of the first 
 class, a trained tree is so rarely seen ; but, on the other 
 hand, the superior size and beauty of the fruit raised in 
 this way, make it an object of considerable importance, 
 when the number of trees is small. Besides this, the 
 trees occupy so much less space, interfere so little with 
 the growth of any thing else that may be near or under 
 them, and are so much more completely under the control 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 45 
 
 of the gardener, that we are certain they would, if trained, 
 afford ten times the satisfaction at all times, beyond that 
 derived from standard trees, cultivated, or, rather, left to 
 grow, in the usual manner. 
 
 Proceeding now to the ornamental portion of the ground, 
 we shall suppose the outer border e, to be planted with a 
 small mixed collection of handsome trees and shrubs, of 
 such varieties as may be easily and cheaply procured. 
 The trees may be planted at considerable distances, as a 
 very few, when they have attained some size, will be 
 sufficient for this limited surface. In the intermediate 
 spaces, room will be found for quite a variety of shrubs, 
 interspersed with several sorts of hardy roses. In the 
 centre of each of the two small circles fronting the house, 
 we will place a Balsam, or Balm of Gilead fir, one of the 
 finest evergreens in this climate, as it preserves its rich 
 green verdure unimpaired throughout the coldest winter. 
 These firs, with two or three additional evergreens in the 
 swell of the front border, will give a cheerful aspect to the 
 entrance front of the cottage, during the winter months. 
 
 The border marked /, in the plan, that directly sur- 
 rounds the building, should be laid down in turf, which, if 
 kept short, will be much more pleasing and satisfactory 
 than if kept in a raw state by cultivation — partly from the 
 greater appearance of permanence in a turf border, and 
 partly from its greater neatness at all seasons. In this turf 
 border may be planted a few choice shrubs, or roses, 
 selecting such as are remarkable for beauty of leaf and 
 flower, or for their fragrance ; as from their nearness to 
 the windows, the latter may be enjoyed in the summer, 
 while the windows are open, through the whole house. 
 
46 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 There are about a dozen of these shrubs indicated on the 
 plan which we shall suppose to be the following, viz : 
 
 2 Champney Cluster Rose {Rosa champneyana), May to Nov. 
 
 These are all deliciously fragrant when in flower, and 
 some of the number will be in bloom during the whole 
 growing season. 
 
 Quite an area 6, in the rear of the house, is devoted to 
 a lawn, which must be kept close and green by frequent 
 mowings, so that it will be as soft to the tread as a carpet, 
 and that its deep verdure will set off the gay colours of 
 the flowering plants in the surrounding beds and parterre. 
 This little lawn is terminated by an irregular or arabesque 
 border g, varying in width from four to fourteen feet. The 
 irregular form of this border is preferable to a regular one 
 on account of its more agreeable outline, and more espe- 
 cially for the reason that, to a person looking across the lawn 
 from any part of the walk near the house, this variety of 
 form in the boundary increases the apparent size of the 
 area of turf which it encloses. To give still further 
 variety and effect, we have introduced also the two 
 small beds h, and i, cut in the turf ; the former of which 
 may be planted with monthly roses of any free-blooming 
 sorts, and the latter may be filled with mignonette by sow- 
 ing the seeds annually in April. The monthly roses will 
 be covered with bloom all the season, and will stand the 
 
 Blooms in 
 
 2 Pink Mezereon (Daphne Mezereum), 
 
 2 Sweet Scented Shrub {Calycanthusjlorida)^ 
 
 March. 
 June. 
 
 2 Fragrant Clethra {Clethra alnifolia)^ 
 2 Purple Magnolia {Magnolia ohovata)^ 
 2 Missouri Currant (Ribes aureum)^ 
 
 August. 
 
 April. 
 
 April. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 47 
 
 winter perfectly well in the open air any where south of 
 Albanj^ with the trifling care of throwing a little straw, or 
 litter, over them at the approach of winter, to protect them 
 against the changes of temperature. 
 
 It will be remembered that the kitchen garden is kept out 
 of view to a person standing at Z>, by the trellised screen c, 
 covered with a luxuriant wreath of honeysuckles and other 
 climbing plants, six or eight feet in height. We shall next 
 suppose the arabesque border devoted to a miscellane- 
 ous collection of perennial flowering plants, or herbaceous 
 plants, as they are generally termed, arranging them so 
 that those of a few inches in height shall be near the front 
 margin of the border, those of a larger size next, and so 
 gradually increasing in size until the largest growing ones, 
 perhaps three feet in height, shall be at the back of the 
 border and farthest from the eye. It is not necessary 
 to have costly varieties of plants, or a large collection, to 
 render this border a handsome object to look upon, but on 
 the contrary a few well selected species, which may 
 be procured for a trifling sum from a nursery, or the 
 greater part of which may be had from the garden of some 
 neighbouring amateur, will serve to render this border 
 rich and beautiful, in leaf and blossom, all the season. In 
 the description of Design V., we shall give a list of the 
 most ornamental varieties of border perennials, from which 
 the reader may choose for this or any other garden. If, 
 however, the occupant of this cottage should desire to be 
 at little or no cost for border flowers, and still should 
 wish to produce a considerable effect, it may be done by 
 planting the bed with masses of the following showy pe- 
 rennials — 
 
48 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 Double red Ragged Robin, {Lynchis Jlos-cucuU.) 
 
 Orange Chelone, {Chelone barbata.) 
 
 Chinese Pinks, (Dianthus sinensis.) 
 
 Bee Larkspur, {Delphinium elatum.) 
 
 White Lily, {Lilium candidum.) 
 
 Japan White Lily, (Hemeroallis japonica.) 
 
 Early White Phlox, (Phlox suaveolens.) 
 
 Late Purple Phlox, (Phlox autumnalis.) 
 
 Fragrant Blue Violet, (Viola odorata.) 
 
 Blue Omphalodes, (Omphalodes verna.) 
 Chinese White and Rose, 
 
 PcEonias, (Pceonia whitlejii and fragrans.) 
 
 Hearts-ease or Pansy, ( Viola tricolor.) 
 
 Or, as a few seeds of ornamental annuals are easily and 
 cheaply procured at the seed shops, the variety may be 
 increased by sowing the seeds of twenty or thirty species 
 of the latter, in the spaces that would be left between the 
 masses of herbaceous plants, taking care to arrange them 
 with regard to height, in the same manner as the pe- 
 rennials, as otherwise the taller plants near the eye would 
 hide the smaller and more delicate ones at the back of the 
 border. 
 
 We trust the reader who has followed us in our de- 
 scription, will acknowledge that this cottage, with its 
 moderate accommodations and small lot of ground, may 
 be made productive of a considerable degree of interest 
 and beauty, as well as comfort and enjoyment. There is 
 nothing in the plan of the house or garden, that may not 
 be realized by a family living upon a very snlall income, 
 provided the members of the family are persons of some 
 taste and refinement, who appreciate the value and pleasure 
 of such a residence, sufiiciently to take a strong personal 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 49 
 
 interest in it. The master of the premises we shall sup- 
 pose capable of managing the kitchen garden, the fruit 
 trees, the grass, and the whole of the walks, himself, with 
 perhaps the assistance of a common gardener, or laboring 
 man, for a day or two, at certain seasons of the year. 
 The mistress and her daughter, or daughters, we shall 
 suppose to have sufficient fondness for flowers, to be will- 
 ing and glad to spend three times a week, an hour or two, 
 in the cool mornings and evenings of summer, in the 
 pleasing task of planting, tying to neat stakes, picking oflf 
 decayed flowers, and removing weeds from the borders, 
 and all other operations that so limited a garden may 
 require. 
 
 A love for these floral occupations, so simple and so 
 natural, that in all times and countries they have been 
 the delight of the highest, as well as the lowest, insensibly 
 strengthens upon us as we become interested in the growth 
 of plants and the development of the varied forms of 
 beauty and grace with which every leaf, tendril, and 
 blossom is replete ; and the exercise involved in the pur- 
 suit, thus soon becomes, also, a source of pleasure and 
 mental satisfaction, and is not, as in many other cases, an 
 irksome duty performed for the preservation of bodily 
 health. 
 
50 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 DESIGN 11. 
 
 A cottage iw the English, or Rural Gothic Style. 
 
 The object in view in designing this cottage, is internal 
 convenience. There are many families mainly composed 
 of invalids, or persons advanced in years, who have a 
 strong preference for a plan in which the kitchen, and at 
 least one bedroom, are upon the same floor with the 
 living rooms, and in which there is little or no necessity 
 for ascending or descending stairs ; an exercise which, 
 though of little consequence to the young and robust, is of 
 all others the most fatiguing to the infirm, or those in deli- 
 cate health. 
 
 A glance at the plan of the first floor opposite. Fig. 10, 
 will show how we propose to realize this kind of accom- 
 modation in this dwelling. The kitchen is a wing, added 
 in the rear, of one story in height. The situation on which 
 this dwelhng is placed, has a prospect in one direction 
 only, and the front, shown in the elevation, commands this 
 view, the rear being nearly hidden by trees. On this front 
 are situated two pleasant apartments, each 17 by 20 feet, 
 opening from the vestibule or entrance hall, by large 
 double doors, which, when fully opened, will throw these 
 two rooms and the vestibule into one large apartment. 
 Some elegance is conferred on the parlour by the bay 
 window, after the old English mode, projecting on the 
 
DESIGN II. 
 
 C0TTA(3-E IN THE ENGLISH, OR RURAL GOTHIC STYLE 
 
 Yi^i 10 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 51 
 
 right side, which is balanced by a double window opposite 
 in the dining room. "We would recommend the employ- 
 ment of a few large windows in the principal apartments, 
 as there is an appearance of pettiness, and a want of 
 breadth, in rooms full of little windows, which is so com- 
 mon a feature in our country houses. It is always pre- 
 ferable, also, to light a room from two sides only, rather 
 than three, as nothing is more unfavorable to the effect of 
 interiors, than cross lights proceeding from every direction. 
 
 The living-room, or library, commands a pantry of con- 
 venient size, in the rear of which is a closet opening into 
 the hall. This hall is of ample size to serve as a dining- 
 room, and this disposition would doubtless be preferred 
 during at least part of the year, as it would leave the 
 apartment on the left to be devoted entirely to a library. 
 To make an entrance hall a dining apartment, is a very 
 objectionable,^ though not unusual mode; as visitors, 
 chancing to call at the dinner hour, cannot be shown into 
 the parlour without passing the table, and perhaps discom- 
 posing the whole family. But in the present case, the 
 door being closed between the entrance or vestibule, and 
 the dining hall, the table a, and persons seated about it, 
 would be completely private. There is a glazed back 
 door opening to the rear of the house, near the left angle 
 of this hall, and a door opening into the kitchen passage 
 I, on the right, and the hall also receives light from the 
 window over this door, in the second story. This passage 
 is formed by running a solid partition across the kitchen 
 building, so as to admit of two doors, in order to prevent 
 smells ; one an ordinary door opening into the hall, and 
 the other a fly or spring-door, opening into the kitchen. 
 
52 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 This partition also gives room for the introduction of two 
 convenient closets, one for the kitchen, and another for the 
 bedroom. 
 
 In the plan of the second floor, Fig. 11, we have two 
 
 FLOOR 
 
 [Fig. 11.] 
 
 large and two small bedrooms. There is a dressing-room 
 and closet communicating with the small bedroom on the 
 left, and a closet for linen opening into the hall. The 
 cellar plan is not given, as this would be very sim- 
 ple, and would probably not be required larger than the 
 main building. Access would be had to it by steps going ^ 
 down under the stone platform of the stoop on which 
 the hall, back door and the kitchen door open ; and by 
 stairs descending under the ascending staircase in the 
 hall. 
 
 The elevation of this cottage is in the English cottage 
 style, so generally admired for the picturesqueness evinced 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 53 
 
 in its tall gables ornamented by handsome verge boards 
 and finials, its neat or fanciful chimney tops, its latticed 
 windows, and other striking features, showing how the 
 genius of pointed or Gothic architecture may be chastened 
 or moulded into forms for domestic habitations. The steep 
 roofs are highly suitable for a cold country liable to heavy 
 snows. A very pleasing mode of covering roofs of this 
 kind is shown in the elevation, and the effect is produced 
 by procuring the shingles of equal size, and cutting the 
 lower ends, before laying them on, in a semi-hexagon, or 
 semi-octagon shape, so that when laid upon the roof, these 
 figures will be regularly produced. 
 
 The English cottage style will admit of great irregularity 
 and picturesqueness of outline, and is productive of beau- 
 tiful effects when the composition forms a large group of 
 building. In the present example we have only been able 
 to show one of the simplest of its forms, which, however, 
 is not destitute of expression of the style. In the Eng- 
 lish examples, a veranda is rarely seen, as the dampness 
 of their climate renders such an appendage scarcely ne- 
 cessary. But its great utility in our hot summers makes 
 it indispensable to every house, and we have introduced it 
 on the entrance front, as affording in this position, shelter, 
 prospect, and an agreeable promenade. Over the porch is a 
 pleasant balcony for the pointed window in the gable. As 
 the spirit of Gothic architecture lies in verticalhnes, along 
 unbroken horizontal line of veranda would destroy, or mar 
 the architectural character of the cottage. We have, there- 
 fore, made the veranda two or three feet shorter at each 
 end than the front, and have further broken the horizontal 
 
54 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 line by the porch -balcony to the window in the front 
 gable. 
 
 One of the most characteristic and beautiful features in 
 rural Gothic architecture is the ornamental chimney shaft, 
 sometimes rising singly, sometimes in clusters, from the roof; 
 often plain and square, or octagonal, but frequently wreathed 
 and moulded in the most picturesque manner. The finest 
 specimens of the old English chimneys are built of bricks, 
 cast in moulds for the purpose, or stamped with ornaments. 
 These bricks are now so highly taxed in England as to 
 render them as expensive as cut stone, but they may be 
 made very cheaply here.* We have built neat chimney 
 shafts in an octagonal form of common bricks by cutting 
 them with a trowel in the desired form and rubbing the 
 faces smooth on a hard sand-stone before laying them, but 
 this is more expensive than to employ bricks ready mould- 
 ed for the purpose. Chimney tops of artificial stone in 
 handsome forms may also be had of Gibson, and other 
 manufacturers, New-York, but they will seldom stand our 
 trying climate at the north. 
 
 Construction, This cottage should be built of brick-and- 
 cement, coloured in imitation of Bath or Portland stone ; or 
 of smooth brick, coloured after some of the soft neutral 
 tints described in a former page ; or of quarried stone. 
 The window frames, the porch and veranda, and the verge 
 board, may be made of good seasoned w^ood, painted the 
 same colour as the walls and sanded ; or they may be 
 
 * We trust that by the time this volume is out of press, some of our brickmakers 
 will be able to offer moulded bricks of a variety of patterns, as the demand for such 
 is every day increasing. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 55 
 
 grained in imitation of oak. Real oak would be pre- 
 ferable where econon^ is not 
 an object. The label or drip 
 stones to the window may be 
 made of moulded brick, or cut 
 free-stone after Fig. 25 of the 
 next Design. These windows 
 are latticed casement windows, 
 the plan and section of which 
 are shown in Fig. 12. [Fig. 12.] 
 
 In the gable, Fig. 13, 
 the roof or cornice of which 
 should project at least 20 
 inches over the wall, is 
 shown a specimen of fea- 
 thered tracery from one 
 of the best examples, with 
 its pinnacle and pendant. 
 This may be cut out of 
 thick pla nk,* and if thought 
 too elaborate, may be sim- 
 plified by omitting the mi- 
 nor details. If well exe- 
 cuted it will have a rich 
 
 [Fig. 13.] 
 
 effect. 
 
 The porch and veranda is shown in detail in Fig. 14 ; 
 the detached portion on the right showing a part of the 
 veranda cornice, and that on the left a portion of the clus- 
 tered column. (The sections of which are seen at the 
 lower ends of the drawing.) 
 
 * Never (as is sometimes done by ignorant carpenters) out of inch boards. 
 
56 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 [Fig. 14.] 
 
 Fig. 15, shows a pair of chimney shafts 
 in the old EngUsh style, which may be had 
 in artificial stone, at Gibson's, New- York. 
 A great variety of forms are frequently 
 collected together in the same stack. 
 
 The shutters should be inside box shut- 
 ters, or shutter-blinds, painted and grained 
 in imitation of oak. 
 
 Estimate. The cost of this cottage in 
 brick-and-stucco (bricks at S4) would be 
 $4500. 
 
 [Fig. 15.] 
 
 LAYING OUT THE GARDEN OF DESIGN II. 
 
 The situation where it is proposed to build this cottage, 
 is about a mile from a country town, and the area of sur- 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 57 
 
 face for the whole purpose is about an acre and a fourth. 
 This lot of ground is bounded by a street both in the 
 front and rear. The entrance is at a ; the dwelling at h ; 
 the stable at c. One half of the whole surface, viz., that 
 portion represented by right lined plots, in the rear of the 
 house, is devoted to a garden for fruits and vegetables, 
 and the whole remaining portion, comprising the space in 
 front and at the sides of the house, is laid out as a lawn, 
 shrubbery and flower garden, in the picturesque manner. 
 The carriage road, leading to the front door and to the 
 stable, is shown at d; e, designates irregular beds cut in 
 the turf, and stocked with annuals and perennial flowers ; 
 y, a thick shrubbery belt, composed of syringes, mountain 
 ashes and lilacs, interspersed with the balsam fir, and 
 arbor vitae, to give a cheerful appearance in winter. In 
 the rear of the kitchen are planted two or three hemlocks 
 and larches. Two plots of grass, for bleaching and drying 
 clothes, are shown at g. 
 
 In the ornamental garden before the house, the whole 
 surface, excepting the walks, and the flower beds e, is to 
 be laid down in turf, and kept neatly mown. This turf 
 will give an appearance of much greater extent to the area, 
 than it could possibly have by any other arrangement, 
 while it will be more agreeable to the eye through the 
 whole year, than any extensive disposition of parterre, or 
 flower beds, directly under the eye. A fresh verdant 
 lawn, varied only by w^alks and green trees, is a delightful 
 object at all seasons, and more especially in the middle 
 of summer; while at the latter period flower beds have 
 frequently a dry and parched appearance, but poorly 
 
 7 
 
58 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 [Fig. 16.] 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 59 
 I 
 
 compensated for by the brilliancy of a few plants in bloom, 
 which scarcely hide the surface. 
 
 The spiry topped trees shown in these plots, are chiefly 
 the European Larch and the Balsam Fir, with one or two 
 White Pines, all of which harmonise well with the archi- 
 tecture of the cottage. Among tlfe round-headed trees 
 we will only particularize the Osage Orange, {Madura au- 
 rantiaca,) the Umbrella Magnolia, {M, triyetala^) the 
 Weeping Ash, {Fraxinus excelsior, yendula,) and the Ken- 
 tucky Coffee, (Gymnocladus Canadensis.) Among the 
 shrubs forming little thickets along the walks, we would 
 introduce the Mezereon and the Cornelian Cherry, the 
 pink and yellow flowers of which appear in March ; the 
 scarlet and blush Japan Quince, (Cijdonia Jaijonica ;) the 
 pink and double white Hawthorns ; and the purple and 
 white fruited Strawberry Trees, (Enomjmus europeus,) 
 
 The walks should all be well gravelled ; the carriage 
 road being first excavated twelve inches deep, and one 
 half the depth on the bottom filled with small stones, in 
 order to have it dry and firm at all seasons. 
 
 In the kitchen garden, the borders on the sides of the 
 central walk A, are occupied by two rows of currants and 
 gooseberries. The currants are the Large White and Red 
 Dutch, and the Naples, or Black English. The goose- 
 berries are half a dozen of the best English sorts. Both 
 currants and gooseberries must be kept well trimmed and 
 thinned, to admit the air freely to every part of the plant, 
 and the borders should be annually manured, as they require 
 a rich soil to produce large fruit. On one side of the cross 
 walk i, is a border devoted to raspberries, and planted 
 
60 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 with the large Red Antwerp, and the White Antwerp, in 
 equal quantities. 
 
 Within the boundary fence of that half of the area com- 
 prising the kitchen garden, is a border, fourteen feet wide on 
 the sides, and twice that width on the rear, devoted to a 
 small number of choicte fruits. The walk 7, is covered by 
 an arbor for grapes, and may contain, besides the native 
 sorts, Catawba, Isabella, etc, a few vines of the Royal 
 Muscadine, Sweet Water, and Black Hamburgh, which 
 are among the hardiest and most productive of the foreign 
 varieties. Nearly all the foreign grapes require much care 
 to be raised in the open air. For a year or two after they 
 come into bearing, the crops, it is generally remarked, are 
 good, and the fruit fair ; but in a few seasons more, the 
 mildew attacks the fruit, and frequently destroys every 
 bunch, or renders it worthless. The most successful 
 practice for out-of-door culture, appears to consist in lay- 
 ing down some of the long thrifty shoots each season, so 
 as to have every year, or every other year, a succession 
 of new roots — destroying those that have borne two good 
 crops, and allowing the young rooted plants to take their 
 place. Lime and marl are excellent manures for the 
 grape. 
 
DESIGN III, 
 
 A COTTAGE IN THE POINTED, OR TUDOR .STYLE 
 
 Fig. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 61 
 
 DESIGN III. 
 
 A cottage in the Pointed, or Tudor Style. 
 
 This edifice is designed for a situation on the bank of 
 one of our boldest rivers. From its site, the eye wanders 
 over a richly cultivated country, dotted and sprinkled v^ith 
 luxuriant groups of wood ; the wide lake-like expanse of 
 water, the sails floating lazily on its bosom, the tufted 
 fringes of trees and shrubs in the foreground, and the dis- 
 tant hazy summits of blue in the horizon, are all fascinating 
 elements of the beautiful, which make up the view from 
 the point of its location. As in many of our finest natural 
 situations for residences, nature has done so much here to 
 render the scene lovely, that it would appear that man 
 had only to borrow a few hints from the genius of the 
 place, and the home features would all be rendered 
 equally delightful. But how frequently do we see those 
 who seem incapable of reading the wide and ever elo- 
 quent book of natural beauty, deforming its fair pages, 
 written in lines of grace and softness, by rigid lines, and 
 hard mathematical angles, only too plainly indicative of 
 the most primitive and uncultivated perceptions. Let 
 us hope, by studying the character of the whole scene, to 
 succeed better in improving a very small portion of it. 
 
 The arrangement of the cottage we propose for this 
 place, differs from the previous ones, in having the princi- 
 
62 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 pal floor devoted almost entirely to pleasant apartments ; 
 the kitchen being below, and the bedrooms above stairs. 
 This renders the whole air of the house somewhat elegant. 
 A cottage like this, although of moderate size, in the hands 
 of a family of taste, may be made to produce a beautiful 
 effect. While, it is true, that 
 
 *' Here no state chambers in long line unfold, 
 Bright with broad mirrors, rough with fretted gold, 
 Yet, modest ornament with use combined, 
 Attracts the eye to exercise the mind." 
 
 And while there arc no superfluous and luxurious apart- 
 ments, nor any thing requiring the attendance of a retinue 
 of servants, there is much here, compactly arranged, to 
 render a home pleasant and attractive. The neat and 
 spacious parlour, 18 by 20 feet, (see Fig. IS,) is varied in 
 its outline by an old English bay-window, one of those 
 pleasant nooks, which, says Lord Bacon, " be pretty re- 
 tiring places for conference," and has also windows opening 
 quite to the floor of the veranda, and letting in a full expanse 
 of the bright green lawn, and tufts of rich foliage that border 
 it. This room would afford some scope for the " faire ladye" 
 to exercise her taste in a simple, elegant, and harmonious 
 style of fitting and furnishing ; not by bringing from the 
 shops the latest and most fashionable patterns of city 
 chairs and tables, carpets and sofas, — which, we are sorry 
 to say, are in most cases destitute of all appropriateness, 
 and in many, of all intrinsic grace and beauty, — but by 
 selecting articles recommended by fitness in design, in 
 order that they may be in harmony with the character of 
 the house, and by their tasteful and comfortable character, 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 63 
 
 that they may suit the more simple and unostentatious 
 habits of country hfe. 
 
 The dining-room is of equal size with the drawing- 
 room, and as the family who are to occupy this cottage 
 villa, live in a pleasant and social neighborhood, and are 
 in the habit, occasionally, of entertaining a little party of 
 their friends, they thought it desirable to make these rooms 
 communicate by sliding doors, in order that they may, on 
 such occasions, be thrown into one. The rooms will then 
 have a handsome effect, as the bay window at the end of 
 the parlour is balanced by a wide mullioned window at 
 the end of the dining-room opposite, and the whole space 
 between them is forty feet. For the convenience of the 
 menage^ we have located a neat pantry directly in contact 
 with the dining-room, and opening out of it, so that the 
 china and plate, or the little delicacies of the larder, may 
 be under the eye, or, what is better, under the lock and 
 key of the mistress. As the kitchen is below stairs, in the 
 ordinary mode the dishes will require to be brought up 
 the stairs and across the staircase entry to reach the 
 table. This is somewhat objectionable, inasmuch as a hot 
 dinner is likely to become cooled in this long state of 
 transition, the china is liable to become broken by an 
 occasional misstep, and the privacy of the hall is unneces- 
 sarily intruded upon, by the repeated coming and going 
 of the domestics, arranging the dinner. We shall en- 
 deavor to remedy these difficulties, by placing in the Htde 
 space on the right hand of the door opening from the 
 dining-room to the pantry, what is called a rising cujiboard 
 or dumb waiter, which will be found a more careful, more 
 obedient, and more unobtrusive " help," than any other 
 
64 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 in the house. The actual size of this cupboard need not 
 be more than 20 inches by 3^- or 4 feet, which will just 
 occupy the space in the pantry that is of little value for 
 any other purpose. Or, if it should be thought desirable 
 to have it a little wider, the width may be increased by 
 making a small recess in the wall of the house. Fig. 
 
 19 shows the manner in 
 which the pantry may be 
 finished ; the pantry be- 
 
 [fig. 19] ing on the right side, 
 
 and the dumb waiter, (D W) on the left ; the cupboard 
 rising in the pantry to the height of three feet, and de- 
 scending through the floor to the closet in the kitchen. 
 The mode of constructing this is shown in the details of 
 this design, Fig. 28. 
 
 It will seen on examining the plan of the principal 
 floor, that by placing the stairs in a separate passage com- 
 municating with the principal hall, this hall is left free and 
 unincumbered, and is in fact a pretty little ante-room, 12 
 by 16 feet. This is doubly advantageous, as the servants 
 are enabled to go from the basement to the chamber story 
 without passing through the principal hall ; thus making 
 this single staircase to serve the purposes, in a great 
 measure, of the two frequently seen in villas, viz., the 
 stairs in the hall used by the family, and the private stairs 
 chiefly used by the domestics. From this passage also 
 there is a private, or side entrance to the house, by an 
 outer door. The hall is lighted by two small windows in 
 the sides and by the semi-glazed door as shown in the 
 perspective elevation. 
 
 We have as yet said nothing of the neat little library on 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 65 
 
 the right of the hall twelve by fourteen feet in its dimen- 
 sions, where 
 
 " Selected shelves shall claim our studious hours." 
 
 But there is no portion of the house which, to a man fond 
 of those most cheerful and never tiresome companions, good 
 books, is more peculiarly the sanctum, or "own room," than 
 the library, whether it be small or large. This, though 
 small, is sufficiently ample to contain all the best hooks ever 
 written ; large enough for a comfortable ruddy fire in a 
 damp or cold wintry day, and for an ample library round- 
 table furnished with the necessary materials for writing 
 and correspondence of all kinds. The gentleman who is 
 to occupy this cottage has, besides the few acres on which 
 this residence is erected, a farm where he practises agri- 
 culture in an amateur manner, and on his library shelves 
 ma}^ therefore be found a few choice works on rural econo- 
 my, such as Loudon's Encyclopedias, Low's Practical 
 Agriculture, Johnson's Agricultural Chemistry, and a num- 
 ber of others of similar character, and on the table lie the 
 last numbers of our most valuable and interesting agricul- 
 tural periodicals. The library being fitted up in a plain 
 and simple manner, answers admirably also as an office, 
 into which persons who call to see the master of the house 
 on business are readily shown from the hall, without dis- 
 turbing the family who are occupying the dining-room, or 
 parlour. 
 
 The veranda, or umbrage, which is entered by windows 
 opening to the floor of the two principal apartments, is a 
 cool and shady place for promenade, and, we need hardly 
 
 8 
 
66 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 repeat, commands the most delightful views, as this is the 
 river front of the house. 
 
 In the plan of the second floor, which is before us, are 
 accommodations for the family and their guests, Fig. 20, 
 
 [Fig. 20.] 
 
 consisting of four excellent sleeping apartments, each with 
 a small closet attached. Two of these are of ample size, 
 and as it might be desirable to many to have in them a 
 greater amount of closet room, it may be easily obtained 
 by making a double partition between these apartments, 
 which would allow of two large closets in the space thus 
 formed. The bedroom, 12 by 12 feet, over the hall, is a 
 pretty lodging apartment opening through a picturesque 
 old English oriel window on a balcony. The staircase 
 shown in this plan gives access to the attic, where two 
 servants bedrooms are located. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 67 
 
 The basement accommodation, Fig. 21, shows an en- 
 trance into the staircase passage by a descent of steps : a 
 
 [Fig. 21.] 
 
 kitchen, and cellar of good dimensions, a servant's sleeping 
 room, (which may be made a laundry if preferred,) and a 
 small store-room and wine cellar conveniently located. 
 
 The exterior of this dwelling is designed after the old 
 English architecture of the Tudor era, a style replete with 
 interesting associations, as it is the genuine and most 
 characteristic mode of building long ago prevalent in the 
 finest country-houses of England, associated by lay and 
 legend ten times told," with all that is brightest and noblest 
 in the history of our mother country. It is highly pictu- 
 resque, abounding in the finer specimens with a.rich variety 
 of gables, turrets, buttresses, towers, and ornamental chim- 
 ney-shafts, which form striking and spirited objects in do- 
 mestic architecture, and harmonise agreeably with the hills 
 and tree tops, and all the intricacy of outline in natural ob- 
 
68 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 jects. And finally the irregularity of its outlines, admit- 
 ting future additions with facility, the substantial and per- 
 manent expression of its exterior, and the beauty and 
 comfort indicated in the richness, variety and size of its 
 windows, all point out the old English style, in its various 
 modifications, as admirably adapted, by beauty and fit- 
 ness for domestic purposes in a cold cUmate. 
 
 This cottage being of very moderate size, neither de- 
 mands nor would with propriety admit a profusion of or- 
 nament, and we have indeed, for the sake of economy, 
 made it assume a character and a degree of decoration 
 comparatively simple, still, however, preserving a very 
 marked and distinct expression of the style. If we analyze 
 its leading features, we shall find that character is conferred 
 chiefly by the windows and the chimney tops, the two 
 most essential and characterestic features of dwelling- 
 houses as contrasted with buildings for any other pur- 
 poses ; and to which, as such, decoration should always 
 be first applied rather than to any less essential or super- 
 added features ; for example, to columns or a colonnade. 
 Chimney tops, since we cannot dispense with them, should 
 always be rendered ornamental, both strongly expressive 
 of comfort, no house being tolerable in a cold climate 
 without fires, and on account of their occupying the 
 highest part of the building, and therefore are most likely 
 to strike the eye agreeably if appropriate, or offend it if 
 ugly and unshapely in form. We have shown in this de- 
 sign one of the simplest forms of old English chimneys, 
 many of which are extremely beautiful.* 
 
 * By an error in the engraving, the hase of each stack of chimneys in the elevation 
 of this design is made to appear too low ; a more correct proportion is shown in the 
 details, Fig. 15. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 69 
 
 An edifice in this style should be built of none but the most 
 solid materials. Stone would be the most appropriate, as 
 it has a substantial and durable character in keeping with 
 the style, and next to this, brick, or brick covered with the 
 best cement, would be most suitable. To erect a dwelling 
 in this style of so light and frail a material as wood, under 
 any circumstances, would be a complete violation of good 
 taste, as there would be an entire discordance or incon- 
 gruity between the style adopted and the material em- 
 ployed. Where wood is the only material within our 
 reach, some lighter and more suitable style should be 
 adopted, and the result will then undoubtedly be more 
 satisfactory. 
 
 A solecism in taste which we have several times wit- 
 nessed with pain in this country, and which we will there- 
 fore caution our readers and the occupant of this cottage 
 against, is the introduction green blinds, or Venetian shut- 
 ters, upon a building in the pointed, or the English cottage 
 style. This kind of shutter, applied to the outside of build- 
 ings, belongs properly to the Venetian, Tuscan, or Italian 
 villas, where the architecture is lighter arjd more fanciful, 
 and the windows are frequently mere openings for the cir- 
 culation of air ; but to cover a handsome or quaint old 
 English window, enriched by decorative mullions and win- 
 dow-heads, with an outside shutter belonging to a totally 
 different style of building, and painted a bright green, is 
 as revolting to a mind imbued with correct principles of 
 taste, as to cover the venerable head of a staid gentleman 
 of the old school with the flaunting head-dress of an 
 Italian peasant girl. Outside shutters of any description 
 are scarcely admissible in this style of architecture, as they 
 conceal one of the chief sources of interest in the exterior. 
 
70 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 But as the walls are thick, inside shutters, or even inside 
 blinds, are easily introduced. The latter may be made to 
 fold into window casings like ordinary box shutters, where 
 they will serve the purposes of both shutters and blinds : 
 and will be found more convenient and more appropriate 
 than outside blinds, without violating correct principles of 
 art. 
 
 The interior of this cottage may be finished in a very 
 simple manner. But the effect will be far more consistent 
 and satisfactory, if some attention is paid to keeping up 
 the pointed, or old English character, in the finish of at 
 least the principal apartments. This may be done with- 
 out incurring any extra expense, merely by employing 
 Gothic, or pointed mouldings and details in the trimmings 
 of the doors and windows, the forms of the cornices and 
 chimney pieces. As there are now numerous examples 
 of this style of dwelling in the middle states, there will 
 be little or no diflBculty in procuring the necessary forms 
 of designs, moulds, and planes, for a cottage of this kind. 
 A person whose taste is sufficiently cultivated to induce 
 him to desire such a dwelling as this, will naturally inform 
 himself of the actual eflfect, both as regards the interior 
 and exterior finish, by inspection of the best example of 
 the style within his reach ; or, for a small sum, he may 
 obtain from an architect the working drawings necessary 
 for the complete execution of the whole, by the builders 
 employed, in the most correct manner. 
 
 A harmonious and pleasing effect is produced in houses 
 in the old Enghsh style, by painting and graining the 
 wood-work in imitation of oak or black walnut. This is 
 partly owing, no doubt, to the allusion thus awakened in 
 the mind, to the " old oaken wainscots," always so cha- 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 71 
 
 racteristic a feature in the antique houses in this style, but 
 partly, also, to the mellow an^ furnished look which the 
 warm and dark tone of the wood gives to the apartments. 
 In an economical point of view, it has also the great 
 recommendation of being kept clean and bright, with one 
 twentieth part of the labor expended in maintaining wood- 
 work, painted in white, in its original purity. 
 
 Details. In the construction of a cottage in the pointed 
 style, attention should be paid to an unity of design in all 
 parts of the building. One of the most essential principles 
 in this style, is the recognition of the arch, in some man- 
 ner, in all the principal openings. In public buildings, 
 all windows and doors terminate upward in the pointed 
 arch ; in domestic architecture this would often be incon- 
 venient, as in the case of windows in apartments on the 
 first floor, where inside shutters are required. The win- 
 dows are generally therefore square-headed, but the prin- 
 ciple of the arch appears in the moulded window tracery. 
 
 In Fig. 22 is shown a small portion of the veranda on 
 the river front, with its appropriate columns, and the arch- 
 way between. 
 
72 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 A portion of the balcony to the oriel window is shown 
 in Fig. 23. In Fig. 24, is shown one of the dormer 
 
 [Fig. 25.] 
 
 [Fig. 23.] [Fig. 24.] 
 
 windows of the front elevation. For the section and plan 
 of the lower windows, see Fig. 12, of Design I. 
 
 The section or profile of the label, or lintel 
 of the window, is shown in Fig. 25 ; and 
 that of the wall-coping in Fig. 26 ; both to 
 the scale of half an inch to a foot. 
 
 4 stack of chimneys suitable for this cot- 
 tage, is shown in Fig. 27, which may be 
 built of brick ; the chimney tops being 
 8 feet high, above the base or square 
 platform. The flues may be square or 
 circular within, (the latter is preferable,) 
 and ten or twelve inches in diameter. 
 Circular flues are easily formed by build- 
 ing round a cylinder of tin, which is 
 worked upwards by turning it with the 
 hand as the chimney is carried up. The 
 
 ]Fig. 27.] 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 73 
 
 [Fig. 26.] 
 
 interior of the flue next the cylinder is covered 
 with mortar in building, and the gradual 
 withdrawal of the cylinder upwards, leaves 
 a smooth plastered surface. 
 
 A section showing the construction of the 
 rising cupboard, or dumb waiter, is shown in Fig. 28. 
 In this section, the floor of the pantry is indicated at /, the 
 portion above being enclosed in a sort of sideboard or 
 closet in the pantry, and the part below in a similar closet 
 in the basement. At a, is the cupboard with three shelves. 
 This cupboard, and the dishes it will contain, is bal- 
 anced by the weight c, at the end of a rope, passing over 
 the pulleys 6, which is attached to the top of the cupboard. 
 
 This, with a slight impetus, sends 
 the loaded cupboard up to the top ; 
 it is drawn down by a small wheel 
 and crank, c?, with a similar cord 
 or leathern strap, attached to the 
 bottom of the cupboard. This 
 wheel and crank is fixed firmly at 
 the bottom of the trunk in which 
 the cupboard moves, and about a 
 foot and a half above the floor of 
 the kitchen. The top of the trunk, 
 or that part above the floor /, is 
 disguised, and rendered ornamental, by the neat side- 
 board or closet covering it, which opens in front to allow 
 the dishes to be taken out. 
 
 Estimate, If this cottage is built of brick and stucco, 
 with cut stone labels to the windows, and finished in a 
 consistent and appropriate, though simple manner in the 
 
 9 
 
 [Fig. 28.] 
 
74 
 
 .COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 interior, it will cost about S3500. Built of quarried stone, 
 where the latter is not abundant, it would probably cost 
 $3800. 
 
 THE GROUNDS OF DESIGN III. 
 
 The situation of the ground, four acres in extent, upon 
 which this dwelling is to be erected, we have already partly 
 described. It is nearly a parallelogram, one end of which 
 borders the public road and the other is bounded by the 
 river. In its original state, before operations were com- 
 menced, the place appeared only a simple meadow, the 
 land of fair quality, and the surface level, or nearly so, be- 
 tween the road and the site of the house, but sloping off to 
 the river, in some parts gently, and in others more abrupt- 
 ly, about 100 feet beyond the veranda on the river side of 
 the house, at A, Fig. 29. The best soil for a garden ap- 
 peared to be on the left of the property, and we accord- 
 ingly located the kitchen garden /, and the orchard of 
 choice fruits g, in this quarter. 
 
 As it was not thought desirable by the owner of this 
 place to expend much in keeping the place in order, be- 
 yond what labour might be required in the kitchen garden, 
 few walks are introduced, except such as are actually ne- 
 cessary or convenient. Of these the most essential in 
 every place is the entrance road, or Approach b, which 
 leaves the public road in this example at a, that point be- 
 ing indicated as most suitable by the situation of the 
 ground, and by the shelter and effect which will be given 
 to the entrance gate by two or three large trees found grow- 
 ing there. There is a gravelled area in front of the house, 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 75 
 
 [Fig. 29.] 
 
 upon which carriages may turn, and at the extremity of 
 this road are the stable d, and stable yard e. Next to the 
 Approach, the most desirable walk is one for exercise, 
 leading over more secluded parts of the place, or to spots 
 enjoying beautiful or extensive prospects. In a place of 
 
76 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 small extent, it is desirable to have this walk as long as 
 possible, which is generally effected by making the circuit 
 of the space offered, keeping at such a distance from boun- 
 dary fences that they may not be obtrusive. Such a walk 
 is. shown at z, which leaving the veranda, on the river front 
 of the house, proceeds in easy curves, shaded by occasional- 
 groups of trees, over the whole area between the house 
 and the river. 
 
 On the right of the house, looked out upon from the bay 
 wdndow of the parlour, is a small area of smooth turf, sur- 
 rounded by the walk Tc, and containing some irregular beds 
 and circles, cut in the turf, devoted to choice flowers. At 
 Z, on the left, is a corresponding walk, serving the purpose 
 of connecting the two principal walks, which is thickly 
 bordered with ornamental shrubbery. With the exception 
 of a few vines on the veranda, and shrubs near the house, 
 these two small walks, with their accompaniments of 
 flowers and shrubs, comprise all the ornamental details of 
 the place requiring much care. All that portion of the 
 grounds between the public road and the line A, is in lawn 
 or grass, and is kept short by repeated mowings during 
 summer. At A, is a slight paling fence rendered incon- 
 spicuous by painting it dark green. This fence follows 
 the lower line of the ridge, and from the house is not visi- 
 ble, on account of the slope of the ground just above that 
 line ; the fence being six or eight feet below the level of 
 the platform on which the house stands. The area em- 
 braced between this fence and the river is also in grass, 
 but which here, however, is kept short by the pasturage of 
 a cow, or a few sheep. 
 
 Instead of this fence of pales a sunTc fence or ha-ha, might 
 
COTTAaE RESIDENCES. 
 
 77 
 
 be preferred, and where stone is abundant it would not be 
 more expensive. The construction of such a fence will be 
 easily understood by referring to the accompanying sec- 
 tion, Fig. 30, in which a is the level of the ground, falling 
 
 [Fig. 30.] 
 
 off gradually at where a wall 3^ feet deep, open on the 
 side facing the declining surface, would form an effectual 
 protection against cattle on the lower side. It is evident 
 from the section shown here, that, to a person standing at 
 «, the fence and depressed surface at its bottom not being 
 seen, there would be no apparent barrier or interruption 
 to the view across the whole space to the river. Such a 
 fence, it should be remarked, must, as in the present case, 
 run across the surface to be looked over, and not in any di- 
 rection parallel to the line of vision. In commencing the 
 description of this place, it was remarked that the few fine 
 trees already growing on it gave it a considerable degree of 
 character. The majority of these were oaks and chestnuts 
 of good size, and as the expression of dignity and pictu- 
 resqueness inherent in these trees is in excellent keeping 
 with the style of this dwelling, it will be advisable to main- 
 tain this character by planting chiefly round-headed trees, 
 rather than drooping trees like the elm, which are mainly 
 expressive of gracefulness. Near the house, a few Larches, 
 
78 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 and Hemlocks are also introduced, as the spirited forms 
 of these trees, contrasted with the round-headed ones, will 
 idd to the picturesque character of the architecture. 
 
 At the end of this section we shall give a list of the 
 finest ornamental trees classed according to height and 
 other qualities, and another of shrubs, from which selec- 
 tions may be made for planting this and other designs. 
 We shall, in relation to these, only remark at present that, 
 in order to insure a rapid and vigorous growth to these 
 trees, the holes, previously to planting them, should be 
 thoroughly prepared by throwing out the soil two feet in 
 depth, and from three to six feet in diameter, and mixing it 
 intimately with a plentiful supply of compost or well rotted 
 manure, before returning it to the holes in planting. When 
 a tree is planted in the ordinary manner without prepa- 
 ration, from the poverty of the soil, and the closeness of 
 those portions of it adjacent to the roots of the newly 
 moved tree, it requires a year or two to recover from the 
 removal, and advances afterward in its growth only in a 
 feeble and tardy manner. On the other hand, where the 
 holes are carefully prepared, the soil furnished with a plen- 
 tiful supply of nutriment, and rendered loose* and easily 
 permeable by the light and air, as well as by the roots, 
 the newly transplanted tree soon establishes itself, and 
 makes rapid and luxuriant shoots. In many soils it will 
 be found that this previous preparation will insure a 
 growth more than four times as vigorous as that resulting 
 from the usual hasty and careless mode of planting without 
 preparation; and it is therefore better policy, where effect 
 is speedily desired, to plant a few trees in the best man- 
 ner, than a great number in the ordinary careless mode. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 79 
 
 Another very erroneous practice, of frequent occurrence 
 with planters of little experience, in the United States, 
 consists in planting the tree too deep. This is not only to 
 the eye contrary to nature, and in violation therefore of 
 correct taste, but it is destructive to the health of the tree, 
 by placing the mass of young roots below the genial in- 
 fluence of the atmosphere. Treated in this manner, trees 
 will frequently struggle against the adverse situation for 
 years, without ever attaining any considerable degree of 
 luxuriance. 
 
 If we observe a tree growing in a natural state after it 
 has attained some size, we must at once remark, that the 
 base of the trunk, or that part nearest the ground, is much 
 larger than the same trunk a few inches above ; and that 
 in consequence of the development of roots just below 
 this point, the tree apj>ears to stand on a base sl little ele- 
 vated above the level of the ground about it. This gives 
 it an appearance of strength and dignity, and connects 
 it, by a natural transition, with the surface around it. Now 
 a tree, however large, which has been planted too deep, 
 presents no appearance of this kind, but rises out of the 
 level ground without any base, in a manner precisely 
 similar to a post. In order to prevent this appearance, it 
 is advisable, in planting, to set out the trees on a hillock, 
 a few inches raised above the surface, in order that they 
 may, when the ground settles about them, have a natural 
 appearance to the eye, and that the roots may also be 
 placed in the most favorable condition. 
 
 We have arranged the trees to be planted on the lawn, 
 in this design, as in most of the others, in the natural style of 
 landscape gardening — that is, with a view to the production 
 
80 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 of natural beauty. This is effected by planting the trees in 
 irregular groups, or singly, in a manner some what similar to 
 that in which they occur in nature, avoiding straight lines 
 and parallel rows, because such lines indicate a formal art, 
 never found in natural landscape. At the same time the 
 effect will be not the less indicative of elegant art, which 
 will be evinced , 1st, In the employment of many exotic trees, 
 or those obviously not natives of this part of the country, as 
 the Horse Chestnut, or the European Linden : 2d, In the 
 space allowed for the trees to develope themselves fully in 
 the lawn from h to a, and in the more park-like forms 
 which they will therefore assume in time : and 3dly, In 
 the manner in which these trees are arranged.* The latter 
 consists in concealing all objects which would not add to 
 the beauty of the scene by an irregular plantation, as for 
 example, the fence of the kitchen garden at m, or the out- 
 buildings at d ; in planting the borders of the Approach, 
 and of all walks, so as to give an obvious reason (when 
 none other exists) for the curves of such walks, as well as 
 to shade or shelter them ; and in contrasting these planta- 
 tions by broad open glades of turf, n. On the river side 
 of the house, the trees should be so arranged as not to shut 
 out any important portion of the prospect. 
 
 It is preferred in this design, not to have any spot 
 especially devoted to a flower garden, but in its place to 
 assemble a showy and select collection of flowers, in beds 
 dug in the turf bordering the walk Tc, near the house. In 
 this way the flowers are brought near the house, and their 
 
 * Landscape gardening, as an art, does not consist, as many seem to suppose, 
 in producing a counterfeit of nature, but in idealizing natural beauty in a lawn, park, 
 or garden. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 81 
 
 beauty enjoyed, without destroying the simplicity and 
 general effect of the place, by cutting off a separate space 
 for a flower garden. 
 
 In laying out the kitchen garden /, the border within 
 the boundary is devoted to fruit trees, as designated on 
 the plan, with the exception of a small space in the corner 
 adjoining the stable-yard e, for hot beds. There is a 
 separate entrance for a cart or wagon to this yard, or to 
 the kitchen garden, by a road on the left of the kitchen 
 garden. The interior of the latter is left free for grow- 
 ing vegetables ; and a select collection of fruit is 
 planted in the small orchard g. This little orchard, 
 together with the border set apart in the kitchen garden, 
 if planted with the selection of fruit trees, forty-two in 
 number, given for this purpose in a succeeding page, will 
 furnish a moderate supply to the family through the greater 
 part of the year. They are to be cultivated as standards, 
 unless the proprietor prefers training those in the kitchen 
 garden as espaliers, and the ground in the orchard g, is 
 to be devoted to potatoes, beets, turnips, or other roots, 
 both for the purpose of turning the ground to account, and 
 of promoting the growth of the trees. 
 
 List of the finest hardy ornamental trees of foreign and native 
 growth, for planting in growps and masses* 
 
 CLASS I. 
 
 Deciduous trees of the largest size^ and of very rapid growth. 
 
 Chinese Ailanthus, - - Ailantus glandulosa, 
 European Alder, - - - Alnus glutinosa. 
 Cut-leaved do. - - - do. do. laciniata. 
 Norway Maple, - - - Acer platanoides. 
 
 10 
 
82 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 Sugar Maple, - 
 Catalpa, - . _ . 
 Spanish Chestnut, 
 European Ash, - - - 
 American White do. 
 Three Thorned Acacia, 
 Tulip Tree, 
 
 European Larch, - - - 
 
 American do. - - - 
 
 American Plane, or Sycamore, 
 
 Oriental do. 
 
 Lombardy Poplar, 
 
 Silver-leaved Aspen, or Abele, 
 
 Cotton Wood do. 
 
 Yellow Locust, 
 
 Weeping WiDow, 
 
 Huntington do. - 
 American Linden, 
 European Linden, 
 Red-twigged do. - 
 American White, or Drooping Elm, Ulmus americana. 
 English Elm, - - - do. campestris. 
 Dutch, or Corked-bark Elm, - do. suberosa. 
 Scotch, or Wych Elm, - do. montana. 
 
 CLASS IL 
 
 Deciduous trees of the largest size, and of moderate growth. 
 
 White Horse Chestnut, - - JEsculus hippocastanum. 
 
 Scarlet Maple, ... Acer ruhrum. 
 
 Silver-leaved do. - - - do. dasycarpum. 
 
 Sycamore do. - - - do. pseudo platanus. 
 
 Scotch Weeping Birch, - Betula alba, pendula. 
 
 Black Birch, _ - . do. lenia. 
 
 American Beech, - - - Fagus americana. 
 
 Kentucky Coffee, - - - Gymnocladus canadensis. 
 
 Sassafras Tree, . - - Laurus sassafras. 
 
 Acer saccharinum. 
 Catalpa syrigafolia. 
 Castanea vesca. 
 Fraxinus excelsior. 
 
 do. americana. 
 Glediischia triacanthos. 
 Liriodendron tulipifera. 
 Larix europcea. 
 
 do. microcarpa. 
 Platanus occidentalis. 
 
 do. orientalis. 
 Populus dilitata. 
 
 do. alba. 
 
 do. angulata. 
 Rohinia pseud-acacia. 
 Salix babylonica. 
 
 do. alba. 
 Tilia glabra, 
 do. europcea. 
 do. rubra. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 Liquidamber, or Sweet Gum, 
 Cucumber Magnolia, 
 American White Oak, - 
 do. Scarlet do. - 
 Overcup Oak, 
 English do. 
 Lucombe's Seedling Oak, 
 Willow-leaved do. 
 American Cypress, 
 
 Liquidamber styracijlua. 
 Magnolia accuminata, 
 Quercus alba. 
 
 do. coccinea. 
 
 do. macrocarpa. 
 
 do. Robur. 
 
 do. lucombeana. 
 
 do. phellos. 
 Taxodium distichum. 
 
 CLASS III. 
 
 Deciduous trees of medium size, and of rapid growth. 
 
 Buckeye, or Western Horse- 
 
 Chestnut, - 
 Pale Yellow do. - 
 Weeping Ash, - 
 Umbrella Magnolia, 
 Large leaved do. - 
 Ash leaved Maple, 
 Osage Orange, . - . 
 Double Flowering Cherry, 
 Ringlet Willow, - 
 WahooElm, 
 
 Pavia rubra. 
 
 do. flava. 
 Fraxius excelsior, pendula. 
 Magnolia iripeiala. 
 
 do, macrophylla. 
 Negundo fraxinifolia. 
 Madura aurantiaca. 
 Cerasus flore pleno. 
 Salix annularis. 
 Ulmus alata. 
 
 CLASS IV. 
 
 Deciduous trees of medium size, and moderate growth. 
 
 PapaWjOr Western Custard Apple, Anona triloba. 
 
 Red Bird, or Judas Tree, 
 
 White flowering Dogwood, 
 
 Scotch Laburnum, 
 
 Persimon, or American Medlar, 
 
 Purple leaved Beech, 
 
 Yellow Magnolia, - - - 
 
 Sour Gum, - - - - 
 
 Cercis canadensis. 
 Cornusflorida. 
 Cyiissus alpinus. 
 Diospyrus virginiana. 
 Fagus sylvatica, purpurea. 
 Magnolia cordata. 
 Nyssa villosa. 
 
84 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 Paper Birch, - - - 
 Japan Ginko Tree, 
 European Mountain Ash, 
 American do. do. 
 
 Betula pajpyracea. 
 Salisburia adiantifolia. 
 Sorhus aucuparia. 
 do. americana. 
 
 Hardy Evergreen trees. 
 
 Norway Spruce Fir, 
 Double Black Spruce Fir, 
 Balsam, or Bahn of Gilead, 
 Hemlock Fir, - 
 White, or Weymouth Pine, - 
 Yellow Pine, - - . 
 English Yew, - - - 
 American Arbor Vitae, - 
 
 Abies picea. 
 
 do. nigra. 
 
 do. halsamea. 
 
 do. canadensis. 
 Finns strobus. 
 
 do. variabilis. 
 Taxus baccata. 
 Thuya occidentalis. 
 
 CLASS. V. 
 
 Hardy shrubs growing from 6 to 20 feet high. 
 
 Hercules Club, - - - 
 
 Snow-Drop, or White Fringe Tree, 
 
 Narrow leaved do. 
 
 Laburnum, or Golden Chain, - 
 
 Weeping do. 
 
 Yellow Bladder Senna, 
 
 Pink flowering Hawthorn, 
 
 New Scarlet, do. 
 
 Double White, do. 
 
 Cornelian Cherry, 
 
 European Strawberry Tree, or 
 
 Burning Bush, - - - 
 White Fruited, do. 
 Purple Flowering, do. 
 American do. 
 Silver Bell Tree, - 
 Althea Frutex, or Rose of Sharon, 
 
 many sorts and colours, 
 
 Aralia spinosa. 
 Chionanihus virginica. 
 
 do. maratima. 
 Cytissus laburnum. 
 
 do. do. pendula. 
 Coluiea arborescens. 
 Crategus oxycanthay var. 
 
 do. do. var. 
 
 do. do. fl. pi. 
 
 Cornus mascula. 
 
 Euonymus europ<BUS, 
 
 do. do. fructa atho, 
 
 do. atropurpureus, 
 do. americanus. 
 
 Halesia tetraptera. 
 
 Hibiscus syriacus. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 Silvery Buckthorn, 
 Chinese Kolreuteria, 
 Snowy Flowered Mespilus, - 
 Glaucous, or Swamp Magnolia, 
 Carolina large flowering Syringo, 
 Common fragrant do. 
 Semi-double do. 
 Hop Tree, - - - - 
 Venetian Sumac, or Purple Fringe 
 
 Tree, .... 
 Shrubby Yellow Robinia, 
 Silvery-leaved Shepherdia, or 
 
 Buffalo berry, - 
 Three-leaved Bladder Nut, - 
 White and Purple Lilacs, 
 White and Purple Persian Lilacs, 
 Cut leaved do. 
 French Tamarisk, 
 Snowball, or Guelder Rose, - 
 Way-faring Tree, 
 
 Hippophae rhamnoides. 
 Kolreuteria paniculata. 
 Mespilus boiryapium. 
 Magnolia glauca. 
 PMladelphus grandijlorus. 
 
 do. coronarius. 
 
 do. semi-pleno. 
 Pielea trifoliaia. 
 
 Rhus cotinus. 
 Robinia frutescens. 
 
 Shepherdia argentea. 
 Staphylea trifoliaia. 
 Syringa vulgaris. 
 
 do. persica. 
 
 do. laciniata. 
 Tamarix gallica. 
 Viburnum opulus. 
 do. lantana. 
 
 CLASS VL 
 
 Hardy shrubs, growing from 1 to 6 or 8 feet high. 
 
 Indigo Shrub, - - - 
 Dwarf white Horse Chestnut, 
 Groundsel Tree, 
 Sweet scented Shrub, 
 Fragrant Clethra, 
 Panicled flowered Clethra, 
 Red flowering bladder Senna, 
 Scorpion Senna, 
 Bloody twigged Dogwood, 
 Cluster flowered Cytissus, 
 Scarlet Japan Quince, 
 Blush, or White do. 
 Pink Mezereon, 
 
 Amorphafruiicosa. 
 JSsculus macrostachya. 
 Baccharis halimifoUa. 
 Calycanthusjioridus. 
 Clethra alnifolia. 
 ^ do. paniculata. 
 Colutea arborescens. 
 Coronilla emerus. 
 Cornus sanguinea. 
 Cytissus capitatus. 
 Cydonia japonica. 
 
 do. alba. 
 Daphne mezereum. 
 
86 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 White Mezereon, - 
 Oak leaved Hydrangea, 
 Italian yellow Jasmine, 
 Japan yellow Globe Flower, - 
 Common Privet, or Prim, 
 Tartarian Upright, or Tree Honey- 
 suckle, - . - - 
 White flowering Honeysuckle, 
 Black berried do. 
 English fly do. 
 Dwarf Syringe, - - - 
 Shrubby Cinquefoil, 
 Double Purple Tree PoBony, - 
 Single Pink and Purple do. - 
 Double Rose coloured do. - 
 Rose Acacia, - 
 Shrubby Caragana, 
 Corymbose Spirea, 
 Panicled do. - 
 Pretty flowering Spirea, 
 Sorb leaved do. 
 Red flowering do. 
 St. Peters' Wreath, 
 Snowberry (white fruit,) 
 Indian Currant (red fruit,) 
 Parsley leaved Yellow- Root, 
 
 Daphne m. album. 
 Hydrangea quercifolia, 
 Jasminum hurmile. 
 Kerriajaponica. 
 Ligusirum vulgare, 
 
 Lonicera iartarica. 
 do. alba, 
 do. nigrum, 
 do. xylosteum. 
 PMladelphus nanus. 
 PotentiUa fruticosa, 
 Pceonia moutan Banksia. 
 
 do. papaveracea. 
 
 do. rosea. 
 Robinia hispida. 
 
 do. caragana. 
 Spirea corymbosa. 
 
 do. paniculata. 
 
 do. bella. 
 
 do. sorbifoUa. 
 
 do. tomentosa. 
 
 do. Jiypericifolia. 
 Symphoria racemosa. 
 
 do. glomerata. 
 Zanihorhiza apiifolia. 
 
 Evergreen Shrubs. 
 
 Tree Box, - - - - 
 American Holly, - 
 European do. rather tender at 
 thenorthf - - - - 
 Swedish Juniper, 
 Common Laurel, or Kalmia, - 
 American Rhododendron, 
 
 Buxus arborescens. 
 Ilex opaca. 
 
 do. aquifoUum. 
 Juniperus sueccia. 
 Kalmia latifolia. 
 Rododendron maxiumum. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 Selection of very choice fruits, for the small orchard of 42 trees 
 
 CHERRIES. 
 
 1 Knight's early Black. 
 1 Mayduke. 
 1 Tartarian. 
 
 1 Napoleon Bigarrieu. 
 
 PEARS. 
 
 2 Bartlett. 
 2 Seckel. 
 
 2 D'Angouleme. 
 1 Early Madeleine. 
 1 Easter Beurre. 
 
 1 Bloodgood's early. 
 
 2 Marie Louise. 
 1 Beurre Diel. 
 
 PLUMS. 
 
 1 Coe's Golden Drop. 
 1 Washington. 
 1 Green Gage. 
 1 La Royale. 
 1 Magnum bonum. 
 
 PEACHES. 
 
 2 George the IV. 
 2 Early Newington. 
 2 Morris White. 
 1 Yellow Rareripe. 
 1 Large White Cling. 
 
 1 Favourite. 
 
 APPLES. 
 
 2 Newtown Pippin. 
 1 Yellow Harvest. 
 
 1 Fall Pippin. 
 
 2 Baldwin. 
 
 1 Rhode Island Greening. 
 1 Yellow Bellflower. 
 1 Ross' Nonpareil. 
 
 APRICOTS. 
 
 1 Moorpark. 
 1 Turkey. 
 
 NECTARINES. 
 
 1 Peterborough. 
 1 Elruge. 
 
 Total 42. 
 
88 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 DESIGN IV. 
 
 A71 Ornamental Farm House. 
 
 In designing this farm house, we have had two objects 
 in view ; first, to offer to the large class of intelligent 
 farmers, a plan of a house of moderate size, somewhat 
 adapted in internal accommodation to their peculiar 
 wants : and second, to give to the exterior, at little addi- 
 tional cost, some architectural beauty. The first object, 
 it is evident, must ever be the principal one in a farmer's 
 dwelling, and therefore every thing should yield to such 
 an interior arrangement, as will give the greatest amount 
 of comfort, and the maximum of convenience, in performing 
 in-door labor. But beyond this, there is no reason why 
 the dwelling houses of our respectable farmers should not 
 display some evidences of taste, as well as those of profes- 
 sional men, or persons in more affluent circumstances. 
 The farmers are really the most independent men in our 
 community, as their wealth is less liable to fluctuation than 
 that of any other class ; and if the amount which they 
 wish to expend upon a dwelling, is less than that within the 
 means of some others, they are generally able, on the other 
 hand, by having abundance of stone or timber on their own 
 premises, to build at a greatly reduced cost. By bestow- 
 ing some degree of ornament on farm houses, we shall 
 hope to increase the interest and attachment, which the 
 
DESIGN IV. 
 
 AN ORNAMENTAL FARM HOU«E 
 
 Fig. 32, 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 89 
 
 farmer and his family have for their home, and thereby 
 to improve his social and domestic state. A man who is 
 content to live in a clumsy, badly contrived, and uncouth 
 habitation, vi^ill generally be found to care little for his 
 home, or to have in his heart but a scanty flow of genial 
 domestic sympathies. This love of home, and with it 
 all the tender affections bound up in that endearing 
 word, will be sure to grow with every step we take to 
 add to its comforts, or increase its beauty ; and if we feel 
 a species of affection for the goodly trees we have planted, 
 which, growing along with us, seem like old and familiar 
 friends, we must acknowledge a still greater attachment 
 to a dwelling that we have built, and which becomes our 
 own home, — whether it be a cottage or a mansion, — if 
 there is an air of taste lurking about it, and breathing out 
 from vine covered porch or open window casement. 
 
 We are especially anxious that the farmer should culti- 
 vate a taste for improving his home, including under this 
 term his dwelling, and his garden or grounds, as we are 
 confident that in so doing he will unconsciously open to 
 himself and his family new sources of enjoyment, beyond 
 such as are directly derived from their beauty and con- 
 venience. It is unquestionably true, that we learn to 
 appreciate the beauty of nature, in proportion as we be- 
 come familiar with the beauty of art. Now, although we 
 do not expect farmers to possess a gallery of pictures or 
 statuary, yet they have a scarcely less instructive field 
 open to them while tastefully disposing their gardens and 
 grounds, in studying the various developments of beauty 
 that occur and become familiar to the mind in these, and 
 all other employments, unfolding the order and harmony 
 
 11 
 
90 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 of a well regulated rural home. And we will venture to 
 assert, that no person, however small his original know- 
 ledge, has followed these occupations thoughtfully for half 
 a dozen years, without having his appreciation of the 
 beauty of all nature, and especially the beauty of trees, 
 forests, hills and rivers, a thousand fold increased. 
 
 By referring to the plan of the principal floor. Fig. 32, 
 it will be seen that the main building, 30 by 46 feet, is 
 two stories in height, and contains on this floor a hall, a 
 parlour, two bedrooms, and a large pantry. The parlour, 
 or sitting-room, is an excellent apartment, suitable for any 
 occasion, and the pantry being placed between it and the 
 kitchen, either of these rooms may be used to dine in ; 
 while the passage, with two doors between the parlour 
 and the kitchen, prevents the noise of the latter from being 
 heard in the former. 
 
 The kitchen, wash-house, dairy, and wood-house, on 
 the same level with the main building, are contained in an 
 L-form addition in the rear, one story in height. The 
 kitchen is 16 feet square, and opens also by a back door, 
 upon a broad stone platform, under which the steps next 
 the main building descend to the cellar. The wash- 
 room is 16 feet square, and has by the side of the fire- 
 place a circular copper boiler set, for boiling the clothes. 
 There is a passage from the wash-room, communicating 
 directly with the wood-house. The dairy may, if it is 
 thought advisable, be sunk three feet below the level of 
 the wash-house, and paved with flag stones, in order to 
 keep it cool ; and there may be a raised shelf of stone all 
 around it, on which to place pans of milk. In this case 
 it would be entered by descending four or five steps. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 91 
 
 The wood-house has a large door, to facilitate unloading 
 from the wood wagons. 
 
 The plan of the second story, 
 Fig. 33, affords three good bed- 
 rooms, closets, &c., and a small 
 bedroom ; and above this story 
 is an ample garret for drying 
 various seeds and vegetables. 
 
 The cellar is large, being 
 of the same size as the main 
 building, and on the side next 
 the carriage road, should be 
 placed a slide^ wide enough to 
 receive a cart load of roots, 
 which will save .much labor 
 and time usually occupied in carrying them in baskets. 
 
 This dwelling is supposed to be constructed of rough 
 stone, or stone partially smooth on the face, but not laid in 
 regular courses. Such stone is abundant throughout a 
 great portion of the United States and makes excellent 
 walls. 
 
 We have given the preference to the Rural Pointed style 
 in composing the exterior of this dwelUng, partly on ac- 
 count of the large lofts or garrets, so useful to the farmer, 
 afforded by the steep gables and roofs, and partly on ac- 
 count of its intrinsic beauty and picturesque effect when 
 built of stone even in this simple manner. We have in- 
 troduced a veranda in the same style in front, because such 
 a feature is as necessary to the comfort of a farm-house 
 as a villa in this country. 
 
 Where all the outbuildings are to be erected at the 
 
92 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 same time with the dwelling-house, something of the same 
 style should be evinced in their construction. It is not 
 necessary to attain this, that ornamental verge boards, or 
 windows, or other minor details, should be introduced in 
 barns or the like structures, but it will be sufficient if at- 
 tention is paid to repeating the same general forms in 
 the outlines of the buildings, and of these the form of the 
 roof or gables is most essential. 
 
 In some districts, wood is the only material which 
 comes within reach of the farmer. When this is the case 
 it would be better to adopt another style for the exterior, 
 of a lighter character. We would recommend the simple 
 projecting roof, and the general style of Design I., omit- 
 ting some of the ornamental details. The arrangement of 
 the rooms would require no material alteration, whatever 
 style of architecture may be adopted for the interior ; and 
 a farm-house built in the plainest manner, preserving the 
 arrangement exactly, would still have all the merit of this 
 part of the design, of whatever value it may be considered. 
 
 It is evident that to some families another parlour, or a 
 common eating room, but little superior to the kitchen, 
 might be thought desirable. This would be easily ob- 
 tained by converting the rear bedroom into a dining-room 
 and keeping the 'parlour, (which is now intended to serve 
 the purpose of dining-room also,) as a show apartment, or 
 lest room. Such a plan might suit the fancy of those who 
 take pleasure in keeping the best and most comfortable 
 room in their house shut, except when they see strangers, 
 but we cannot recommend it as consonant with good taste, 
 and that unaffected, genuine hospitality, which ought to 
 characterize " plain country folks." 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 93 
 
 Details of construction* The construction of this build- 
 ing will be easily understood by merely inspecting the ele- 
 vation as it is extremely simple. In Fig. 34, the verge- 
 board and cornice are 
 shown more in detail, to 
 the scale of ^ inch to a 
 foot. In this, A, is the 
 front view of the top of 
 the gable, and b, the pro- 
 file or section of the 
 same, p, is the pendant 
 which perforates the ridge 
 of the roof, and termi- 
 nates the gable by what 
 is termed a hip knob, or finial. The roof, in this design, 
 projects about a foot beyond the walls of the house. The 
 veranda is supported by octagonal posts or pillars, the 
 openings between which, are ornamented at the top by 
 single arches cut from 2 inch plank. All the exterior 
 wood-work of this building, (except sashes and doors,) 
 should be painted three coats of the same color as the 
 stone, or a few shades lighter, and sanded. 
 
 Estimate. The cost of this building, supposing the stone 
 to be found on the farm, and all the materials to be drawn 
 by the farmer, w^ill not exceed $1700. 
 
 The Ferme Ornee^ or ornamental portion of the farm. 
 
 The ferme ornee is a term generally applied to a farm, the 
 whole or the greater part of which is rendered in some de- 
 gree ornamental, by intersecting it with drives, and private 
 
 [Fig. 13.] 
 
94 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 lanes and walks, bordered by trees and shrubs, and by the 
 neater arrangement and culture of the fields. But it may 
 also be applied to a farm with a tasteful farm-house, and 
 so much of the ground about it rendered ornamental, as 
 would naturally meet the eye of the stranger, in approach- 
 ing it the first time. 
 
 It is evident that the farm proper, in the present case, 
 may consist of 50 or 500 acres. We have only shown in 
 the annexed engraving, Fig. 35, a plan of a few acres 
 immediately surrounding the house, and consisting of the 
 entrance lawn a, about one and a quarter acres, bordering 
 the entrance road or approach h; the orchard c, the 
 kitchen garden d, adjoining fields, in grass or under the 
 plough e, and the yard for the out-buildings /. 
 
 At g is shown the house, and in the rear of the kitchen, 
 wash-house, &c., is the kitchen yard h. The out-build- 
 ings, or farmery, are arranged around three sides of a 
 square, open to the south, and consist of the piggery j, 
 the tool-house communicating with the garden Tc, open 
 shed for carts, ploughs, &c., Z, cow-house with three calf- 
 pens attached at the end m, barn n, stable for horses o, 
 wagon-house p, and corn crib q. The surface of the 
 yard descends slightly on all sides to the centre f, where 
 the manure heap is kept. This collection of out-buildings 
 is much more complete and extensive, than will be found 
 connected with most farms in this country, but we have 
 given it, with the view of exhibiting what ought to be 
 aimed at as a desideratum in accommodation, on every 
 extensive farm ; and it will be found easy to diminish the 
 amount of buildings and sheds to as many as would 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 \ ^ 
 
 [Fig. 35.] 
 
96 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 occupy only one side of the yard, if the farm be small, or 
 to such a number as can be afforded. 
 
 This plan will require but little description, as the orna- 
 mental grounds have no intricacy of detail. The effect of 
 the view from the house across the entrance lawn a, would 
 be pleasing, and its expression would be that of simply 
 natural, or pastoral beauty. The trees might be of the 
 finest native species, selected from the woods on the farm, 
 as nothing is more beautiful than our fine drooping Elms, 
 Tulip trees, Oaks, and Ashes. Or some additional interest 
 may be given to the place, by introducing a few Horse 
 Chestnuts or European Lindens, around the house, and 
 along the approach. The trees we would plant in natural 
 groups, as indicated on the plan, as this would not only 
 evince a more cultivated taste in a farmer, than strait 
 lines, but it would also add to the apparent extent of the 
 whole area, devoted to ornamental trees, by giving it an 
 irregular and varied boundary of foliage. 
 
 This acre and a quarter devoted to ornament, may also 
 be rendered profitable also : 1st, by mowing the grass over 
 the whole surface ; or, 2dly, by keeping it short, by pas- 
 turing it with favorite animals. In the case of mowing, 
 when no animals are admitted, a few flowering shrubs and 
 plants may be cultivated directly around the house. But if 
 it is preferred to pasture the area, it would be necessary 
 to confine all small shrubs and plants to a certain portion 
 of the kitchen garden devoted to this purpose. 
 
 There are some farmers who would be willing to devote 
 an acre around their house to some kind of lawn, or pur- 
 pose superiour to a common field, who are yet not suffi- 
 ciently alive to the beauty and dignity of fine forest trees. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 97 
 
 to be willing to plant the latter. Such may substitute 
 fruit for forest trees, and even arrange them in the same 
 manner, planting those most symmetrical and pleasing in 
 their forms, as the cherry and pear, near the house and the 
 Approach ; and those which are unsightly in growth, nearest 
 the boundary. 
 
 The beauty of a ferme ornee will be greatly enhanced 
 by introducing verdant hedges, in the place of stone or 
 wooden fences, at least in all situations near the house. 
 The best plant to be had in the nurseries, for this purpose, 
 is the Newcastle thorn, a native sort, much hardier and 
 better than the English for our climate. But almost any 
 of our native thorns in the woods, make admirable hedges, 
 and the farmer may gather the seeds, and raise them him- 
 self. Good hedges may also be made of the crab, or the 
 buckthorn, or even the mulberry, though the latter will not 
 turn cattle, from its want of thorns. 
 
 If the ground is previously well prepared by repeated 
 ploughings and manuring, and proper care is taken to 
 head back the young plants the first year or two to make 
 a thick bottom, and to trim them twice a year afterwards, 
 an excellent hedge may be obtained in five years. No 
 person, we hope, who has once seen a handsome deep 
 green hedge, forming a dense close surface, enlivened with 
 blossoms in the spring, and berries in the autumn, will 
 grudge the little annual care necessary to substitute this for 
 at least a small part of his unsightly wall, or "post and rail." 
 
 Wooden and stone fences near the house, may be ren- 
 dered ornamental by planting the Virginia creeper, (Am- 
 pelopsis,) or five-leaved ivy, at short distances along the 
 fence. This vine is common over a large portion of the 
 
 12 
 
98 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 Union, and will quickly form a beautiful mantle of verdure, 
 concealing the wall in summer with its rich and luxuriant 
 green, and in autumn with its bright scarlet foliage. 
 
 When the eye commands from the house a view beyond 
 the ornamental lawn, the latter may be pleasingly con- 
 nected by planting or preserving, here and there, in the 
 adjoining fields, a few of the same forest trees that are 
 growing on the lawn, thus avoiding too strongly marked 
 a contrast between the latter area and the farm lands, and 
 showing something of a unity of design or purpose. 
 
 The orchard near the house is an apple orchard, and 
 we give a selection of one hundred trees for the purpose of 
 planting it with the most valuable sorts, including a num- 
 ber of sweet apples, for feeding stock. 
 
 
 Ripens ill 
 
 2 Early Bough, 
 
 August. 
 
 2 Yellow Harvest, 
 
 July. 
 
 6 Esopus Spitzenberg, 
 
 Nov. Feb. 
 
 4 Boston Russet, 
 
 May. 
 
 6 Fall Pippin, 
 
 Sept. Dec. 
 
 8 Jersey Sweet, 
 
 Aug. Nov. 
 
 6 Jonathan, 
 
 Dec. Feb. 
 
 6 Baldwin, 
 
 Nov. May. 
 
 2 Lady Apple, 
 
 Nov. March. 
 
 4 Golden Pippin, 
 
 Dec. Feb. 
 
 6 Ladies' Sweeting, 
 
 Nov. March. 
 
 8 Newtown Pippin, 
 
 Dec. May. 
 
 3 Golden Sweeting, 
 
 Sept. Oct. 
 
 8 Rhode Island Greening, 
 
 Nov. March. 
 
 2 Summer Paradise, 
 
 Aug. Sept. 
 
 4 Swaar, 
 
 Dec. March. 
 
 8 Yellow Belle Fleur, 
 
 Oct. Jan. 
 
 4 Pearmain, 
 
 Nov. March. 
 
 4 Michael Henry Pippin, 
 
 Nov. March. 
 
 2 Dominie, 
 
 Nov. March. 
 
 2 Hubbardston Nonsuch, 
 
 Dec. March. 
 
 2 Gravenstein, 
 
 Sept. Oct. 
 
DESIGN V. 
 
 A COTTAGE VILLA, IN THE BRACKETED MODE. 
 
 Fig. 37 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 99 
 
 DESIGN V. 
 
 A cottage-villa in the Bracketted mode. 
 
 We trust that the exterior of this villa will generally 
 please, as although it is very simple in form, v^e have 
 endeavored to add to its domestic, comfortable air, a more 
 forcible and elegant expression than rectangular buildings 
 generally possess. The strongly marked character which 
 it has, is derived mainly from the bold projection of the 
 roof, supported by ornamental brackets, and from the 
 employment of brackets for supports, in various other parts 
 of the building. 
 
 This bracketted mode of building, so simple in con- 
 struction, and so striking in effect, will be found highly 
 suitable to North America, and especially to the southern 
 states. The coolness and dryness of the upper story, 
 afforded by the almost veranda-like roof, will render this 
 a delightful feature in all parts of our country where the 
 summers are hot, and the sun very bright, during the long 
 days of that season. Indeed, we think a very ingenious 
 architect might produce an American cottage style, by care- 
 fully studying the capabilities of this mode, so abounding 
 in picturesqueness, and so easily executed. 
 
 In actual fitness for domestic purposes, in this country, 
 we think this bracketted mode has much to recommend 
 it. It is admirably adapted to the two kinds of construc- 
 tion which must, for some time, be the most prevalent in the 
 
100 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 United States — wood, and brick covered by cement. Its 
 comparative lightness of character, renders it well suited 
 for wood, and the protection afforded by the projection of 
 the roof, will give complete security and dryness to the 
 walls, rendering good stucco or cement in such a situation, 
 as durable as stone. The facility of its construction is an 
 additional circumstance in its favour, as the details are 
 extremely simple — the ornamental brackets, which are the 
 principal features of decoration, being cut out of pine 
 or oak plank, two inches thick, and one or two patterns 
 serving for the whole exterior. 
 
 Extending the roof in the manner shown in this design, 
 gives expression and character at once to the exterior, and 
 the broad and deep shadows thrown by the projection are 
 not only effective and pleasing to the artistical eye, but 
 they increase the actual comfort of the chamber apart- 
 ments ; a projection of from 20 inches to three feet, serving 
 as a hood to shelter the windows from the summer sun 
 during all the sultry portion of the day ; while in winter, 
 the sun being low in position, this effect will not be felt, 
 when it is not desirable. 
 
 On entering the hall, (see plan of principal floor, Fig. 
 37,) we find on the left an oval dining, or living room, 
 lighted by a large and handsome window on the side, and 
 another in front ; the latter finished with a window-seat. 
 There are two pantries, or closets, in this room, in the 
 spaces formed by the ovals in front, and the opposite end 
 of the room may be finished with shallow closets for plate, 
 glass, or valuable china. At the opposite end of this room, 
 is a door opening into the passage h, which communicates 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 101 
 
 with the stairs to the kitchen, (under the main stairs,) and 
 also with the open air, by the door on the veranda. At 
 the left of this passage is a water-closet, (W. C.) 
 
 On the opposite side is the parlour or drawing-room, 
 occupying the whole space, 18 by 26 feet. This room is 
 of very handsome size, and if well finished would make a 
 splendid apartment. The ceiling should be 13 or 14 feet 
 high, and might be supported by a bracketted cornice, 
 tastefully executed in plaster, to harmonise with the 
 character of the exterior. Our own taste would lead us 
 to prefer greatly, in all cases, the simplicity and dignity 
 of a single large apartment of this kind, in the country, to 
 two apartments connected by folding or sliding doors. In 
 the latter, the single room considered by itself, is com- 
 paratively of no importance, because it is evidently only 
 one half of the architect's idea, and the couy d'ceil of the 
 whole is greatly injured, by the partition still remaining, 
 after the doors are open. A large room like this drawing- 
 room, will, on the contrary, be a complete whole in itself, 
 and regarding its effect, either with or without company, 
 it will be found much more satisfactory than that of the 
 two smaller ones connected. Access to the veranda from 
 this room, is afforded by the window at its farther end, 
 which is a casement-window opening to the floor, and may 
 therefore be used as a door. 
 
 At the end of the hall a door opens into the library, 18 
 by 20 feet, which is a cool, airy apartment, shaded by the 
 veranda that surrounds it on three sides. It communi- 
 cates directly with the drawing-room by one door, and 
 with the passage 6, leading to the veranda, by another. 
 
102 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 On the second floor are 
 five bedrooms, Fig. 38. 
 The two bedrooms on the 
 right being connected by a 
 door, one of them may be 
 used as a nursery, and the 
 other as a family bedroom. 
 Three bedrooms, for ser- 
 vants, may be finished in 
 the attic story, which will 
 be lighted by the windows 
 in the gable. There is a 
 handsome balcony, which is 
 entered upon from the case- 
 ment-window, at the end of the hall in this story, shaded 
 by the broad overhanging roof, and two other balconies 
 which accompany, in a similar manner, the large windows 
 in the two principal bedrooms on either side of this hall. 
 These two large windows are each composed of three 
 compartments, and the middle compartment of that on the 
 right, against which the partition of the nursery abuts, is 
 made solid on the inside, which still gives one window, 
 or compartment of moderate size, for each room. 
 
 The basement accommodation. Fig. 39, consists of a 
 kitchen, laundry, store-room, and cellar. The basement 
 story is raised about three and a half feet above ground, 
 with areas built around the windows, to admit an abun- 
 dance of light. The outer entrance to this story is by the 
 steps descending under the veranda, indicated on the left 
 of this plan. 
 
 The chimneys in this elevation are bold and striking. 
 
COTTAaE RESIDENCES. 
 
 103 
 
 and show what would be in 
 good keeping with the style 
 of the house. Their con- 
 struction is simple. They 
 are each covered on the top 
 by two flat copeing stones, 
 of bold projection, the smoke 
 escaping on two sides, (Fig. 
 42.) Chimneys built in this 
 manner are much more like- 
 ly to draw well than those 
 with an open top, in the com- 
 mon mode. This form, how- 
 ever, is not by any means 
 essential, and square flues in a body, with a bold cornice 
 supported on bricks projecting as brackets, or separate 
 detached flues carried up in clusters, with heavy tops, 
 would also be suitable for a building in this style. 
 
 Variation of this design, as constructed in wood. The fore- 
 going engravings being in illustration of this design, as 
 built of solid materials, we introduce another elevation, 
 Fig. 40, to show its appearance constructed of wood. 
 The common mode of siding is sufiiciently well understood 
 by every one, but in this elevation a less general mode is 
 shown, which consists in tongue and grooving the boards, 
 nailing them vertically on the frame, and covering the 
 joint by a strip one to two inches wide. We suggest this 
 mode as a variation, as it makes a very warm and dry 
 house, and the eflfect is good. Fig. 45 is a section to the 
 scale of half an inch to a foot, showing this kind of siding. 
 
 There are, perhaps, some families who would much 
 prefer a bedroom, to the library in our previous plan of 
 
 BASEMENT. 
 
 [Fig. 39.] 
 
104 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 105 
 
 the principal floor. We have in the annexed Fig. 41, 
 shown how this wing, originally intended for a library, 
 may, by a little variation in the plan, be made to afford a 
 pleasant bedroom, with a closet adjoining, and a pretty 
 little boudoir opening either into the bedroom or the draw- 
 ing-room, as may be thought best. If this variation should 
 be preferred to the original plan of this floor, it will only 
 be necessary to carry through the partitions introduced in 
 this wing, which will make a similar alteration in the plan 
 of the second and basement stories. So easily understood 
 that it will not require any farther plans in illustration. 
 
 Details. A portion of the porch 
 in Fig. 43, shows the mariner 
 of ornamenting this part of the 
 building by brackets. Four va- 
 rieties of brackets, suitable for the 
 roof supports of buildings in this 
 style, are seen in the accompany- 
 ing Fig. 44. In this engraving, 
 drawn to the scale of half an inch 
 to a foot. A, represents the bold- 
 
 " V ^ 
 
 [Fig. 43.] 
 
 ll!fl^M¥a'|llll|^l^|M;)^^Mll^lrJ.,|[|Ii|ll 
 [Fig. 42.] 
 
 est form, suitable for the corners or 
 angles of building; b, one of lesser 
 size, proper for the projection of 
 the gables ; c, is another variation, 
 employed in the bold projection of 
 the gable in front, over the porch, 
 and D, is a form employed for eave 
 brackets, when it is thought ad- 
 visable to continue them along the 
 whole line of roof, as in the next 
 
 13 
 
106 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 design. In this engraving, a represents a moulding, and 
 h the roof and cornice above the bracket. The most com- 
 plete mode would undoubtedly be to employ cut-stone 
 
 [Fig. 44.] 
 
 brackets in a building like this, composed of stone or solid 
 materials ; but if made of good sound wood, and thoroughly 
 painted and sanded to resemble the stone or stucco, it will 
 answer nearly as well. 
 
 In Fig. 45, is seen a section of the mode 
 of siding, alluded to in our variation of 
 [Fig. 45.] this design in wood, which needs no fur- 
 ther explanation. 
 
 It will be observed that the supports to the veranda in 
 the rear of this dwelling, are simple, octagonal posts, or- 
 namented with brackets at the top, and that the brackets 
 being a characteristic feature in this style or mode, it is 
 introduced wherever a support is really or apparently 
 necessary, as in the case of the balconies to the windows, 
 etc. And in a building in this mode, the unity of design 
 should be further preserved, by carrying out the boldness 
 of character in all portions of the building, by projecting 
 the roofs, verandas, porches, etc., in a proportionate de- 
 
COTTAaE RESIDENCES. 
 
 107 
 
 gree, and by introducing few and bold mouldings and or- 
 naments. 
 
 Some character is given to the roof in this design, by 
 employing shingles of an uniform size, and rounding the 
 lower ends before laying them on the roof* 
 
 We have designated a water-closet in this design. A 
 water-closet does actually not require a space larger than 
 3 by 4 or 5 feet, and it may therefore be introduced in the 
 first or second story of almost every house, although we 
 have only shown it in two or three of these designs. If 
 properly constructed, and its accompanying cistern kept 
 supplied with water, it will be found entirely free from 
 odours of any kind, and therefore a very great desideratum 
 in every house. The better way is to employ a first rate 
 plumber from the city to fit it up completely, while the 
 house is in progress. In order to explain the principle of its 
 construction we extract the following description of one of 
 a simple and very efficient kind from the Encycloj^edia of 
 Cottage, Farm and Villa Architecture, p. 18. 
 
 " The water-closet may be variously arranged ; but as 
 one of the best and cheapest modes, and one the least 
 likely to go out of order, we give the following : The 
 cistern, Fig. 45, a may be at any distance from the seat 
 J, provided it be on a higher level, by four or five j^et. 
 
 * The principle of expression of purpose, demands that the roofs of buildings 
 should be shown, and rendered ornamental. In snowy countries, especially, a 
 moderately steep roof is necessaiy to sustain the pressure, and shed the snow per- 
 fectly, and it should always, therefore, be boldly exposed, and rendered ornamental 
 in domestic architecture. Some of our builders seem to have a farcical horror of 
 a roof, or a chimney-top, (derived from the study of Greek temples !) and con- 
 ceal both, by costly and elaborate balustrades and parapets, in many cases at an 
 expense sufficient, if judiciously applied, to have given a superior character to the 
 whole building. 
 
108 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 The basin c, may be an inverted 
 hollow cone, truncated, and joined 
 to a piece of cylindrical tube, in- 
 serted in a closed leaden vessel, 
 technically called a smell-trap d. 
 In the side of c, at e, is a hole 
 or vertical opening passing obli- 
 quely through the sides of the 
 basin and communicating with 
 the cistern a, by the pipe /. 
 The water in the cistern is pre- 
 vented from running off through 
 this pipe by a nicely fitting valve 
 [Fig. 45.] at g. When it is desired to 
 
 allow the water to rush down into the basin, it is only neces- 
 sary to pull the string h ; which, if the cistern be at a dis- 
 tance, may pass over several puUies, according to the num- 
 ber of angles in its course. In order to insure the descent of 
 a quantity of water to the basin every time it has been used, 
 a cord i, may be joined to A, and passed over the pully at 
 Tcf and the end of this cord may be fixed to the upper part 
 of the door of the water-closet, at such a distance from 
 the hinge, say a foot, as will sufiice to lift up the valve g ; 
 or the same purpose might be effected by a lever which 
 would be acted upon every time the door was opened. 
 In every case where it is intended that a common or lever 
 valve should be operated on by a door, the latter ought to 
 have a spring-bolt to shut it, lest at any time it should be 
 left open by neglect." There are several late improvements 
 in water-closets now to be had of the best plumbers in 
 New- York. The waste pipe from the water-closet should 
 leave the house by a properly fitted under-ground drain, 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 109 
 
 and should either terminate in a covered drain or sewer, 
 at a considerable distance, or in a well or cistern for liquid 
 manure, the contents of which may be turned to valuable 
 account. 
 
 Estimate. This cottage-villa may be built of brick-and- 
 stucco, or of wood, in the best manner, at a cost of about 
 $5500. With cut free-stone trimmings it would cost $6000. 
 
 Laying out the ground. 
 
 The situation for which this cottage is designed borders 
 the public road and contains about two acres, which are 
 nearly level. At the back of the garden. Fig. 47, is a steep 
 hill a, the side covered with trees, which is ascended by 
 a walk bj leading to a rustic summer-house on the top at 
 c, from whence the prospect of the surrounding country is 
 obtained. 
 
 The house is at J, and the objects in laying out the 
 ground were to create an airy, cheerful aspect around the 
 house, especially in front ; to preserve a view of the steep 
 picturesque hill from the veranda in the rear, and with the 
 appearance of a good deal of ornamental effect to retain 
 about one acre, or nearly half the level ground, for a 
 kitchen garden e, and a fruit garden /. 
 
 In order to give an air of some extent and elegance about 
 the house, the whole surface in this neighborhood, not de- 
 voted to the kitchen and fruitgardens, is laid down in lawn 
 g, to be kept neatly mown ; with the exception of the long 
 borders A, devoted to a miscellaneous collection of flow- 
 ers ; the circular beds, filled with verbenas, petunias 
 and monthly roses, three plants which will bloom the 
 
110 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 [Fig. 47.] 
 
COTTAGE EESIDENCES. 
 
 Ill 
 
 whole summer, and have a brilliant effect from the draw-r 
 ing-room windows ; and the two beds^ filled with choice 
 double Dahlias. In the turf is planted a number of the 
 finest species of ornamental trees and shrubs, some being 
 allowed to grow alone and assume all their beauty of de- 
 velopment, and others planted in groups, or thickets, for 
 effect or shelter. The novice will be assisted in making a 
 selection of these trees and shrubs, by referring to the list 
 given at page 81. Some of the less hardy and robust of 
 these trees and shrubs, being planted in groups in this 
 way, will require that the surface around each tree for a 
 small area of about two feet in diameter be kept loose by 
 culture to promote their growth, until they attain consider- 
 able size. 
 
 The entrance gate is shown at Tc, and there is a large 
 oval of turf around which to turn carriages immediately 
 before the door. The carriage road ?, after approaching 
 the entrance to the kitchen, for the convenience of de- 
 livering heavy articles, leads to the carriage-house m, ad- 
 joining which are the barn and stable and the stable 
 yard o, the latter communicating directly with the public 
 road by the lane jp. 
 
 The kitchen and fruit gardens are enclosed on three 
 sides by hedges of the 'privet ox p'im, a rapid growing 
 plant which forms a thick hedge in three years, has neat 
 foliage and flowers, and is easily cultivated from slips or 
 cuttings planted in March or April. These verdant fences 
 will scarcely appear barriers, and a spectator standing on 
 the veranda in the rear of the house, and looking over the 
 open, oval lawn bordered by the flower borders, and 
 these backed by the deep green hedges, would scarcely 
 
112 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 be impressed with that idea of confinement which this 
 moderate space would otherwise convey. 
 
 A detached green-house is shown at r, which, hke the 
 dwelHng-house, fronts due south. This green-house is 14 
 feet wide by 40 feet long, and has a lean-to, or shed, at the 
 rear, which affords a cover for the furnace, with a place 
 for fuel, and a long narrow apartment for a gardener's 
 seed room, tool room, or work room, the latter being a 
 place absolutely necessary in every residence of the size 
 of half an acre, if appropriated to ornamental purposes. 
 Not only the front, but also both the ends of this green- 
 house should be glazed, as the sun will then, in the course 
 of the day, shine on all sides. In the middle or eastern 
 states, where the winters are severe, it will be found a 
 great economy of both fuel and labor to have light shut- 
 ters made for all the sashes in a green-house detached like 
 this one. When the sun is shining the shutters can be 
 speedily removed, and in cold dull days, and at night, the 
 glass may be kept covered, which will prevent the house 
 from losing its heat rapidly. No green-house in this 
 country, where even the wintry sun is brilliant, will require 
 a particle of fire while the sun shines, and by the aid of 
 shutters we may preserve the warmth of the green-house 
 collected during the afternoon, through a considerable 
 portion, and often the whole of the night. 
 
 The hill side a, in its original state, was sprinkled over 
 with trees, tufts of grass, ferns, etc., and was disfigured 
 by the presence of a number of rough piles of rock. In 
 order to render them ornamental, a quantity of hardy 
 climbers, as the Trumpet vine, (Bignonia,) the coral or 
 trumpet Honeysuckles, the double flowering Bramble, 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 113 
 
 and the Virginia creeper, may be planted at the foot and 
 among these rocks, and they will in two or three seasons 
 render them highly picturesque by enwreathing them with 
 beautiful garlands of foliage and flowers. 
 
 As the lawn will be a great source of beauty in all 
 places of this kind, it is important that attention should be 
 paid to this feature early in the preparation of the grounds. 
 No lawn will retain its freshness and verdure throughout 
 our hot summers, unless particular attention is paid to two 
 circumstances. The first of these is the preparation of a 
 deep soil before it is sown, or laid down in grass — the 
 second consists in frequent mowings. When there is a 
 large surface to be kept in lawn, the soil may be rendered 
 suitable by manuring, and ploughing thoroughly before- 
 hand with the sub-soil plough, or by going through the 
 same furrow three times in ploughing the soil. When the 
 area is small, it may be trenched with the spade. The roots 
 of the grasses strike much deeper in a mellow prepared 
 soil, than persons are generally aware, and are thereby 
 enabled to withstand a severe drought, when, if sown in 
 the ordinary mode, they would have dried up and the fo- 
 liage become brown in a short time. A rich soil for a lawn 
 is not desirable, but rather a deep one, capable of retaining 
 moisture for a long time. Wood ashes will be found an 
 excellent top-dressing for invigorating a worn-out lawn. 
 
 Frequent mowing is necessary to insure that velvet-like 
 appearance so much admired in English lawns. To per- 
 form this operation neatly, the mower must be provided 
 with a scythe the blade of which is very broad, and hung 
 nearly parallel to the surface of the lawn ; and the mow- 
 ing should always be performed, if possible, after a shower, 
 
 14 
 
114: 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 or a heavy dew, while the grass is yet damp. The best 
 mixture of grass seeds ^in use among us, and to be had 
 at our seed shops, is the same as composes the natural 
 growth of our commons and the turf by the road sides, viz. 
 Red top, and white Clover, {Agrosiis vulgaris and Trifo- 
 Hum reyens.) They should be sown thickly for a lawn, at 
 the rate of four bushels to the acre.* 
 
 The five circular beds are supposed to be each 10 or 
 15 feet in diameter, and cut in the turf. It is proposed to 
 fill these with plants, each bed with the same genus, and 
 cultivate them in such a manner that, when full grown, 
 they shall cover the whole surface of the bed. They will 
 then present a mass of rich leaves and blossoms, and the 
 raw earth not being seen, these beds will connect them- 
 selves much more harmoniously with the surrounding turf 
 or lawn, than if only partially covered with plants. No- 
 thing is more unsightly than raw flower beds near the 
 windows of the house, in midsummer, and we therefore 
 greatly prefer the beauty of a few rich circles or groups 
 like these, to the lean and parched appearance which long 
 beds of miscellaneous flowers exhibit when placed in 
 direct proximity to the dwelling. 
 
 The trailing Verbenas and Petunias are very showy 
 plants, blooming perpetually during the whole season, and 
 are therefore admirably adapted to this purpose. As they 
 will not stand our winters, they must be treated as annu- 
 als ; or preserved by taking small plants up in pots, in 
 autumn, and keeping them in the green-house or a frame, 
 
 * Mr. Loudon recommends the following mixture of grasses for a lawn ; viz. 
 Agrosiis vulgaris vat. tenuifolia, Festtica duriiiscula, F. avina, Cynosoru cristatus, Poa 
 prateusis, Avenaflavescens, and Trifolium minus. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 115 
 
 planting them out again in April, 
 are recommended. 
 
 Verbenas Tweediana, grandiflora. 
 chamedrifolia. 
 
 The following varieties 
 
 Petunia phoenecia. 
 Groomii. 
 picia. 
 
 ignescens. striata. 
 Mestoni. Gem Medora. 
 
 superba. grandiflora. 
 Queen. 
 Binneyana. 
 
 A great number of beautiful monthly roses, including 
 the Noisettes, the common China, or Bengal, and the Tea 
 and the Bourbon varieties may be procured in the nurse- 
 ries. These require a rich loamy soil, where they will 
 bloom in great profusion all the summer, and until winter 
 frosts overtake them. The Bourbon roses are especially 
 remarkable for the size, the abundance, fragrance, and 
 the beauty of their blossoms. The following selection in- 
 cludes some of the most desirable sorts, all everblooming 
 or monthly. 
 
 BOURBON ROSES. 
 
 Madam Desprez, large and very 
 double. 
 
 General Dubourg, do. very fra- 
 grant. 
 Hermosa, rose coloured, 
 he Brun. 
 
 Gloire de France, or Neumann. 
 Queen, rosy fawn. 
 Aristides, bright rose. 
 Marshall de Villars, purplish. 
 Gloire de Rosamond. 
 Bouquet de Flore, carmine. 
 
 NOISETTE ROSES. 
 
 Champney's cluster, blush. 
 Airaee Vibert, pure white. 
 Fellemberg, crimson. 
 Cerise, cherry coloured. 
 Conque de Venus, delicate blush. 
 Jaune Desprez, creamy blush. 
 Lamarque, pale yellow. 
 Smith's yellow, large and fragrant. 
 Grandiflora, large blush. 
 Sir Walter Scott, purple. 
 Superba, pale pink. 
 Charles the X, bright red. 
 
116 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 BENGAL ROSES. 
 
 TEA ROSES. 
 
 Louis Phillipe, deep crimson. 
 Cramoisie superieure, very rich. 
 Agrippina, beautiful. 
 Double White Daily. 
 Queen of Lombardy, cherry colour. 
 Semperflorens, or Sanguinea. 
 Roi de Cramoisies. 
 Marjolin, superb dark red. 
 Admiral de Rigny. 
 
 Odorata, or Common blush Tea. 
 
 Alba, or white Tea. 
 Caroline, fine blush. 
 
 Madam Desprez, white. 
 Bourbon white Tea. 
 Bougere, bronzed rose. 
 
 Aurora, pale straw, 
 Clara Sylvian, ^ne. 
 
 Le Pactole, lemon, yellow centre. 
 
 Nearly all the varieties of China Roses may be cultivated . 
 in the open air, with a trifling covering of straw or litter 
 over the tops in winter, to prevent their being injured by 
 sudden thawing after severe frosts. 
 
 The two flower borders h, being each more than one 
 hundred and fifty feet long, will contain a large collection 
 of flowering plants, both annuals and perennials. The 
 latter being more permanent and more showy, are to be 
 chiefly employed, but small spaces should be left at inter- 
 vals along the borders to allow the sowing of annuals, as 
 the latter bloom profusely during midsummer and autumn, 
 when comparatively few perennials are in flower. We 
 have already remarked that, in order to attain the most 
 beautiful effect from such flower borders, two rules must 
 be observed : the first is, to arrange the plants so that the 
 taller and coarser growing shall be farthest from the front 
 of the border, the smallest near the walk ; and the second, 
 that the collection should consist of a due proportion of 
 plants blooming in the different months through the whole 
 season. As to perform this, will perhaps require more 
 knowledge of the habits of herbaceous plants than many 
 of our readers possess, we give the following list for the 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 purpose of assisting them in stocking beds of this descrip- 
 tion so as to produce satisfactory results. 
 
 LIST OF PERENNIAL BORDER FLOWERS, 
 
 Arranged according to their 'period of blooming, with their 
 
 height, 
 
 FLOWERING IN APRIL. 
 
 CLASS I. 
 
 From 6 to 12 inches high. 
 
 Anemone thalictroides, pi. Double wood Anemone ; white. 
 
 Adonis verualis. Spring flower Adonis ; yellow. 
 
 Corydalis cucularia. Breeches flower ; white. 
 
 Anemone pulsaiilla. Pasque flower ; blue. 
 
 Anemone hepatica, pi. Double Hepaticas ; blue. 
 
 Viola odorata, pi. Double white and blue European violets. 
 
 Omphalodes vernxi. Blue Venus Navelwort. 
 
 Polemonium reptans. Greek Valerian ; blue. 
 
 Phlox stolonifera. Creeping Phlox ; red. 
 
 Primula veris. The Cowslip ; yellow and red. 
 
 Primula polyantha. The polyanthus ; purple. 
 
 Primula auricula. The Auricala ; purple. 
 
 Viola tricolor. Heart's Ease or Pansy ; many colours and sorts. 
 
 Viola grandiflora. Purple Pansy. 
 
 Phlox suhulata. Moss pink Phlox. 
 
 Phlox nivea. White Moss Pink. 
 
 Gentiana acaulis. Dwarf Gentian; purple. 
 
 CLASS II. 
 
 From \to2 feet high. 
 
 Phlox divaricata. Early purple Phlox. 
 
 Saxifraga crassifolia. Thick leaved Saxifrage ; lilac. 
 
118 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 Dodecatheon meadia. American Cowslip ; lilac. 
 Pulmonaria virginica. Virginian Lungwort ; purple. 
 Alyssum saxatile. Golden Basket ; yellow. 
 Trollius europeas. European Globe flower ; yellow. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 CLASS I. 
 
 From 6 io 12 inches high. 
 
 Veronica gentianoides. Gentian leaved Speedwell ; blue. 
 Jeffersonia diphylla. Two-leaved JefFersonia ; white. 
 Lysamachia nummularia. Trailing Loose-strife ; yellow. 
 Convallaria majalis. Lily of the Valley ; white. 
 Saponaria ocymoides. Basil-like Soapwort ; red. 
 Phlox pilosa. Hairy Phlox ; red. 
 Honsionia ccerulea. Blue Houstonia. 
 
 CLASS n. 
 
 From 1 to2 feet high. 
 
 Coronilla varia. Changeable Coronilla ; pink. 
 Pceonia ienuifolia. Fine-leaved Pceony ; red. 
 Corydalisformosa. Showy Corydalis ; red. 
 Veronica spicaia. Blue-spiked Speedwell. 
 Pentstemon ovaia. Oval-leaved Pentstemon ; blue. 
 Pentstemon atropurpureas. Dark purple Pentstemon. 
 Orohus niger. Dark purple Vetch. 
 Anchusa Italica. Italian Bugloss ; blue. 
 Ranunculus acris, pi. Double Buttercups ; yellow. 
 Tradescantia virginica. Blue and white Spiderwort 
 Rupinus polyphyllus. Purple Lupin. 
 Iris sibirica. Siberian Iris ; blue. 
 Lupinus Nootkaensis. Nootka Sound Lupin; blue. 
 Hesperis maironalis^ albo, pi. The Double White Rocket. 
 Phlox suaveolens. The white Phlox, or Lychnidea. 
 Phlox maculata. The purple spotted Phlox. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 119 
 
 Lupinus perennis and rivularis. Perennial Lupins ; blue. 
 Lychnis JloscucuU, pi. Double Ragged-Robin ; red. 
 Aquilegia canadensis. Wild Columbine ; scarlet. 
 
 CLASS III. 
 
 2 feet and higher. 
 
 Papaver orientalis. Oriental scarlet Poppy. 
 Iris jlorentina. Florentine Iris ; white. 
 Pceonia alhiflora. Single white Poeony. 
 Hemerocallis flam. The yellow Day-lily. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 CLASS I. 
 
 From 6 io 12 inches high. 
 
 Potentilla rosea. The Rose-coloured Potentilla. 
 Potentilla mayeana. Mayes' Potentilla ; light rose. 
 Spirea filipendula, pi. Double Pride of the Meadow ; white. 
 Cypripedium pubescens. Yellow Indian Moccasin. 
 Viscaria vulgaris, pi. White, and red Viscaria. 
 EschschoUzia californica. Golden Eschscholtzia ; yellow. 
 Lychins fulgens. Fulgent Lychins ; red. 
 Dianthus chinensis. Indian Pinks ; variegated. 
 Verbena muliifida. Cut-leaved Verbena ; purple. 
 Verbena Lamberii. Lambert's Verbena ; purple. 
 Iris Susiana. Chalcedonian Iris ; mottled. 
 
 CLASS IL 
 
 From 1 io 2 feet high. 
 
 Spirea Lobata. Siberian spirea ; red. 
 Spirea Ulmaria, pi. Double meadow sweet ; white. 
 Delphinium grandiflorum, pi. Double dark blue Larkspur. 
 Delphinium chinense, pi. Double Chinese Larkspur ; blue. 
 Dianthus hortensis. Garden Pinks ; many double sorts and colours. 
 
120 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 Caltha palusiris, pi Double Marsh Marigold ; yellow. 
 Polemonium ccRvuleum, and album. Common white and blue Greek 
 Valerian. 
 
 Campanula per sicifolia, pi. Double peach-leaved Corapanula ; white. 
 Antirhinum majus. Red and white Snap Dragons. 
 Geranium sanguineum. Bloody Geranium ; red. 
 CEnothera fruticosa. Shrubby Evening Primrose ; yellow. 
 Dianthus caryophyllus. The Carnation of many colours. 
 Campanula grandi/lora. Large blue Bellflower. 
 Clematis integrifolia. Austrian blue Clematis. 
 Asphodelus ramosus. Branching Asphodel ; white. 
 Pentsiemon speciosa. Showy Pentstemon ; blue. 
 
 CLASS III. 
 
 2 feet and higher. 
 
 Aconitum Napellus, variegaia. Purple-and-white Monk's Hood. 
 
 Aconiium Napellus. Monk's Hood ; purple. 
 
 Campanula rapunculoides. Nodding Bellflower ; blue. 
 
 Verhascum phcenecium. Purple Mullein. 
 
 Clematis erecta. Upright Clematis ; white. 
 
 Linum perenne. Perennial Flax ; blue. 
 
 Pceonia Humei. Double blush Poeony. 
 
 PcBonia fragrans. Double fragrant Poeony ; rose. 
 
 PcBonia Whitleji. Double white Poeony. 
 
 Gaillardia aristaia. Bristly Gaillardia ; yellow. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 CLASS I. 
 
 From 6 to 12 inches high. 
 
 Penistemon Richardsonii. Richardson's Pentstemon ; purple. 
 Pentstemon pubescens. Downy Pentstemon ; lilac. 
 Campanula carpatica. Carpathian Bellflower ; blue. 
 Sedum populifolium. Poplar-leaved Sedum ; white. 
 Dianthus deltoides. Mountain Pink ; red. 
 Veronica maritima. Maritime Speedwell ; blue. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 121 
 
 CLASS II. 
 
 From I to 2 feet high. 
 Pentstemon campanulatum. Bell-flowered Pentstemon ; lilac. 
 Pentstemon speciosa. Showy Pentstemon ; red. 
 Pentstemon roseum. Rose-coloured Pentstemon. 
 Monarda didyma. Lemon-scented balm ; scarlet. 
 Potentilla atrosanguinea. Dark red Potentilla. 
 Funkia Sieboldii. Lilac Funkia. 
 Coreopsis Atkinsonia. Atkinson's Coreopsis ; yellow. 
 Aquilegia glandulosa. Glandular Columbine ; striped. 
 Phlox Brownii. Brown's Phlox ; red. 
 Dictamnus Fraxinella. Purple Fraxinella. 
 Dictamnus alba. White Fraxinella. 
 Anchusa officinalis. Common Bugloss ; blue. 
 CEnothera Fraseri. Fraser's Evening Primrose ; yellow. 
 CEnothera macrocarpa. Large podded Evening Primrose ; yellow. 
 Campanula tracheliem^ pi. Double white, and blue Bell flowers. 
 Potentilla Russelliana. Russell's Cinquefoil ; red. 
 Delphinium speciosum. Showy Larkspur ; blue. 
 Campanula macrantha. Large blue Bell-flower. 
 Chelone Lyoni. Purple Chelone. 
 Chelone barbata. Bearded Chelone ; orange. 
 Dracocephalum grandi/lorum. Dragon's head ; purple. 
 
 CLASS III. 
 
 2 feet and higher. 
 
 Delphinium elatum. Bee Larkspur ; blue. 
 
 Pentstemon digitalis. Missouri Pentstemon ; white. 
 
 Hibiscus palustris. Swamp Hibiscus ; red. 
 
 Lychnis Chalcedonica. Single and double scarlet Lychnis. 
 
 Lyihrum latifolium. Perennial Pea ; purpie. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 CLASS L 
 
 From 6 to 12 inches high. 
 
 Corydalis formosa. Red Fumitory. 
 
 15 
 
122 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 Phlox carnea. Flesh coloured Phlox. 
 Lychius coronata. Chinese orange Lychnis. 
 
 CLASS II. 
 
 From \to2 feet high. 
 
 Geum Quellyon. Scarlet Geura. 
 Gaillardia aristata. Bearded Gaillardia ; yellow. 
 Phlox Alcordi. Alcord's Phlox ; purple. 
 Catananche cereulea. Blue Catananche. 
 Asclepias tuberosa. Orange Swallowort. 
 Veronica carnea. Flesh-colored Speedwell. 
 Gaillardia bicolor. Orange Gaillardia. 
 Hemerocallisjaponica. Japan day-lily ; white. 
 Dianihus superb us. Superb fringed Pink; white. 
 Lobelia cardinalis. Cardinal flower ; red. 
 Lythrum Salicaria. Willow Herb ; purple. 
 LiatTis squarrosa. Blazing Star ; blue. 
 Coreopsis temifolia. Five-leaved Coreopsis ; yellow. 
 
 CLASS III. 
 
 2 feet and higher. 
 
 Campanula pyramidalis. The pyramidal Bell-flower ; blue and white. 
 
 Yucca filamentosa. Adam's thread ; white. 
 
 Yucca Jlaccida. Flaccid Yucca ; white." 
 
 Phlox panicalata. Panicled phlox ; purple and white. 
 
 Epilobium spicatum. Purple spiked Epilobium. 
 
 Cassia Marylandica. Maryland Cassia; yellow. 
 
 SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER. 
 
 CLASS I. 
 
 From 6 ^0 12 inches high. 
 
 Achillea Ptarmica, pi. Double Milfoil ; white. 
 Aster linifolius. Fine-leaved Aster ; white. 
 Gentiana Saponaria. Soapwort Gentian ; blue. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 123 
 
 CLASS II. 
 
 From 1 to 2 feet high. 
 
 Coreopsis grandijlora. Large yellow Coreopsis. 
 Eupatorium ccelestinum. Azure blue Eupatorium. 
 Phlox Wheeleriana. Wheeler's Phlox ; red. 
 
 CLASS m. 
 
 2 feet and higher. 
 
 Aster macrophyllas. Broad-leaved Aster ; white. 
 Eupatorium aromaticum. Fragrant Eupatorium ; white. 
 Liaius elegans. Elegant Blazing Star ; purple. 
 Liatris spicaia and scariosa. Blue Blazing Stars. 
 Aster novcB-anglicc. New-England Aster ; purple. 
 Echtnops ritro. Globe thistle ; blue. 
 
 Chrysanthemum indicum. Artemesias, many sorts and colors. 
 
124 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 DESIGN VI. 
 
 An irregular villa in the Italian style., BracTcetted. 
 
 This design shows a villa in the Italian style of mode- 
 rate size. It is highly irregular, and while it will, on ac- 
 count of the greater picturesqueness and variety growing 
 out of this circumstance, be much more pleasing to a por- 
 tion of our readers, a great number of persons, who only 
 judge of a dwelling-house by a common-sense standard, 
 will probably prefer a more regular and uniform building, 
 like one of the previous designs. The latter class will find 
 no good reason for any extra cost incurred in creating an 
 irregular villa like this, as a more regular one would afford 
 the same comfort and convenience ; but persons who have 
 cultivated a architectural taste, and who relish the higher 
 beauties of the art growing out of variety, will give a great 
 preference to a design capable of awakening more strongly 
 emotions of the beautiful, or picturesque, as well as the 
 useful, or convenient. We might illustrate the natural 
 progress in taste in the fine arts, which all persons make, 
 and their relative capacity of enjoying different degrees of 
 art, by a familiar example drawn from music. Most per- 
 sons, having an ear for music, but who have never culti- 
 vated a taste for it, will be found greatly to prefer simple 
 airs, because the simple rythm of melody is distinct and 
 easily understood ; the more intricate beauties of harmony 
 abounding in fine musical compositions, are only intensely 
 
D E S I G N VI. 
 
 L VILLA IN THE ITALIAN STYLE, BRACKETED, 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 125 
 
 felt and enjoyed when our perceptions are enlarged and 
 heightened by education. 
 
 The Italian mode is capable of displaying a rich do- 
 mestic character in its balconies, verandas, ornamental 
 porches, terraces, etc. The square tower, or campanile, is 
 a prominent feature in villas in this style, and frequently 
 confers on the Italian compositions a character of great 
 boldness and dignity. The projecting roof, and the round- 
 arched window, are also characteristic features. 
 
 The present design is intended for a situation where it 
 is desired to preserve the whole of the fine view from the 
 windows of the drawing-room unobstructed, and the en- 
 trance front is accordingly made on the adjoining side. 
 After reaching the porch, see Fig. 49, we enter the vesti- 
 bule which occupies the lower floor of the tower, and from 
 thence the hall, leading through the building and termi- 
 nating in a back porch of one story in height. Adjoining 
 the latter is a closet for stores. 
 
 On the left of this hall is an elegant drawing-room, 20 
 by 24 feet, connected with a library 20 by 16 feet. At 
 either extremity of these rooms is a handsome projecting 
 window in the Italian mode, giving an air of dignity to the 
 apartments, and in front are three casement windows 
 opening to the floor of the veranda, both for the purpose 
 of allowing an uninterrupted view, and afibrding easy 
 communication. 
 
 On the right of the hall is the dining-room, 20 by 16 
 feet. A pantry or store-room, 8 by 10 feet, opens into 
 this room. In front is a pretty little terrace, ornamented 
 with a few vases of terra cotta, or artificial stone.* 
 
 * Handsome vases for this purpose may be obtained at Gibson's Warehouse, Pearl- 
 street, or at the Salamander Works, Cannon-street, New- York. 
 
1 
 
 26 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 ROOF 
 
 / 
 
 
 
 CHAMBER FLOOR 
 
 [Fig. 50.] 
 
 The chamber floor of this design shows three bedrooms, 
 20 by 16 feet, each with a pleasant balcony at one of its 
 windows ; and two smaller bedrooms. In the attic story 
 are three bedrooms for servants, lighted by the windows 
 shown in the gables. From the attic a small staircase 
 leads through the half story (with square windows,) to the 
 upper story of the campanile or tower, whence an extensive 
 prospect of the country for many miles round is enjoyed. 
 
 The kitchen of this villa is placed beneath the dining- 
 room ; and ample cellerage, wine, and store-rooms, are 
 obtained under the main body of the house, at the other 
 side of the hall. 
 
 The fanciful and convenient window shades, or cano- 
 pies, occasionally employed in this style, may be made of 
 canvass supported by a light iron frame, or of light wood 
 painted to resemble an awning. Handsome striped Italian 
 canvass, for this purpose, may now be had in New- York. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 127 
 
 A building in this style will be greatly heightened in 
 effect by being well supported by trees, the irregular 
 forms of which will harmonize with the character of the 
 architecture. A Lombardy poplar or two, judiciously in- 
 troduced in the midst of groups of round-headed trees, will 
 have a happy effect. The beautiful wooded situations on 
 the banks of our fine rivers are, many of them, admirably 
 suited for an Italian villa of this kind. 
 
 Construction, We have supposed this villa to be built 
 of wood, the bracketted construction giving it a character 
 of lightness, but the effect would be even better if built 
 of more solid materials, and brick-and-stucco well con- 
 structed would be very 
 durable under the shelter 
 of the broadly projecting 
 roof. The forms of brack- 
 ets given in Fig. 44, of our 
 last design, are equally 
 suitable here, d, being the 
 bracket for the eaves in 
 front. A portion of the 
 veranda is shown in Fig. 
 [Fig. 51.] ^ 51. In this, the upright 
 
 columns enclosing the lattice are supposed to be octagonal, 
 and four inches in diameter, the lattice itself being much 
 heavier and more durable than it is usually made. Its 
 ceiling is made of beaded and planed stuff forming also 
 the roof, and the rafters are in like manner beaded and 
 plainly shown. The chimney tops of the main building 
 should come out at the ridge of the roof, which will be 
 effected by drawing over the stacks in the garret. The 
 
128 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 roof should project at least three feet on every side. The 
 principal story should be 13 feet high in the clear and the 
 chamber story 10 feet. 
 
 Estimate. The cost of this villa, handsomely finished, 
 will be about $6800. 
 
 LAYING OUT THE GROUNDS. 
 
 The grounds attached to this villa, are supposed to be 
 about one hundred and fifty acres in extent, and we have 
 therefore been able to represent in the annexed engraving. 
 Fig. 52, only a small part containing the house, and the 
 more ornamental portion bordering the river. The house 
 is situated on a plateau elevated about 80 feet above the 
 river, and the ground falls off somewhat rapidly from this 
 level along the river bank and in the direction indicated 
 by the waved lines a. 
 
 The approach Z>, leads to the house c, in gently curved 
 lines, and from thence to the stable, and other outbuild- 
 ings d. There is a large orchard, a small part of which is 
 seen at e, the kitchen garden is located at /, and at ^ is a 
 bathing house, on the river bank. 
 
 This place, like a great many in this country of its cha- 
 racter, we will suppose to possess a richly wooded, hanging 
 bank on its river side. This will afford us a fine opportu- 
 nity to create a most agreeable series of walks i. These 
 walks may be conducted in easy directions, through the 
 wood, and along the bank, occasionally intersecting each 
 other. They may often approach each other very near 
 without being visible one from the other, in consequence 
 of the thickness of the foliage in some places, or the irre- 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 129 
 
 [Fig. 52.] 
 
 gularity of the surface in others. They will be full of va- 
 riety — now leading to a point where a lovely view sud- 
 denly bursts upon us, and again plunging into a secluded 
 portion, where the dense foliage of evergreens shuts out 
 all other objects, and give a quiet and secluded charac- 
 
 16 
 
130 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 ter to the scene. 
 Rustic seats, Fig. 
 53, placed here 
 and there in the 
 most inviting spots, 
 [Fig. 53.] will both heighten 
 
 the charm, and enable us to enjoy at leisure the quiet beau- 
 ty around. A very great advantage which walks made in 
 such a situation have, is, the trifling care and expense ne- 
 cessary to preserve them in order. But few weeds grow 
 in the shade of large forest trees, and the character of the 
 place renders it unnecessary that the walks should have a 
 very trim and neat appearance. The repose, the variety, 
 and the beauty of a series of walks of this kind in several 
 places that we could name, created with very trifling 
 trouble, render them, in our opinion, far more delightful 
 than twice the same distance of walks in a common level 
 flower garden. 
 
 These walks commence at the veranda at A, and form 
 a connected promenade terminating at the other end of the 
 veranda at h Near the house, in the space commanded 
 by the drawing-room and library windows, are some bor- 
 ders of handsome flowering plants I, At least the oval 
 area of lawn m, and the space between the porch and 
 where the ground descends at a, should be kept constantly 
 mown, and in the highest order, so as to heighten, and ren- 
 der more forcible by contrast, the wilder and more pic- 
 turesque beauty of the sylvan walks L 
 
 A turfed area for bleaching and drying clothes is set 
 apart and concealed by shrubbery at n. 
 
 When a situation like this is selected for a villa resi- 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 131 
 
 dence, with a bank richly clothed by a natural growth of 
 forest trees, and with, perhaps, scattered groups of large 
 trees here and there elsewhere, the art of the improver 
 should lie in harmonising all his improvements with the 
 main features of the place already existing. Almost every 
 place of this kind has a natural character of dignity, or 
 picturesqueness, derived from the rich banks of wood, the 
 noble river, and the finely undulating surface, which must 
 be kept in view in all embellishments. The trees which 
 are planted in the larger breadths of lawn should be elms, 
 oaks, horse-chestnuts, and maples, or other species of large 
 growth, so that they may correspond in expression, when 
 somewhat grown, with those already existing. No formal 
 avenues, or straight lines, should be planted, to raise a 
 discordant expression when viewed in the same coup d'ceil 
 with the existing groups and masses of fohage ; and the 
 larger breadths of lawn at a distance from the windows of 
 the house, should not be broken up by any frippery walks 
 or parterres which might detract from the breadth and 
 simplicity of the scene. In a place where there is a cha- 
 racter of dignity and simplicity arising from extensive 
 prospect, large and lofty trees, and considerable breadth 
 of lawn, we should be extremely cautious about introdu- 
 cing too much of the little details of flower garden or 
 shrubbery ornaments in the fore-ground, lest they should 
 degrade or weaken the original and higher character of the 
 scene. We should rather place the latter in a more se- 
 cluded spot, where they will form objects of beauty to be 
 considered entirely by themselves, and not in connection 
 with other objects. For this reason it will be seen that we 
 have in this plan and a previous one, confined the flower- 
 
132 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 ing plants to three or four beds cut in the turf near the 
 drawing-room windows of the house. 
 
 The orchard and fruit garden. A small portion of the 
 orchard appears on the plan, but as we have supposed, 
 a place of this size to have a large and well stocked or- 
 chard and fruit garden, we shall here give a list of supe- 
 rior fruits, which having been tested, are known to be of 
 first-rate excellence in the climate of the Middle States. 
 A fine orchard and fruit garden, producing an abundant 
 supply of fruit at all seasons, is one of the greatest sources 
 of enjoyment in a country life ; and when we consider how 
 easily good fruit is generally obtained in this country, 
 without the aid of walls or any thing more than a mode- 
 rate degree of attention, it would certainly appear a matter 
 of just reproach, wherever there is sufficient room, not to 
 have a first rate collection of fruit. 
 
 Horticulture, but more especially pomology — that branch 
 of it devoted to fruits — has received so much attention both 
 in Europe and at home, that within the last 20 years the 
 number of delicious fruits capable of being raised in the 
 open air has been more than trebled. The Pear, espe- 
 cially, has been greatly improved and ameliorated, and has 
 indeed taken the first rank among dessert fruits, in consi- 
 deration of the variety in flavour, time of ripening, dura- 
 tion and beauty of the numerous sorts. The late autumn 
 and winter varieties are a very valuable acquisition to our 
 dessert at these seasons. Added to this, many of the 
 new sorts come into fruit at one half or one fourth the age 
 necessary to the bearing of the older kinds. 
 
 Where a variety of soils occur, as is frequently the case 
 in a large orchard, it is well to know those peculiarly 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 133 
 
 adapted to each fruit tree. Apples are found to thrive 
 best in a strong deep loam, if stony it is preferable ; pears 
 and cherries, in a mellow, gravelly loam : plums in a strong 
 clayey loam, and peaches in a light sandy loam. Apples 
 may be planted in an orchard at from 30 to 45 feet apart ; 
 cherries and pears, from 25 to 30 feet; peaches and 
 plums, from 20 to 25 feet. In transplanting all fruit trees 
 be mindful not to commit the common error of setting 
 them too deei^, 
 
 LIST OF THE FINEST VARIETIES OF FRUIT. 
 
 For the Orchard and Fruit Garden, 
 
 CHEERIES. 
 
 PLUMS. 
 
 Early White Heart. 
 
 Early Scarlet, or Cherry Plum, 
 
 Knight's Early Black, fruit large 
 
 very early. 
 
 and fine. 
 
 Morocco, early. 
 
 Mayduke,j/?ne for the table and 
 
 Apricot, do. 
 
 for cooking. 
 
 Green Gage. 
 
 Black Tartarian, large and of fine 
 
 Imperial, or Flushing Gage, a fine 
 
 quality. 
 
 and productive sort. 
 
 Black Eagle. 
 
 Coe's Golden Drop, handsome, 
 
 Bigarreau, or Graffion, large and 
 
 very late and excellent. 
 
 delicious. 
 
 Coe's late Red,^7ze and productive. 
 
 Napoleon Bigarrieu, white and 
 
 Bleeker's Gage. 
 
 blush, fine. 
 
 Jefferson, yellow, large and fine. 
 
 Downton. 
 
 Bleeker's Scarlet. 
 
 Downer's Red, late and delicious. 
 
 La Royal, delicious. 
 
 Holland Biggarreau. 
 
 Orleans. 
 
 Carnation, valuable for preserving. 
 
 Nectarine. 
 
 Transparent. 
 
 Washington, excellent. 
 
 Belle de Choisey, fin£. 
 
 Huling's Superb, large. 
 
 Elton, handsome and fine. 
 
 Magnum bonum, or Egg Plum, 
 
 Late Duke. 
 
 for preserving. 
 
 Morella. 
 
 Emerald Drop, 
 
134 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 Smith's Orleans. 
 Violet Imperatrice. 
 German Prune. 
 Purple Gage. 
 
 Autumn Gage, late and fine. 
 Lucombe's Nonsuch. 
 Late Damson. 
 
 PEACHES. 
 
 ■Early White and Early Red. 
 Nutmeg. 
 
 Early Royal George. 
 George the IV., very fine. 
 Morris White Rareripe. 
 Red Rareripe. 
 Yellow Rareripe, delicious. 
 Snow Peach, handsome. 
 Red cheek Malecaton. 
 Brevoort's Morris, ^ne. 
 Columbia. 
 Kenrick's Heath. 
 Lemon Cling. 
 Large White Cling. 
 Early Newington. 
 Large Early York. 
 President. 
 White Imperial. 
 
 APRICOTS. 
 
 Moorpark, one of the very best sorts. 
 Large Early, excellent. 
 Turkey, sure bearer. 
 Breda. 
 
 PEAKS. 
 
 1. Early varieties. 
 Madeleine, early and good. 
 Bloodgood's Early, excellent. 
 Dearborn's Seedling. 
 Muscadine, good and abundant 
 
 bearer. 
 
 Bartlett, or Williams' Bonchretein, 
 large and delicious. 
 
 2. Medium period. 
 St. Ghislain, delicious. 
 Seeks], first quality. 
 
 *St. Michael, or Virgalien. 
 Belle et Bonne. 
 Golden Beuree of Bilboa. 
 *Brown do. 
 
 *Gansers Bergamot, excellent. 
 Capiumont, fine and productive. 
 Frederick of Wurtemberg, hand- 
 some. 
 Henry the IV. 
 Louise Bonne of Jersey. 
 Marie Louise, delicious. 
 Napoleon, y^icy and pleasant. 
 Urbaniste, excellent. 
 Beuree Bosc. 
 Dix. 
 
 Compte de Lamay, excellent. 
 Thompson's. 
 Bezi de la Motte. 
 Beuree d'Amalis. 
 
 3. Late varieties from Nov. to May. 
 Beuree Diel, large and good. 
 
 * These sorts, although fine in the interior, do not succeed so well near the sea- 
 coast. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 135 
 
 Dutchess d'Angouleme, large and 
 
 very fine. 
 Passe Colmar. 
 Glout Morceaux. 
 Beuree Easter. 
 
 do. d'Areraberg, very fine. 
 
 do. Rans. 
 Lewis. 
 
 *St. Germain, an old hut valuable 
 sort. 
 
 Surpasse Virgalieu. 
 Columbian. 
 Wilkinson. 
 Winter Nelis. 
 
 NECTAEINES. 
 
 Early Violet, good and productive. 
 
 Perkin's Seedling. 
 
 Red Roman. 
 
 Scarlet, very handsome. 
 
 APPLES. 
 
 Many of the best winter varieties 
 are enumerated at page 98 ; the fol- 
 lowing are choice dessert fruits. 
 
 Red Astrachan, a very beautiful and 
 
 early sort. 
 Yellow Harvest, large and excellent. 
 Strawberry Apple. 
 Early Red Margaret, a fine sort. 
 Sine qua non. 
 
 William's Favorite, beautiful. 
 Downton, an English golden pippin. 
 Lady Apple, beautiful dessert fruit. 
 Jonathan, tender flesh and excellent. 
 Ladies' Sweeting, j'lTie. 
 Ross Nonpareil, high flavor. 
 Esopus Spitzenburgh. 
 Green Newtown Pippin. 
 Yellow Bellflower, handsome and 
 
 good. 
 Scarlet Pearmain. 
 Baldwin, excellent. 
 Porter. 
 Fameuse. 
 
 Sops of Wine, early and handsome. 
 Hawthorndon. 
 
 Rhode Island Greening, excellent. 
 Fall Pippin. 
 
 In addition to these, we would recommend some of the 
 smaller fruits of choice varieties. The Isabella and Cataw- 
 ba grapes, and some of the hardier foreign sorts, as the 
 Black Hamburgh, Chapelas, Black Cluster and White Mus- 
 cadine ; the large Red and the White Antwerp, Raspberries ; 
 the Early or Grove Scarlet, Hovey's Hudson, and Ross' 
 Phoenix Strawberries ; the frizzled, and prolific English 
 
 * These sorts, although fine in the interior, do not succeed so well near the sea- 
 coast. 
 
136 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 Filberts, and the large White and Red Dutch Currants, 
 may all be named as indispensable in every fruit garden. 
 
 In the cultivation of fruits but little difficulty will be 
 experienced if a keen watch is kept on insects, destroying 
 every appearance of a nest, brood, or swarm, as soon as it 
 makes its appearance. One man may often do more to 
 subdue and exterminate a troublesome insect in an hour 
 or two, when it first appears, than a host of men would 
 after it has had time to multiply, as it often will in a week 
 by thousands and tens of thousands. 
 
 In the case of the peach tree, examine the trees at the 
 root every spring and autumn, and take out the peach 
 worm, before it girdles the tree, with your knife ; and de- 
 stroy every sickly looking tree, especially every old one, 
 on your premises the moment it becomes fairly diseased — 
 the Yellows, to which this fruit tree is liable, being a conta- 
 gious disease, spreading from tree to tree, so that it is quite 
 needless to plant healthy young trees where old ones are 
 suffered to stand in their neighborhood. This fact alone 
 when understood is sufficient to solve all the apparent 
 difficulties in cultivating this fruit of late years. 
 
 The Tcnots, to which the Plum is liable in some districts, 
 are caused by an insect, and the limbs infected with them 
 should be cut off and burned early in the spring. If the 
 fruit fall from the tree prematurely, it is probably caused 
 by the sting of the curculio, and the remedy lies in de- 
 stroying all the curculio for the next season by gathering 
 the fruit as soon as it falls, (which contains the lavrae,) 
 and throwing it into the hog-pen ; or in planting your 
 stone fruits in an enclosure by themselves, and letting the 
 swine run in it during the season when the green fruit is 
 falling- 
 
D ES I G N V I I. 
 
 AN IRREGULAR COTTAGE IN THE OLD ENGLISH STYLE. 
 
 Fig. 56. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 137 
 
 DESIGN VII. 
 
 An irregular cottage^ in the old English style. 
 
 The situation for this cottage may be in a richly wooded 
 plain, or a sequestered valley. It belongs to that class of 
 richly decorated, rural Gothic edifices, abounding in carved 
 verge boards and pendants, clustered chimney tops, and 
 irregular outlines. There is something of grotesqueness, 
 or at least fantastic richness in its details — something indi- 
 cating a certain license of architectural imagination, not 
 to be precisely measured by the standard of the rule and 
 square, or the strictly utilitarian view. Now a cottage of 
 this class must not, in any case, be erected on a bare plain, 
 or even one comparatively so, as in such a place all its pic- 
 turesqueness would seem out of keeping — unmeaning — 
 and absurd. But let it be partially hidden, or half con- 
 cealed by clustering foliage, and assimilated, as it were, 
 with nature, by the interlacing and entwining branches 
 and boughs around it, and of which its ornaments are in 
 some degree a repetition, and we shall feel it to be in per- 
 fect unison with its situation. Whoever has seen one of 
 these cottages, with its rich gables breaking out from among 
 the intricacy of tall stems, and shadowy foliage, will 
 readily confess that he has rarely beheld any thing more 
 harmonious and delightful, than the charming effect thereby 
 produced. 
 
 Some one has truly remarked that the architecture of 
 
 17 
 
138 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 our dwellings is most appropriate, when it embodies and 
 breathes forth a liome expression; a character to which we 
 think the rural Gothic, with its quaint, independent, com- 
 fortable, and extended air, seems fully to lay claim. 
 
 In arranging the plan of the interior of this cottage. Fig. 
 56, we have had convenience, as well as elegance, in our 
 mind. The neat porch which shelters the front door, is 
 provided with suitable seats on either side, which should be 
 made to correspond with the architecture. On opening 
 this door we find ourselves in the vestibule, or entrance- 
 hall. This we shall suppose fitted up with a dado or base, 
 three and a half feet high, of wood grained in imitation of 
 oak or black walnut, and the walls painted of some grave 
 color, to give greater effect to the rooms. The vestibule 
 opens on the left into a pleasant little room, 12 by 18 feet, 
 which may be devoted to a study, or library, and neatly 
 fitted up with book-cases. In building, it wdll be found 
 that recesses may be left in the walls for these book-cases, 
 so that they will occupy but little space in the apartment. 
 On the opposite side of the hall is the living or dining-room, 
 17 by 18 feet. This room is lighted by one of the large, 
 square, mullioned windows, so common in the old English 
 houses, which should be finished on the inside with a 
 window-seat. A china closet is made on the right of the 
 chimney breast in this room, and on the other side of the 
 hall are a pantry and a store-room, of good size, very con- 
 veniently disposed. 
 
 The dining-room communicates with the parlour or 
 drawing-room on its right. This drawing-room is, of 
 course, the finest room in size, aspect, and proportion, in 
 the house, being 22 by 19 feet, with a fine semi- 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 139 
 
 hexagon bay, which, projecting boldly, will give three dis- 
 tinct views to a person standing within it. We would 
 have the ceilings of this and the dining-room ribbed, and 
 perhaps slightly arched, in the form of two inclined 
 planes, rising 8 or 10 inches from the side walls, to the 
 highest part of the ceiling. The wood-work of the whole 
 of this story should be finished simply and consistently, 
 that is, with suitable Gothic mouldings, and the whole 
 should be painted and grained in imitation of oak, or of 
 black walnut. The effect of the rooms will be still more 
 pleasing, if the walls are colored some harmonious neutral 
 tint.* The furniture should be in strict character with 
 the style of the house, which may be easily attained, 
 without any additional expense, by choosing simple and 
 suitable forms. 
 
 At the end of the hall leading to the drawing-room, is a 
 bedroom, 19 by 13 feet, with a closet. This would make 
 a convenient bedroom for the master and mistress of the 
 house. Adjoining it is a dressing-room, which, if neatly 
 and tastefully fitted up with every thing appertaining to a 
 lady's toilet, will give this bedroom a highly comfortable 
 and refined air. 
 
 The staircase is placed at the other extrernity of this 
 hall, and it may be made more private Or secluded, if it 
 is thought desirable, by an oaken screen of open wood- 
 
 * We take pleasure in recommending to those who wish to fit up the interior of a 
 cottage or villa beautifully, Mr. George Piatt, decorative artist, 12 Spruce-street, New- 
 York. The great variety of ornaments in the different styles, to be found at his 
 warehouse, and the correct taste and skill with wliich they are applied by him to 
 the decoration of apartments, fully entitle him to the ample patronage which he 
 now receives. 
 
140 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 work. Under this staircase is constructed a descending 
 flight leading to the cellar. 
 
 On the sides of the passage leading from the hall to 
 the kitchen, are the pantry, the larder, and the store-room. 
 By placing these most useful and convenient appendages 
 in this position, we not only make them at once easily 
 accessible from the kitchen or the dining-room, but we 
 also remove the kitchen, with its concomitant noises and 
 odours, at some distance from the main hall, and these may 
 be still further lessened in effect, by having a door at both 
 ends of this passage, to be shut when required. 
 
 The kitchen itself is 16 feet square ; it is amply lighted 
 and ventilated, and communicates directly with the open 
 air, by the passage at the further side. In this passage is 
 a servant's staircase, communicating with the apartments 
 in the chamber story. 
 
 The chamber story contains abundant accommodation 
 
 [Fig. 57.] 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 141 
 
 for a cottage. There are three handsome bedrooms, and 
 two of a smaller size. That over the drawing-room being 
 the largest, and the most beautiful in form, may be kept 
 as the " state bedroom," being fitted up with all the appli- 
 ances of comfort in its furniture and fixtures. The little 
 room over the porch will make a delightful room for a 
 bachelor, or if one of the young ladies takes a fancy to it, 
 it will make a little hijou of a boudoir, the oriel window 
 giving a character of novelty and beauty to the whole 
 apartment. On the second floor of the kitchen wing are a 
 bath-room, near the main hall, (which may be supplied with 
 hot water by pipes leading to a boiler in the kitchen below,) 
 and three servants' bedrooms. There is is also a water- 
 closet at the end of the passage in this wing, the discharge 
 pipe from which is concealed in the partition, in a closed 
 trunk or chamber. 
 
 This class of dwellings, abroad, is frequently covered 
 with thatch, which has a pleasing, rustic effect. But our 
 snowy and changeable climate will soon destroy so frail a 
 material, and it is therefore unfit for covering the roofs of 
 buildings for habitation. Our best shingles, however, afford 
 an excellent material for covering roofs, and if those of good 
 size and thickness are chosen, and shaped as we have 
 directed in a former page, they will have a picturesque and 
 agreeable effect, and make a very durable roof, when 
 painted with the cheap, coarse paint, now so generally used 
 for this purpose. The roof of this cottage should be ex- 
 tended boldly, say two to three feet, to give force and ex- 
 pression to the exterior, and to protect the walls fully. The 
 ends of the rafters are projected, so as to appear as visible 
 supports at the eaves. A verge board is shown on a 
 
142 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 [Fig. 58.] 
 
 larger scale in Fig. 58. This would be suitable for the 
 porch gable, and the others may be made simpler and still 
 bolder, with good effect. The chimney-tops should be 
 characteristically made of ornamental moulded bricks, or 
 shafts may be selected of pretty patterns, in cut stone. 
 Although the partitions in which the dining-room and study 
 flues are carried up, are not in the centre, it will be easy 
 to draw over these stacks in the garret, so as to bring 
 them out at the ridge or 
 apex of the roof, which 
 will have the best effect. 
 A plan of the bay win- 
 dow is shown in Fig. 59, 
 in which the inside shut- 
 ters'fold into boxes on each 
 side. 
 
 COTTAGE BAY WINDOW 
 
 [Fig. 59.] 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 143 
 
 In a country where good bricks are abundant, and 
 easily obtained, we should prefer to build this cottage of 
 good smooth brick. The raw and disagreeable colour of 
 new brick we would destroy, by painting it three good 
 coats in oil, of some one of the neutral shades given 
 in a previous illustration, perhaps that one designated f. 
 By building it of brick, in the best manner, we should not 
 only have solid enduring walls, but, to those familiar with 
 English cottage architecture, it would have an agreeable 
 effect, by creating an allusion to the same material chiefly 
 employed in that country. 
 
 All the exterior wood- work in this cottage, (except the 
 roof,) we would either make of real oak, and oil it, when 
 it would assume a warm rich tone of colour by the effects 
 of time, or we would paint and grain it in imitation of oak. 
 If either of these modes should be considered too expen- 
 sive, it may be plainly painted the same colour as the 
 house, or a few shades darker. 
 
 Should the execution of such a design as this fall into 
 the hands of an ordinary country carpenter, without suit- 
 able working drawings from an architect, the probability 
 is that he would destroy its beauty and character, by re- 
 ducing all its characteristic features to the most meagre 
 level, until all the boldness and spirit of the style would 
 be lost. He will cut the gable ornaments out of thin 
 boards, make the mulhons of the windows of slender tim- 
 ber, reduce the projection of the roof, and the irregularity 
 of the ground plan. If the amateur builder is so unfortu- 
 nate as to fall into the hands of such a person, he will be 
 very likely to get the emaciated shadow of the rural Gothic 
 cottage, not its bold, picturesque and striking reality. We 
 
144 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 mention this to put our reader, whose taste may lead him 
 to build a cottage in this style, on his guard ; and we ad- 
 vise him, as in the end the most economical, and most 
 satisfactory mode, to employ a competent builder, and to 
 procure accurate working drawings from an architect of 
 abihty before he commences. 
 
 Estimate. The cost of this cottage, built in the manner 
 we have here suggested, would be about $7600. 
 
 THE GROUNDS OF THIS RESIDENCE. 
 
 In designing this cottage w^e have had in view a quiet, 
 sequestered situation in a long valle}^, or rather dale, in 
 which there are ten or twelve acres of nearly level land, 
 pretty well clothed with a natural growth of forest trees, 
 and backed on either side by wooded hills fifty or eighty 
 feet above the level of the dale. 
 
 There is an entrance lodge at the point where the ap- 
 proach diverges from the main road Fig. 60, which is 
 to be built in the same style as the cottage, but in a more 
 simple and rustic manner. From this point the approach 
 leads by a graceful curve to the house c, and from thence 
 to the stable and other farm buildings having a gravel- 
 led sweep for turning carriages in front of the porch, and 
 another for discharging articles from a cart at the kitchen 
 door e. 
 
 In its original state the whole of the surface of this dale, 
 from / to gj is thickly covered with wood. This we pro- 
 pose to thin out and render an ornamental and interesting 
 part of the place, by leading through it the series of walks 
 marked i in the plan. These walks would be cool and 
 
146 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 shady in summer, and would have a delightful, sylvan 
 character at all seasons. In thinning out a natural wood 
 on a place like this a good deal of care and judgment is 
 necessary to obtain a pleasing effect, and preserve the best 
 trees in good condition.* Were we to go into the wood 
 and thin out the trees here and there, so as to leave the 
 finest specimens standing singly, the probability is that 
 these trees, thus suddenly losing the support of their fel- 
 lows that had grown up in close contact with them on 
 every side, would be blown down and destroyed by the 
 first severe autumnal gale accompanied with rain. Good 
 judgment, as well as good taste, will rather dictate that we 
 should thin them out in masses here and there, leaving 
 pretty open glades A, at intervals, which being soon covered 
 with a fine green turf, and catching the gleams of sunlight, 
 will be a charming contrast to the groups and thickets 
 around. The trees thus left in groups and masses, will 
 afford each other protection and support against the wind, 
 and w^ill gradually strengthen and expand in their roots 
 and heads, until they become luxuriant and spreading. 
 We should bear in mind also, not to trim off the lower 
 branches of such trees, unless they are dead or unsightly ; 
 as they will probably never be replaced, and the highest 
 beauty of a tree as an ornamental object, consists in its 
 being park-like^ that is, luxuriantly feathered with foliage 
 quite down to the ground. 
 
 These walks, after traversing the little wood, lead to the 
 summit of the hill where a rustic arbor Jc, serves as a rest- 
 
 * Always lay bare the roots, and dig or cut out the tree below the surface of the 
 soil. Tills will leave the ground clear, and not covered by straggling stumps, which 
 it is afterward more difficult to extricate tlian to cut the whole tree out properly. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 147 
 
 ing place, and affords a pleasant view. On the supposi- 
 tion that the surface on the right of the walk i, (where it 
 first leaves the house,) is open, or clothed with a few scat- 
 tered trees, we will introduce a rich belt, m, of flowering 
 shrubs on the side of this walk. This belt will be a plea- 
 sant contrast, in its lively show of blossoms, to the graver 
 character of the forest trees, and it will serve the import- 
 ant purpose of concealing this walk from a person coming 
 up the approach, and vice versa; a circumstance which 
 should never be lost sight of in places of moderate size, 
 where it is always desirable to increase their apparent 
 dimensions. 
 
 On the line of this approach, as there were not trees in 
 sufficient abundance to give it a wooded appearance, we 
 should plant some fine maples, elms, and sycamores, and 
 near the house, some European larches, Scotch elms, and 
 other exotic trees. As the trees already clothing the place 
 are large, and as all newly planted trees will therefore be 
 likely to look somewhat insignificant for a few years, we 
 should be careful to 'prepare the soil thoroughly, as previ- 
 ously described, before planting them. This will not only 
 cause them to grow much more vigorously, but it will give 
 them almost at once a luxuriant appearance, which goes 
 very far to lessen the apparent disparity between a large 
 tree, and a small one ; as we never despair of that which 
 we see making rapid advances. 
 
 A regular, symmetrical flower garden is only in good 
 keeping with a Grecian, Italian or other highly architec- 
 tural building. For a cottage of a highly rural air, like the 
 present, something is required of a less formal character, 
 and which shall leave a little more room for the exercise 
 
148 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 of the fancy. Such an irregular flower garden we have 
 designated (on a very small scale) on the right of the 
 house, which is looked into from the drawing-room win- 
 dows. It will be seen that the beds are irregular, and 
 that the whole garden is surrounded by an irregular plan- 
 tation of small ornamental trees and flowering shrubs.* 
 The beds may be surrounded by turf kept neatly mown, 
 or by gravel ; or a gravel walk may be led through the 
 centre of the space between the beds, and a border of turf 
 left on either side wide enough for walking upon. The 
 latter will perhaps be the preferable mode, as in damp 
 weather the hard, firm gravel will be preferred, and in 
 warm sunny days the soft turf will be more agreeable to 
 the tread. 
 
 The kitchen garden o, is placed in the rear of the house, 
 in a sheltered position between the rising ground on either 
 side. From the barn and stables a lane leads to the 
 farm land in grass and tillage beyond, which has a sepa- 
 rate back entrance leading into the public road. 
 
 When a place like this occurs, as it occasionally does, 
 in the midst of a more cultivated and less wooded neigh- 
 borhood, it will be a delightful surprise, with its high- 
 ly picturesque air, to a stranger entering it for the first 
 time. It will be a much easier place to render effective 
 than a level plain with few trees, if we carefully study 
 the natural expression of the scene and only attempt to 
 heighten, not to alter it by our improvements. In the 
 wooded walk, which is the principal feature of interest in 
 this place, there will doubtless be many beautiful wild 
 
 * A larger plan of a flower garden of this description may be found in our Trea- 
 tise on Landscape Gardening. 
 
A SMALL OK GATE LODCrK 
 
 Fig. 6:2, 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 149 
 
 plants growing naturally. These we should by all means 
 foster, and we may increase their charm by collecting 
 from other and richer localities all the ornamental, indi- 
 genous plants which may be made to thrive in such a 
 situation. 
 
 A cottage in the same style, suitable for a gate lodge for this 
 residence, or for a small family. 
 
 In the opposite illustration, Fig. 61, we have indicated 
 a very simple cottage in the same style as Design VII., 
 which would be well adapted for a lodge at the entrance 
 gate b. In this situation it would probably be occupied 
 by the gardener, the farmer, or some family in the em- 
 ployment of the proprietor of this residence. When a 
 stranger entered the place, this cottage would of course 
 first arrest his attention, and with its old English, and 
 pretty, rural expression, would serve as a prelude or agree- 
 able preparation for the more varied and extensive cottage 
 of the owner of the demesne. 
 
 It would otherwise make a neat and picturesque dwell- 
 ing, if properly located, for a small, respectable family, who 
 wish to lead a quiet and simple life. Although its accom- 
 modation is limited, yet it may be made to assume an air 
 of taste and neatness, always agreeable to the mind, and 
 often more striking in its effect, when met with in perfec- 
 tion in a charming little cottage, than in a stately mansion. 
 
 An examination of the plans of the interior, Figs. 62 
 and 63, will show the arrangement of the rooms. There 
 is a parlour or living room, lighted by two windows, one of 
 them a bay window, and adjoining it a pantry, a bedroom. 
 
150 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 and kitchen on the first floor. On the second floor are 
 two bedrooms, a large closet or wardrobe, and a smaller 
 closet for linen. The kitchen is a wing added in the rear, 
 with a gable and roof joining the main roof in a similar 
 manner to that over the porch in the view of the front. 
 The construction of this cottage is so similar to that of the 
 Design VII. just described, that we need not repeat the 
 details. 
 
 Much of the pleasing effect of the most ornamental 
 English cottages of this kind, arises from the employment 
 of vines and other climbing plants of different sorts, which 
 growing over and partly concealing portions of the exte- 
 rior, render them, rich with blossoms, verdure, and fra- 
 grance, perfect wonders of rural beauty. For this pur- 
 pose our Virginia creeper, the Trumpet monthly Honey- 
 suckles, and the Boursalt, and English White Climbing 
 Roses, are most suitable in this climate. 
 
 Estimate. This cottage may be built of wood for $830. 
 
D E S I C W V I f f . 
 
 A VILLA IN THE ITALIAN HTl'LE 
 
 F13 r. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 151 
 
 DESIGN VIIL 
 A Villa in the Italian Style* 
 
 This is a design in the modern Italian style, some of 
 the merits of which we have previously pointed out. It 
 will be at once perceived that, while this mode retains 
 much of the expression of the Grecian style, it has far 
 more variety, and a much more domestic character than 
 the latter. The characteristic quality of the purest speci- 
 mens- of Grecian architecture is elegant simplicity, and it is 
 a quality which is most appropriately displayed in a tem- 
 ple. On the other hand we should say that the charac- 
 teristic quality of the modern Italian buildings is elegant 
 variety, which is most fitly exhibited in a tasteful villa. 
 The great simplicity of form of the first is highly suited to 
 a temple, where the singleness of purpose to which it is 
 devoted appears symbolized in the simple Oneness of the 
 whole edifice ; the irregularity of the second is equally in 
 unison with the variety of wants, occupations and plea- 
 sures, which compose the routine of domestic life. 
 
 In our last design we have shown a cottage highly 
 suited to a romantic vale, or sylvan nook, by the rustic 
 picturesqueness of its ensemble; the present one is equal- 
 ly appropriate for an open smiling plain, diversified 
 by hill and dale, and sprinkled with groups and 
 masses of trees. The more finished and architectural 
 character of the building requires less the support of 
 
152 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 thickets of trees and intricacy of scenery to produce a 
 harmonious union. The elegance of an Italian villa is 
 produced mainly by the assemblage of simple and effec- 
 tive lines in its exterior, but it is also greatly enhanced 
 by the introduction of such beautiful and refined features 
 as the terrace with its ornamental balustrade and vases, 
 and the balcony with its shade or canopy. 
 
 The terrace is a paved walk or smooth area, higher 
 than the adjoining grounds, and twenty or more feet in 
 width, surrounded by a handsome balustrade of stone, or 
 of wood formed to imitate heavy Italian balusters. At 
 suitable distances along the top of this balustrade, maybe 
 placed vases of terra cotta, artificial stone, or more cosily 
 materials, and of classic forms, in proper keeping with the 
 style of the building. As an object of taste, the terrace 
 is universally admired, because it serves to connect, by a 
 gradual transition, so highly artificial an object as an ar- 
 chitectural dwelling, with the more simple forms of natural 
 objects around. There is felt to be something incongruous 
 in a highly finished house set down, as we sometimes see it, 
 without the least reason or preparation, in the middle of a 
 green lawn ; but let the base of the house extend itself by 
 a handsome terrace, and let the characteristic forms of the 
 building be occasionally repeated near by, in the shape of 
 a few pedestals with vases, or other sculptured objects, 
 and there is at once produced a harmonious union between 
 the architecture and the landscape, or, in other words, be- 
 tween the house and the grounds. 
 
 As an object of utility, the terrace is a most comfortable 
 and agreeable feature, afibrding a firm, dry and secure 
 walk, sunny and warm in the mid-day of winter, and cool 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 153 
 
 and airy in the mornings and evenings of summer. From 
 it, in many situations, access is had to the flower garden, 
 the luxuriant creeping and chmbing plants of which, en- 
 wreathing gracefully here and there the balustrade, or 
 hanging in clusters of rich blossoms about the sculptured 
 vase, increase the harmony growing out of this artistically 
 contrived union of nature and art. 
 
 In this cottage villa of very moderate size, we have en- 
 deavoured to combine several of the peculiar beauties of 
 the Italian style. Its facade, see Fig. 64, comprises a 
 square tower or campanile, an arcade or Italian veranda, 
 the triple, round-arched windows, and the ridged or fur- 
 rowed roof; and on the left is seen a portion of the terrace, 
 which extends along the whole south side of the building. 
 In the stack of chimney to the left, is shown the usual 
 Italian form ; in the central one, of loftier dimensions, 
 (which we have there introduced to improve the composi- 
 tion by giving it a more pyramidal outline,) we have copied 
 one not uncommon in Florence. 
 
 In its accommodation this house is moderate, and yet 
 we trust it will be found convenient and agreeable. The 
 front door is approached from the arcade, or veranda of 
 the entrance front. Fig. 65. Opening this we arrive in 
 the entrance-hall, which may be very completely con- 
 nected with the veranda when the door and window are 
 open in summer. The staircase is conveniently, and yet 
 privately situated, as it is placed in a separate division of 
 the hall, which may be excluded at any time by a Soor 
 between them. At the side of the hall opposite the front 
 door, is the dining-room, 17 by 20 feet, with a pantry 
 opening into it on the left. Proceeding to the door at the 
 
 19 
 
154 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 left end of the hall, we enter the drawing-room, 20 by 22 
 feet, opening by its two casement windows to the terrace, 
 and enjoying a fine view of the lawn through the large 
 projecting window on the front. Directly in the rear of 
 this room is the library, more quiet and secluded in its 
 position, and of less size, but therefore more in character 
 with the purposes for which it is destined. 
 
 We must not forget the boudoir, situated at the other 
 extremity of the hall, which occupies the lower part of the 
 tower. This may be very tastefully and prettily fitted up, 
 and used by the lady of the house as a morning room for 
 receiving social calls ; or, if preferred, it would serve ad- 
 mirably as a dressing-room, and with a cabinet bedstead, 
 as a bedroom at night, when necessary. There is a pri- 
 vate, or back door to the hall, at the end of the passage 
 leading into this boudoir. 
 
 SECOND FLOOR 
 [Fig. 66.] 
 
 By a glance at the plan of the second floor, Fig. 66, the 
 number and sizes of the sleeping apartments will be readily 
 understood. There are five bedrooms, of different dimen- 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 155 
 
 sions, including that in the tower, from which a light and 
 fanciful open stairs may lead to the apartment in the cam- 
 panile, serving as a belvidere or observatory. There is a 
 large linen closet in the front hall, and wardrobe-closets 
 may be made in each of the bedrooms. 
 
 The basement of this house may contain a kitchen di- 
 rectly beneath the dining-room, a cellar under the draw- 
 ing-room, a store-room and laundry under the library, and 
 a man-servant's bed-room in the basement of the tower. 
 
 Although from the strong contrasts of light and shade 
 in an Italian elevation like this, there is much boldness 
 and painter-like effect, yet, as these arise chiefly from the 
 employment of a few strong lines and well marked features, 
 the Italian, it will be perceived, is a comparatively easy 
 and an economical style. In this country, especially, it 
 will for some time be found that a building in this style 
 may be erected with less trouble than one like the pre- 
 ceding design, because the ordinary mechanics are all 
 familiar with the details of Grecian architecture, which 
 are chiefly employed, with slight variations, in its execution. 
 
 An important advantage which the Italian architecture 
 possesses over the Greek, is the very great capacity which 
 its irregular form offers for additions that may be wanted 
 at any future period. One of our Greek-temple dwelling- 
 houses, on the other hand, is originally so complete in its 
 form, that its fair proportions would be greatly marred 
 by adding any apartments that the comfort or conve- 
 nience of the family might suggest, when increased in 
 wealth or numbers. In carrying the present design into 
 practice, should it be preferred to enlarge or extend it 
 b}^ adding a kitchen and offices on the first floor, 
 
156 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 a wing for this purpose might be extended to the right of 
 the dining-room, a little in the rear of the tower, which, if 
 judiciously composed, would heighten the effect of the 
 whole pile of building, by giving it greater extent and 
 irregularity, two important elements of beauty in Italian 
 villa architecture. 
 
 Construction, We would either build this house of the 
 smoothest and best brick, and paint it in some soft, pleasing 
 shade, or of the roughest brick, 
 and coat it with the best cement 
 coloured to resemble a light mel- 
 low stone. The solidity of the 
 architecture would scarcely per- 
 mit the employment of wood, as [Fig- G7.] 
 a material for the whole of this edifice, although the lighter 
 character of the bracketted Italian, (Design V.) is well 
 suited to wood. Should economy oblige us to construct 
 the balcony and terrace balustrades of wood, they should 
 be made in a bold manner, and thoroughly painted and 
 sanded, to imitate the material of the house. In Fig. 67, 
 
 ARCADE 
 
 [Fig. es.j 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 157 
 
 is shown the Italian balcony, in Fig. 68, 
 the arcade on the entrance front, both to a 
 larger scale. The central Florentine chim- 
 ney, which is of a very handsome descrip- 
 tion, is shown in Fig. 69. The body of this 
 chimney-top may be built of common 
 bricks, and the ornamental apex or summit 
 [Fig. 69.] of cut stone. 
 The roof is one of the most striking features in this 
 style, which arises (on the continent) from its being made 
 ornamental by employing large furrowed tiles. When 
 these are not at hand, the effect may be easily imitated, 
 by a covering of tin or zinc put on in the ridge manner, the 
 ribs being made bold and heavy. This is not only a hand- 
 some, but an equally economical and a much more secure 
 mode, than the common one of soldering ihe whole surface, 
 generally practised. The roof of a house in this style, is 
 made sufficiently steep to render the latter unnecessary. 
 In painting it, either a dark brown, or slate color should 
 be chosen. 
 
 Estimate, This design would cost S7800, if the balus- 
 trades, etc., were of cut free-stone. If made of wood 
 $7600. 
 
 ARRANGEMENT OF THE GROUNDS. 
 
 A house like this would naturally demand a situation 
 where some considerable extent of ground could be ob- 
 tained. It would be highly suitable for a handsome villa 
 residence in the country of moderate size comprising from 
 80 to 150 acres of land. A large portion of this would 
 
158 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 be kept under culture and would serve to give employ- 
 ment to the proprietor in, his character of an amateur 
 farmer. Near the house ten or twenty acres may be de- 
 voted to lawn, all of which may be kept mown; that 
 nearest the house being of course more neatly and more 
 frequently clipped by the scythe, to accord with the air of 
 elegance and polish always to be observed in the pre- 
 cincts of a handsome dwelling. 
 
 In the plan here given, Fig. 70, we have attempted to 
 convey an idea of the arrangement of that portion of the 
 grounds directly about the house, as our previous exam- 
 ples have probably given sufficient hints of the manage- 
 ment of the more distant and extended portions, including 
 the approach. The trees introduced in this design should 
 be chiefly those of large finely rounded heads, and grace- 
 ful sweeping branches, and they should be grouped in 
 such a manner as to allow them to develope themselves 
 in their utmost beauty of form on every side. 
 
 The dwelling a, we have placed on a little table of land 
 descending gently on every side, and about one hundred 
 and twenty feet distant from the shore of a pretty little 
 natural lake on the left. The approach leading from the 
 pubhc road through the demesne to the house is shown, in 
 part, at 6; a gravelled sweep for carriages c is formed in 
 front of the arcade, and the road leading to the stable 
 and farm buildings, branches off at the right of the house. 
 
 The most important feature in this plan which we shall 
 endeavor to describe here, is the architectural flower gar- 
 den e, which will be seen occupying a considerable space 
 on the left of the house. The terrace /, the beauty and 
 utility of which we have already insisted upon, lies in this 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 159 
 
 [Fig. 70.] 
 
160 . COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 direction, serving as a kind of beautiful extended base to 
 the house. We shall suppose this idea still further carried 
 out in the architectural flower garden, which surrounds 
 this terrace, and which lying directly below it, affords a 
 fine display from the windows of the drawing-room and 
 library. 
 
 We are not admirers of geometric or formal flower 
 gardens like this, considered by themselves, and merely 
 as flower gardens, because we think a natural arrangement 
 is more replete with beauty and grace, and is capable of 
 afibrding a much higher kind of pleasure. But this kind 
 of architectural flower garden, so common in Italy, and so 
 appropriate an accompaniment to residences of this kind, 
 requires to be regarded in another light. It is not only a 
 garden for the display of plants, but it is a garden of archi- 
 tectural and floral beauty combined ; it is as much an ac- 
 cessary of the building as a portion of the grounds, and 
 therefore it very properly exhibits much of the regularity 
 and symmetry of architectural forms and compositions. 
 It contains plants, trees and shrubs, it is true, in great pro- 
 fusion, but the beauty of these is heightened, and rendered 
 more brilliant, by the introduction of elegant vases, sculp- 
 tured urns, or perhaps a few statues of floral deities, or 
 busts of distinguished persons. Those who have never 
 seen the lively effect that may be produced by a garden of 
 this kind, joined to an elegant villa, the architectural forms 
 of which seem repeated in the garden and thus beautifully 
 harmonised with nature, can scarcely conceive how charm- 
 ing it appears. A summer moonlight walk on this terrace, 
 while we hear the silence broken only by the gentle mur- 
 mur of the fountain at e, and see, softly gleaming in the 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 161 
 
 silvery beams, the sculptured vases, clustered over par- 
 tially by luxuriant climbers, and backed by dark masses 
 of rich waving shrubs and flowers, would be sufficient to 
 remind one of even the most indifferent poetical tempera- 
 ment, of the garden of Boccaccio, — 
 
 Where, half conceal'd. the eye of fancy views 
 
 Fauns, nymphs and winged saints all gracious to his muse I 
 
 Still in the garden let me watch their pranks, 
 
 And see in Dians vest between the ranks 
 
 Of the trim vines, some maid that half believes 
 
 The vestal fires of which her lover grieves. 
 
 With that sly satyr peeping through the leaves ! 
 
 Coleridge. 
 
 In the example of this kind of garden attached to this 
 house we should not expect to find so costly a decoration 
 as marble vases introduced, but all the beauty of form, 
 and nearly all that of material may be obtained at a very 
 moderate cost, suited to our more economical habits in 
 this country, in vases and ornaments of terra cotta, or arti- 
 ficial stone.* The exorbitant price paid /i^r^^oy^^^^ 
 for some single article of fashionable fur- \ / 
 niture, such as we not unfrequently find ww/mP^ 
 in our country-houses of this class, would ^^C ^ 
 embellish a whole architectural garden ^^^^ 
 with vases. ^ ., | 
 
 It should always be remembered that j j | 
 
 all vases, urns, or other sculptured orna- I I | 
 
 ments for gardens or grounds, should be [ ly 
 placed on proper pedestals, plinths, or [Fig. 7i.] 
 
 * Some specimens of terra cotta vases may be found at the Salamander Works, 
 Cannon-street, New- York. Those in artificial stone maybe had at Gibson's, or 
 Goodwin's Warehouses. 
 
 20 
 
162 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES- 
 
 bases, to serve as a firm support. A pedestal not only 
 secures a firm and an upright position, but it gives a dig- 
 nity and importance to the vase as a work of art, which it 
 would not have if it were loosely and carelessly placed 
 upon the ground, or the gravel walk. A simple form for 
 such a pedestal is shown in Fig. 71, 6, but a great variety 
 of a more ornamental description will be suggested by a 
 study of classical antique designs. 
 
 This garden, octagonal in its form, we would surround 
 by a light, and low balustrade-like fence, ^, to be partially 
 concealed by creepers. At the angles of this fence we 
 would place pedestals for supports w, each to be crowned 
 by a vase of some simple form. These pedestals, and 
 those in the interior of the garden that we intend for vases, 
 are designated by the x mark on the plan. 
 
 The beds, or parterres, for flowers we would border with 
 box, that being a very regular, architectural looking plant, 
 and a very permanent one for this purpose. The walks 
 should be of gravel, made hard and firm by the use of the 
 roller. The collection of plants chosen for the garden may 
 vary somewhat to suit the taste of the proprietor, but the 
 most satisfactory result will be attained by choosing such 
 shrubs and herbaceous plants as are distinguished for 
 richness and depth of colour in their foliage, and for a 
 massy and luxuriant habit of growth, as well as for beauty 
 or delicacy of blossom. All lean, starved, and meagre- 
 looking plants, mere botanical rarities, or such as are pretty 
 for a short time and then only remain to offend the eye and 
 destroy the general ensemble of luxuriant verdure and 
 bloom, should be rejected from a garden of this kind. 
 
 It will be a fortunate circumstance should a spring exist 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 163 
 
 somewhere on a neighboring height, whence it may be 
 brought, in concealed pipes, to supply this fountain. When 
 this is out of the question, a cistern constructed in the 
 upper story of some outbuilding, at no great distance, may 
 afford a sufficient supply for playing in the evening, or at 
 certain times during the day. The French have an inge- 
 nious method of raising water from a well for this purpose, 
 which has been put in practice in some places in this 
 country at little expense. A small wooden tower or square 
 building is placed in a convenient position, over a well, 
 and where it is not a too conspicuous object, and furnished 
 with sails like a windmill, and a simple shaft and appa- 
 ratus for drawing water by means of a pump to a cistern 
 of good capacity in the top of the tower. This will fur- 
 nish a fountain, or jet d'eau of moderate size, with a suffi- 
 cient supply of water during the whole summer at little 
 trouble, and without intermission if the cistern be made 
 large enough, to hold a small over-supply for an occasional 
 calm day. 
 
164 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 DESIGN IX. 
 
 A cottage in the Italian, or T^tscan style. 
 
 The design for this cottage, Fig. 72, has been kindly 
 sent us for this work by J. Notman, Esq., Architect, of 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Although its details are very simple and will be under- 
 stood at a glance, and the cottage is only of very moderate 
 dimensions, yet the variety of outline which it exhibits, 
 makes it appear a house of much larger size than it really 
 is. The projection of the roof, and the ornamental cor- 
 nice, as well as the heavy and appropriate window dress- 
 ings, bestow at once an expression of some elegance, and 
 render the house superior to the ordinary dwellings of this 
 class. 
 
 In the plan of the principal story. Fig. 73, there is an 
 entrance hall with a handsome staircase, and an apart- 
 ment on either side ; that on the right being a parlour, and 
 that on the left a dining-room. In the piers on either side 
 of the staircase, are spaces which designate hot-air flues, 
 which proceed from the furnace in the basement, and by 
 means of registers, warm all the apartments in the house, 
 although the four principal ones have fire-places besides 
 for occasional use, if necessar}'". 
 
 The first flight of stairs ascends half the story, and on a 
 level with the landing here is the broad and airy balcony 
 in the rear, entered by a fair round-headed window, open- 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 165 
 
 ing to the floor. Underneath, this balcony forms a kind 
 of partly enclosed apartment, serving as a wash-room or 
 outer kitchen in summer. 
 
 There is also a balcony over the recessed porch in 
 front, which is a pleasant appendage to the chamber floor. 
 This floor, Fig. 74, affords three pleasant bedrooms, and 
 
 S SCO NO STORY 
 [Fig. 74.] 
 
 there is a fourth of more ample size in the third story of 
 the central portion of the cottage, which is, both with re- 
 gard to its proportions and the fine birds-eye view it com- 
 mands, a very pleasant apartment. 
 
 The plan of the basement. Fig. 75, sufficiently explains 
 
 B AS 
 
 M E N T 
 
 [Fig. 75.] 
 
166 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 itself. In the middle of the hall below is the furnace for 
 supplying heated air, and on either side are the kitchen, 
 the store-room, and the fuel cellar. 
 
 This design Mr. Notman remarks might be altered and 
 improved, without any variation of the present form, by 
 elongating the flanks, and adding a suite of rooms in the 
 rear. It may be built of brick and cement, or of wood ; 
 and a very simple kind of interior finish, would be in the 
 best taste for a cottage of this class. The roof may be 
 covered with tin, zinc, or shingles, and the joints, between 
 the roof of the wings and the wall of the central portion, 
 should be well protected by broad lead or copper flash- 
 ings, or strips, running up a foot or more on the roof and 
 wall, and being bu^lt-in the latter in the usual manner. 
 
 Estimate. This cottage well constructed of solid mate- 
 rials, and neatly finished, would cost $3000. If built of 
 wood, filled in with brick, the expense might be slightly 
 reduced. The design has been executed in a more ele- 
 gant and costly manner near Philadelphia. 
 
 ARRANGEMENT OF THE GROUND. 
 
 For the sake of illustration, we shall suppose this to be 
 a suburban dwelling, placed upon a long and narrow lot 
 of ground, that being the most common form near towns, 
 and the most difficult one to render agreeable or interest- 
 ing. Its dimensions may be 120 feet broad by 375 feet 
 deep, and it may extend from the street in front to another 
 in the rear. 
 
 The first object of the proprietor of this cottage we shall 
 suppose to be the production of a large crop of fruit and 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 167 
 
 vegetables of every description, and the second to render 
 the whole garden rather tasteful and agreeable, by a skilful 
 distribution of his materials and arrangement of walks. 
 We shall suppose no trees introduced solely for ornament, 
 except on the small lawn or area of grass in the front of 
 the dwelling, and those bordering the irregular walk on 
 the left ; and even in these situations a preference will be 
 given to ornamental fruit-hearing trees, as the Black Mul- 
 berry, the English Walnut, the Spanish Chestnut, and the 
 thin-shelled Almond among trees, and the productive va- 
 rieties of filberts, etc., among shrubs. 
 
 In the plan. Fig. 76, the entrance gates are placed at a, 
 the house at Z>, the stable and yard at c. On either side 
 of the house is an area of turf studded with a few orna- 
 mental trees of such species as are thought desirable. The 
 plot g, in the rear of the house, is also devoted to grass, 
 but it is planted with a small orchard of fruits of the har- 
 dier and more rapid growing kinds, cherries, pears, or 
 such other trees as will succeed tolerably well in a sur- 
 face kept in grass. This orchard is planted in the pic- 
 turesque manner, that is in irregular groups, as it is seen 
 directly from the house, and therefore would be most 
 agreeable in this form. The second compartment h, is 
 another orchard of such choice fruit trees as require more 
 care, and the ground around which is to be kept open by 
 culture, arid may be planted annually with various crops 
 of vegetables with advantage to the trees, and economy 
 of space. 
 
 The third compartment i, is the kitchen garden, the 
 area of which is to be kept free from trees and devoted 
 entirely to vegetables. There is a walk Jc, sufficiently 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 [Fig. 60.] 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 169 
 
 wide for a cart or wagon leading from the stable c, to 
 the street in the rear, which gives access to the stable and 
 affords an opportunity of supplying the garden with com- 
 post, or carrying away litter, or garden products, without 
 passing by the house, or having recourse to the front en- 
 trance. The long border Z, may be devoted, in different 
 parts, to grape vines, strawberries, and other small fruits, 
 or to rhubard, and other esculent plants. 
 
 As a counterpart to this long w^alk, which is strictly 
 useful in its character, we have another m, on the opposite 
 side, winding and graceful in its direction, and bordered 
 by a miscellaneous collection of small flowering trees and 
 shrubs. These shrubs as we have before suggested may 
 be interspersed with the productive varieties of English 
 filberts, the Siberian crab and other small fruits used for 
 preserves, and also with dwarf apples and pears, which, 
 growing only a few feet high, will, when in fine bearing, 
 be very ornamental objects. The bprder or belt of shrubs 
 varying in width from three, to fourteen or more feet, 
 should be continued on both sides of this walk, as the ob- 
 ject of it is, not only to render the walk interesting by the 
 variety of shrubs, but also to render this portion of the 
 garden complete in itself, by preventing, as much as possi- 
 ble, the eye from seeing the kitchen garden or other com- 
 partments on the right, at the same time with the scene 
 formed by the walk and its boundary or fringe of shrubs. 
 A person after having walked along the whole course of 
 the irregular walk m, may vary the impression received, 
 either by returning through the straight walk Ic, of the 
 kitchen garden, or, if it is preferred, he may return partly 
 
 21 
 
170 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES- 
 
 in a new course of curved walks, by taking the cross 
 walks n, in his way. 
 
 We have indicated by the dotted outline at o, how a 
 conservatory might be added on the left wing of this 
 house, which might be warmed either by a flue, or by 
 warm water pipes connected with the fire-place of the 
 dining-rocm, or the kitchen below. This should be on a 
 level with the principal floor, and should of course be en- 
 tered by a glazed door from the dining-room. As the wall 
 of the house woold form one side, or rather the back of 
 the conservatory, it could be more economically construct- 
 ed, and kept warm at less expense, than a detached green- 
 house. 
 
 The grass on the areas /, and g, should be mown at least 
 once a fortnight during summer. This, if it is successively 
 performed on the different portions, will go far towards 
 supplying a horse or cow with green fodder during the 
 growing season, and by the frequent cutting, the beauty 
 and verdure of the lawn will be greatly improved. 
 
 The grounds of a cottage omee- like this, while they 
 would afford a considerable quantity and variety of valu- 
 able products, would, we think all will admit, be far more 
 agreeable and interesting than the common rectangular 
 lots, so general in the suburbs of our towns, and which 
 are so entirely destitute of beauty of design. 
 
DESIGN X. 
 
 A VILLA. IN THE POINTEP STYLE. 
 
 I'lg -a 
 
COTTAX3E RESIDENCES. 
 
 171 
 
 DESIGN X. 
 
 A villa of the first class, in the Pointed Style. 
 
 This design of a Pointed Villa, by A. J. Davis, Esq. 
 Architect, although a much larger and more elaborate com- 
 position than fairly comes within the scope of this work, 
 we have introduced as a concluding example both for the 
 purpose of showing a more complete and extensive villa 
 than we have hitherto presented, and as a specimen of the 
 progress which architectural taste is making in this coun- 
 try ; it having been recently designed by Mr. Davis for the 
 country residence of J. Rathbone, Esq. of Albany. 
 
 In the annexed view, Fig. 77, the artist has chosen a 
 position showing the north and east fronts of the building 
 which are to be seen from the river, the entrance front be- 
 ing on the west side, a small portion of the open porch or 
 forte cochere being visible on the right of the house. 
 
 This villa now completed is undoubtedly one of the 
 finest specimens of the Gothic, or pointed style of archi- 
 tecture in this country. Although the whole composition 
 evinces unity of feeling, there is as much variety of fea- 
 ture as w^e ever remember to have seen introduced suc- 
 cessfully in a villa ; indeed perhaps a greater variety of 
 windows, gables and buttresses than could be introduced 
 in a building of that size with good effect, were it not sup- 
 ported by the corresponding intricacy and variety of the 
 trees and foliage around it, which are here in admirable 
 keeping with the picturesque outlines of the edifice. 
 
172 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCESr 
 
 Fig. 78, is a plan of the principal floor. A good deal 
 of character is conferred on the west or entrance front by 
 the projecting porch, which, extending entirely across the 
 approach road 15 feet, forms a dry, sheltered carriage 
 porchf under which a carriage may draw up and the occu- 
 pants alight dry and sheltered in all weathers. 
 
 If we now enter and pass through the vestibule, we shall 
 soon find ourselves in a circular hall, 16 feet in diameter, 
 that forms a nucleus or radiating point from which all the 
 principal apartments diverge. This (and through it the 
 whole house) is heated by a furnace in the basement. 
 Directly beyond the hall is the library, a sexangular apart- 
 ment of much beauty of proportion, which will command 
 a very striking view of the Hudson from the bay window 
 at the eastern extremity. This bay window should be 
 filled with rich stained glass, which would produce a mel- 
 low tone of light in this apartment in admirable keeping 
 with its character. On the right side of the library is 
 another window opening to the veranda or " umbrage," 
 afibrding a dehghtful walk, with a noble view of the river 
 in its southern course. 
 
 The dining-room is entered by another door on the right 
 of this hall. It is 16 by 24 feet in its dimensions, and the 
 bay at the south opens into a conservatory for plants, 
 which will give this apartment an air of summer, even in 
 the depths of a northern winter. This conservatory, form- 
 ing as it does a portion of the veranda, may be entirely 
 removed in summer, if it should be preferred to have the 
 whole veranda open, by having moveable sashes, con- 
 structed so as to be easily taken out in the spring, and re- 
 placed in autumn. The dining-room has a china closet 
 
COTTAGE UESIDENCES. 
 
 173 
 
 on the right of the chimney breast ; a dumb waiter on the 
 left ; across the staircase hall is the pantry, and the stairs 
 descending to the kitchen and its offices is placed in most 
 convenient proximity to the door leading to this passage. 
 
 The drawing-room opens on the left of the hall and 
 forms a suite with the library and dining-room. Its bay 
 has a charming sylvan view to the north, and the two win- 
 dows on the river front another looking east. 
 
 The two remaining doors of the hall lead, on one side 
 to the staircase hall, and on the other into the family bed- 
 room. The latter has three closets, a space for a ward- 
 robe, and an alcove which may be used as a dressing- 
 room or a recess for placing a bed. On the south side of 
 the vestibule is the office, or gentlemen's own room, to be 
 neatly and appropriately fitted up as a business room, or 
 study for the master of the house. The dotted triangular 
 space at the corner of this office, indicates a place for an 
 iron safe built in the wall. On the north side of the ves- 
 tibule is a large closet for cloaks, umbrellas, etc. This 
 story is 13 feet in the clear, and the dotted lines in the 
 hall and principal rooms show the forms of the ribbed 
 ceilings. 
 
 The second floor contains six sleeping apartments of 
 various sizes, a bath room, and a water-closet ; and the 
 attic furnishes sleeping accommodations for the servants. 
 We regret that we are not able to show, by engraved 
 plans, the ample and convenient arrangements of this and 
 the basement story. 
 
 The whole internal arrangement of this villa, by Mr. 
 Davis, is, we think, highly remarkable for its elegance, its 
 compactness, and the abundance and convenience of its ac- 
 
374 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 commodations. While any portion of the house may by 
 itself be used by the family at any time, the effect of 
 the entire first floor, when thrown open at once, would 
 be more striking than that of many mansions we have 
 seen of four times the size, where the rooms, having no 
 connexion, and being badly arranged, produced little effect 
 as a whole. 
 
 Estimate. The estimated cost of this villa varies from 
 $12,000 to $15,000, according to the material adopted, 
 stone or bricks, (either,) and the degree of finish employed 
 in the interior. 
 
 ARRANGEMENT OF THE GROUNDS* 
 
 The situation selected for this residence is a hill of con- 
 siderable extent, commanding an extensive view of the 
 Hudson, which is densely wooded with a natural growth 
 of forest trees. The preference was given to this site, as 
 its natural picturesqueness and intricacy seemed to be ad- 
 mirably in keeping with the style of the building in view ; 
 and also, as it is found much easier to produce, in a short 
 time, a satisfactor}'' effect, by thinning out and improving 
 a suitable natural wood, than by planting and raising up 
 new growths of sylvan accessories, where none are al- 
 ready existing. 
 
 The grounds are about 120 acres in extent. In the 
 accompanying plan, Fig. 79, a considerable portion in the 
 neighborhood of the site for the house is shown. There is 
 a great variety of surface caused by the undulations of the 
 ground, upon this area, which will eventually, if proper 
 advantage is taken of this circumstance, cause the demesne 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 175 
 
 • 
 
176 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 to appear of large extent. In laying out the grounds, the 
 course of the entrance road 6, was determined by a natu- 
 ral depression, which afforded a much more easy and suita- 
 ble approach, than could be found in any other direction. 
 The road itself is not made in the bottom of the little dell, 
 as this would render it wet, and even liable to be washed 
 away at certain seasons of the year, but upon one side of 
 the sloping bank, at a suflicient height above to insure the 
 dryness and firmness of the road, at all seasons. At c, 
 the road is carried across a small stream, which affords 
 an opportunity of introducing a pretty rustic bridge, con- 
 structed of the roots and stems of the trees felled in open- 
 ing the road. An object of this kind, strictly useful in its 
 character, when, as in this case, it can be legitimately 
 introduced, always gives interest to a walk or road 
 through the grounds, although it should never be made 
 when there is not some obvious purpose beyond that of 
 mere ornament. 
 
 There will be, eventually, an opportunity for creating 
 a great variety in these grounds, but as an idea of this 
 kind of situation can scarcely, like a flat surface, be con- 
 veyed by a mere plan, we shall only designate a few of 
 the leading points of interest. There is an open lawn J, at 
 the south side of the house, to be enlivened by groups of 
 flowering shrubs and plants, that will contrast agreeably 
 with the dark verdure of the thicker groups of foliage on 
 the other sides. At c, is a rustic pavilion or summer-house, 
 Fig. SO, on a knoll slightly elevated above the surrounding 
 ,# surface. The stable and other out-buildings, are located 
 at the kitchen garden at A, and the orchard at i. The 
 long and intricate walk jy which may be led, at pleasure, a 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 177 
 
 long distance beneath the shady, embowering branches 
 of tall beeches, stately maples, and " melancholy pines," 
 now threading little dells filled with mosses and ferns, and 
 dark with forest verdure, and again emerging into sunny 
 
 glades, opened among the fo- 
 rest trees here and there, will 
 be one of the most agreeable 
 features of the place. The 
 greatest charm of this resi- 
 dence, when it is completed, 
 will be the novelty and con- 
 trast experienced in coming 
 directly from the highly arti- 
 [Fig. 80.] facial and populous city, only 
 
 a couple of miles distant, to its quiet, secluded shades, full 
 of wildness, only sufficiently subdued by art to heighten 
 its natural beauty. 
 
 The principal diflBculty in skillfully treating a residence 
 like this, to be formed on an entirely new surface, covered 
 with wood, lies in thinning out and opening the wood 
 judiciously — in seizing on the finer portions to be left, and 
 selecting such as may, with the greatest advantage, be 
 cleared away. It must be borne in mind, as we have 
 previously urged, that few si?iglc trees can be left, but that 
 the thinning must be done by opening glades boldly, Jc, and 
 leaving the trees in groups, masses, thickets and groves. 
 Trimming up the trees, beyond what is absolutely neces- 
 sary in removing dead branches, should never be attemp-* 
 ted, but unsightly underwood should be removed, except 
 in distant parts, where it is desired to retain the wild and 
 picturesque character of the place for the sake of contrast- 
 
 22 
 
178 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 ing with the more dressed air immediately around the 
 house. In short, the natural expression of a place like this 
 must be thoroughly studied, before making any improve- 
 ments ; as otherwise, the latter will, instead of heightening 
 and developing its original charm, only weaken and render 
 it incongruous and unsatisfactory. 
 
ADDENDA. 
 
 Cements for the exterior of buildings, — In the description of 
 the preceding designs, we have frequently recommended 
 brick and cement, as a mode of construction highly suit- 
 able for cottages. Houses built in this manner will be 
 found much dryer and warmer in winter, and much cooler 
 in summer, than those built of wood ; and the greater 
 solidity and durability of such dwellings, as well as their 
 superior architectural expression, will always render them 
 preferable to dwellings built of so perishable a material as 
 timber. 
 
 In speaking of brick and cement, however, we must 
 not be understood as referring to the wretched mode of 
 plastering exterior walls which generally passes current 
 under this name, examples of which may at once occur to 
 some of our readers, to prejudice them against the em- 
 ployment of this mode of construction. Indeed, there is no 
 subject hitherto so little understood by the majority of 
 our practical men, as that of cements suitable for resisting 
 the attacks of the weather on exterior walls. Accordingly 
 we not unfrequently see whole surfaces of this so-called 
 cement, crumbling and falling from the walls, and the 
 proprietor,* lamenting the sad appearance of the exterior of 
 his dwelling, protests loudly against all cements. 
 
 The fact, however, that there are, both in this country 
 
I 
 
 ISO COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 and abroad, numerous examples of cements resisting the 
 attacks of the weather for a great length of time, and be- 
 coming almost incorporated with the solid wall, should 
 teach our builders that the error lies in their ignorance of 
 its nature, and the proper mode of mixing and laying it on. 
 
 The frequent failures in exterior cements arise, 1st, 
 From the use of sand composed of rounded, worn particles, 
 mixed with earthly matter ; ^dly, From the employment 
 of hydraulic cements of inferior or unsuitable quality;* 
 3dly, From the use of poor lime; and 4thly, From im- 
 perfect mixture and application of the materials. 
 
 If in building of brick and cement, the following parti- 
 culars are strictly observed, we can confidently insure 
 satisfactory results. The walls should be laid of the best 
 hard brick, the roughness or exterior unevenness of which 
 is an advantage. In laying the brick-work, the outer sur- 
 face of the walls should not he pomtedf hut the mortar only 
 roughly struck off" with the trowel ; indeed, the preferable 
 mode is to spread the mortar in such a manner that it may 
 not come quite to the outer edge of the brick work in all 
 parts, but leave little recesses or slight cavities, which 
 being filled up by the cement, will afford a more perfect 
 hold and lodgment for the exterior coating. 
 
 Immediately before putting on the cement, the wall to 
 which it is to be applied must be well scrubbed with a 
 stout and coarse broom, and an abundance of water, in 
 
 * Many of the hydraulic limes, or ccmentf, of this stale are totally unfit for exterior 
 work, as they contain a salt (muriate of soda) which, on the absorption of water, 
 crystallizes upon the brick walls, and thus forces off the cement. This is the se- 
 cret of nine -tenths of the failures in cementing houses in this and other sections of 
 the country. The hydraulic lime that we can best recommend, is that of Berlin, Ct. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 181 
 
 order both to get rid of all loose sand, mortar, or other 
 matter adhering to the face of the wall, and partially to 
 saturate the surface bricks with moisture, in order that the 
 cement may set more equally and gradually. 
 
 In making the cement, choose a hydraulic lime that has 
 been thoroughly tested, and is known to be well adapted to 
 resist the weather, in the air as well ias under water, and let 
 it be perfectly fresh, as it will be nearly worthless if it has 
 been long prepared, unless it has been kept in entirely 
 air-tight vessels. The very best and purest lime should 
 also be selected, — of the greatest tenacity in mortar, and 
 such as will slacken equally throughout. Especial pains 
 should also be taken to procure sharp, angular sand, which, 
 if not perfectly clean, must be freed from any admixture 
 of earthly particles, by repeated washings. Let the lime be 
 thoroughly slaked, and a good mortar be made in suffi- 
 cient quanity for the whole of the work, of the lime and 
 sand. When the masons are ready for plastering, open 
 one of the casks of cement, and mix the latter in equal 
 proportions with the mortar, making a hod of the mixture 
 at a time, as it would otherwise partially set before it could 
 be used. Only one coat of cement should ever be put on, 
 as it will then form one homogenous mass with the wall. 
 Or rather, two layers may be applied, directly one after 
 the other, which will at once form one. The coat of lime- 
 putty frequently applied to stuccos to give "an elegant 
 finish," soon crumbles off, and hastens the decay of the 
 surface underneath. In finishing the surface float it 
 off as smoothly as possible, and mark it off in courses to 
 resemble stone, coloring it while the cement is yet only 
 
 r 
 
182 
 
 COTTAGE RESlt)ENCES. 
 
 partially dry, so that the coloring matter may set with the 
 cement.* 
 
 In mixing the coloring material, choose some of the 
 ochres, or earthly colors, for a base, rendering it liquid by 
 the use of milk^ and varying the tint by adding other col- 
 ors, until the desired tint be obtained. In order to protect 
 the cement against moisture, it is the practice of the most 
 successful plasterers, to incorporate with the coloring 
 wash, or paint, a quantity of thick boiled grease or fatty 
 matter, in the proportion of six or eight quarts to a half 
 barrel of the paint. The cement should be applied in fine 
 weather, free from frost, and it is better in all cases, that 
 buildings to be covered by it should be finished in time to 
 allow them to become thoroughly dry before winter. Two 
 months will probably be sufficient. 
 
 The decay of cemented surfaces, arises most frequently 
 from the unsuitable or imperfect construction of the roof or 
 cornice at the eves, or barge-board. For this reason, 
 buildings in the Italian style, with bold projecting roofs, 
 generally retain the cement in a much more perfect state 
 than those with narrow and slender copings or projections; 
 but a little care exercised in the first construction, will 
 render a well cemented house much more durable, and 
 one requiring far less repairs than any house built of wood, 
 or other perishable material. 
 
 Building Contracts, The great disproportion frequently 
 
 * Such is the most successful practice here. Experienced masons in England use 
 no lime. They mix (in small quantities, as fast as it can be used,) the best cement, 
 which must always bs quite new, and freshly manufactured, with one-third clean- 
 washed sharp sand. This is applied to the surface and finished-off in one coat and 
 is very durable. 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 183 
 
 occurring between the estimate or contract, and the final 
 cost of a house, is a very frequent source of disappointment 
 and vexation, to persons who engage for the first time in 
 building. The cottage or villa is contracted to be built by 
 the mechanics, at a fair, or even a low price, which is quite 
 satisfactory to the proprietor ; but when the building is 
 complete, the bills are often found to exceed the con- 
 tracting price by one third or one half the original sum. 
 
 This result will always, on experience, be bound to arise 
 from two causes. The first of these is the want of a well 
 digested and thoroughly satisfactorily plan, before the con- 
 tracts are made. A general idea of the arrangement, or a 
 mutual understanding to copy pretty nearly the house of 
 Mr. A., or B., in the neighborhood, is very often as definite 
 a shape as the matter assumes before the house is com- 
 menced. While it is in progress, the subject opening on 
 the mind of the owner, new arrangements or alterations in 
 the plan are suggested ; an additional room here, a closet 
 or staircase there, would, it is discovered, add so greatly to 
 the elegance or convenience of the house, that they are of 
 course at once introduced. There are not wanting me- 
 chanics, who finding perhaps that they shall obtain but a 
 moderate profit on their original contracts, and being secure 
 of the whole work, charge at a greatly increased price for 
 these additional items, knowing that no other builder can 
 now be brought into competition with them, to reduce the 
 rate by a lower estimate. 
 
 The second source of multiplied expense, is the want of 
 proper specifications when the building is proposed to be 
 estimated upon. The specifications of a building to be 
 cantracted for at a certain price, are supposed to embrace 
 
184 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 every portion of it, and every item of the expense. Now 
 to draw up a full and complete list of specifications for a 
 house of considerable size, requires a very accurate know- 
 ledge of every thing relating to build ing-^a knowledge 
 that neither the generality of proprietors, nor many arti- 
 sans among us will generally be found to possess thorough- 
 ly. Usually, these specifications for a country house are 
 drawn up at the suggestion of the proprietor, by one of the 
 master workmen, and include all the particulars that oc- 
 cur to him or his employer. But in carrying out these 
 specifications, it is found that so large a number of items 
 have been overlooked, that the hill of extras, at the close of 
 the work, amounts to 20 or 30 per cent, on the whole esti- 
 mate. 
 
 To obviate these evils it is evident that it is highly ne- 
 cessary to have perfectly satisfactory plans, showing every 
 portion of the house, necessary to a perfect understanding 
 of all its parts, before it is commenced or contracted for> 
 in order that no material alteration may he made while it is in 
 progress ; and also to procure from some experienced and 
 competent architect, or master-builder, very camplete and 
 full specifications for the whole work. 
 
 We have in these remarks supposed the contract mode 
 of building, because experience has led us to believe that 
 in most parts of the country the work may be. done in this 
 way in an equally excellent manner, and at a much lower 
 cost than by the days-work system. This is owing partly 
 to the fact, that a great deal more judgment and proper 
 economy will always be exercised in the purchase of ma- 
 terials, etc., by a master-builder for himself, than for the 
 proprietor ; and partly, also, that in all buildings there is a 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 185 
 
 great deal of labor of secondary importance, which may 
 be performed at a cheap rate to the master-builder by his 
 apprentices, and which would otherwise be paid for at the 
 journeyman's rate in the days-work system. At the same 
 time the owner, or superintendent of the work, retains the 
 power to inspect and reject all workmanship or materials 
 not of a proper and specified quality. 
 
 The most economical mode of building in the United 
 States will therefore be found to be that of employing only 
 the best master workman, building by contract, and un- 
 dertaking the work only when provided with complete 
 plans and specifications. 
 
 Emjjloyment of architects or jprofessional men. — The most 
 mortifying feature, to a person of cultivated taste, in archi- 
 tecture of our country-houses built within the last ten 
 years, is the frequent violation of correct proportions, of 
 unity of decorations, and of appropriateness of style so 
 frequently seen, even in our finest residences. This arises 
 sometimes from the indulgence of the fancy or caprice of 
 the proprietor, and sometimes from the bad advice, or 
 worse plans of the country carpenter or mason in his em- 
 ploy. Although such buildings please their owners at 
 first, yet with the dawnings of a more extensive know- 
 ledge, obtained either by the examination of really admi- 
 rable edifices, or by a greater familiarity with the subject, 
 they almost certainly regret, when it is too late, the errors 
 they have so hastily committed. 
 
 To those who are not thoroughly informed and compe- 
 tent themselves, (a class yet very small in all countries,) 
 we would strongly recommend the employment, in any 
 building of importance, of the best professional talent. 
 
 23 
 
186 
 
 COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 They may then feel assured not only of having a satisfac- 
 tory production, but one which, being correctly designed, 
 will rather grow, than lessen in their admiration, as their 
 knowledge or taste for architectural beauty increases. 
 
 When we have really decided to build, the difference 
 between a common form and an excellent one may at 
 once be secured in favor of the former, by applying to an 
 architect of talent and experience. The small addition 
 (from 2 to 5 per cent.) which this will make to the whole 
 cost of the building, is certainly a consideration of trifling 
 consequence, when we reflect that in the design lies the 
 whole individuality of the building, whether it shall be full 
 of beauty, grace, or >picturesqueness, or abound in un- 
 couthness, incongruity and foolish conceits — a matter of 
 the more importance as it is to continue before our eyes 
 and become identified almost with ourselves, perhaps, for 
 a life time ! Many persons wdthin our knowledge have 
 been deterred from applying to a professional man for ad- 
 vice in building a house, or laying out their grounds, from 
 a mistaken idea of the enormous charges to which they 
 would be subjected. In the hope of lessening this error 
 we have applied to Mr. Davis, of New-York, one of our 
 ablest architects, for a general list of professional terms, 
 an extract from which we shall here offer. 
 Design for a gate lodge or small cottage, - $50 00 
 
 do. for a church, - - - - - 100 00 
 
 do. for a villa residence of moderate 
 
 size, 50 to 100 00 
 
 do. for a villa of the first class (esti- 
 mated at S15,000,) including a 
 yisit to the site, - - - - 150 OQ 
 
COTTAGE RESIDENCES. 
 
 1S7 
 
 " The foregoing are exclusive of working drawings. 
 
 " For five per cent, on the estimate of the whole cost at 
 New-York prices, the architect furnishes the design, in- 
 cluding the elevations, sections and working drawings, a 
 complete list of specifications, procures an estimate, and 
 gives an occasional superintendence while the building is 
 in progress." 
 
 We do not give this as the uniform scale of prices for 
 professional services of this kind, as no fixed standard is 
 agreed upon in this country, but we believe the average 
 charges will be found to vary very little from those here 
 stated. 
 
( 
 
WILEY AND PUTNAM 
 
 HAVE IN PRESS, 
 
 I. A TREATISE ON LANDSCAPE GARDENING ; 
 
 adapted to North America, with a view to tlie improvement of Country Residen- 
 ces. Comprising historical notices, and general .principles of the art; directions 
 for laying out grotmds, and arranging plantations ; description and ciiltivation of 
 hardy trees ; decorative accompaniments to the house and grounds ; formation of 
 pieces of artificial water, flower-gardens, etc. ; with remarks on Rural Archi- 
 tecture. New edition, nnth large additions and improvenmits, and many new 
 and beautiful illustrations. By A. J. Downing. 1 vol. 8vo. 
 
 NOTICES OF THE FIRST EDITION. 
 
 " This volume, the first American treatise on this subject, will at once take the rank of the 
 standard work "'^[Silliman's Journal.] 
 
 "DownLng's Landscape Gardening is a masterly work of its kind, — more especially con- 
 sidering that the art is yet in its infancy in America." — [Loudon's Gardener's Mag.] 
 
 "Nothing has been omitted that can in the least costribute to a full and analytical develop- 
 ment of the subject ; and he treats of all in the most lucid order, and with much perspicuity 
 and grace of diction." — [Democratic Review.] 
 
 "We dismiss this work with much respect for the taste and judgment of the author, and 
 with full confidence that it will exert a commanding infiucnce. They are valuable and in- 
 structive, and every man of taste, though he may not need, will do well to possess it." — [North 
 American Review.] 
 
 II. THE FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES OF AME- 
 
 KICA ; or, the culture, projikgation, and management, in the garden and orchard, 
 of fruit trees generally ; with descriptions of all the finest varieties of fruit, native 
 or foreign, cultivated in the gardens of this country. Illustrated with numerous 
 engravings and outlines of fruit. By A. J. Downing. 1 vol. 12mo., (and alsoSvo.) 
 
 This will be the most complete work on the subject ever published, and will, it 
 is hoped, supply a desideratum long felt by amateurs and cultivators. 
 
 VALUABLE WORKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED 
 
 BY 
 
 WILEY & PUTNAM. 
 
 GARDENING FOR LADIES; AND COMPANION TO 
 
 TH E FLOWER-GARDEN. By Mrs. Loudon. First American, from the second 
 London edition. Revised and edited by A. J. Downing. 1 tliick vol. 12mo. with 
 engravings. $1 50. 
 
 " A truly excellent work, written with simplicity and clearness. It is decidedly the best 
 work on the subject, and we strongly recommend it to all our fair countrywomen, as a work 
 they ought not to be without."— [iV. Y. Courier.] 
 
 THE THEORY OF HORTICULTURE ; or an attempt 
 
 to explain the principal operations of gardening upon physiological principles. By 
 John Lindley, Ph. D., F.R.S., ^c, ^c. $1 25. 
 
 "The American edition of this valuable work is, in all respects, creditable to the editors; 
 whose joint labors, it may be remarked, furnish in tlie present instance another illustration of 
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 and interest of the work ; being, for the most part, tiic results of successful experience, with 
 such additions and adaptations as the climate and circumstances of our country render neces- 
 sary " — [American Journal of Science.] 
 
THE BOTANICAL TEXT BOOK FOR COLLEGES, 
 
 SCHOOLS, AND PRIVATE STUDENTS. Illustrated with numerous engra- 
 vings on wood. 1 thick vol. 12mo. $1 50. 
 
 The work comprises not only the outlines of Structural and Physiological Botany, 
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 "The most compendious and satisfactory view of the Vegetable Kingdom which has yet 
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 [Silliman^s Journal.] 
 
 See also Loudon, Hooker, and other English Botanical Journals, etc. 
 
 FLORA OF NORTH-AMERICA, comprising an account 
 
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 Torrey and Asa Gray. Vol. 1, (pp. 771,) price $6. Vol. 2, parts 1, 2, 3. $4. 
 
 Tliis is the only authentic and complete American Flora. The object of the work 
 is to give a scientific account of all the indigenous and naturalized plant*! of North- 
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 published twenty-eight years ago, at which period extensive regions, even within 
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 entirely new aspect. 
 
 W. & P. have recently publislied, to be had gratis on application, 
 
 PART I. 
 
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