Fig. 41.—Ground Plan.
NEW YORK: GEO. E. WOODWARD & CO., 31 BROAD STREET, and ORANGE JUDD COMPANY, 245 BROADWAY.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GEO. E. & F. W. WOODWARD, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York.
This is a plan of a range of houses designed and built for Joseph Howland, Esq., of Matteawan, N. Y. It is a large and imposing structure, befitting the character of Mr. Howland's ample grounds. It stands at the north end of the kitchen garden, and conceals it from the dwelling, from which the range is in full view. A part of the structure on the right, used as a green house, not shown in ground plan, was built some four or five years ago with the old sliding sash roof, which was found so unsatisfactory that at the time of the erection of the new portion, this roof was removed and replaced with a curvilinear fixed roof to correspond with the rest.
It will be observed that the range is divided into two parts by a road-way. The design of this was to enable the family to visit the houses at any time in the carriage without exposure to the weather, and enjoy the fruits, flowers, and temperature of tropical climates, without the necessity of leaving their homes.
The north side of the middle houses is covered with boards and battened. End ventilation being impracticable here, top ventilation is increased so as to meet all requirements.[Pg 106]
Fig. 41.—Ground Plan.
Fig. 42.—Double Gate.
Fig. 41 is the ground plan. On the right is the old green house, a portion of the foundation of which is shown. This communicates with the hot grapery and tool house, under which is a capacious root cellar. From the covered road-way, all the parts of this extensive range are easily accessible. Across the road-way, between the houses, is a handsome double gate, a sketch of which is given in Fig. 42.
Crossing the road-way, we enter the cold grapery. The foundation of this rests on piers, the border being outside. There are hot-water pipes in this compartment, to be used only to keep out frost. It may, however, be used as a "second" hot grapery. Passing out of the cold grapery, we enter what may be called the conservatory, its principal use being for the show of ornamental plants; and to this end it has several accessories which add much to its beauty. One of these which may be noticed is a neat fountain in the centre; always a pretty feature wherever it can be introduced. Another is a rustic niche or alcove in the north wall, built of rough stones, over and through which the water constantly trickles into a basin. Its full beauty will not be seen till it has acquired age, and become covered with mosses and ferns. Fortunately for the plants and for good taste, there is no shelving in this house. Beds are formed of brick, with a neat coping, in which the pots are set.[Pg 109] This arrangement is much more effective than any manner of staging could possibly be.
Fig. 43.—Interior View.
In order to give the reader an idea of the interior of this apartment, we have prepared a perspective view of it. (See Fig. 43.) From this a good conception can be formed of the appearance and arrangement of the beds, fountain, &c.
Returning through the cold grapery, we have on its north side a boiler and potting room. The boiler pit is sunk beneath the floor of this room, and has connected with it a coal bin and shoot. Communicating with the potting-room is a propagating room, in the north end of the conservatory, and divided from it by a solid partition. It is provided with hot-water pipes for furnishing bottom heat. It will propagate all the bedding and other plants needed on the place. It will thus be seen that there are ample facilities for furnishing an abundant supply of grapes and flowers. The house, as a whole, forms a marked feature of the grounds.[Pg 111]