River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-06-14
Hints in Building Houses.

Hints in Building Houses.
Formerly about Rochester much
sameness IN house building was the
rule, no one having the courage to
adopt wholly new designs-such is the
initiative habit of humanity. Now every
wild fancy is INDUCED, and if in ques-
tianable taste occasionally, certainly al
ways better than painful monotony.
The roofs are broken up in the most fam
tastic forms, casting shadows at all
hours; wide porches are projected invi'
tingly over drivewavs; bay windows are
extended from foundation to attic;
quaint hooks and retreats peep out to
surprise us at intervals, and dash of
novelty and picturesqueness is thrown
over the whole. In combination of
material also there is a wholesome
change Dwellings of brick are filled in
about the gables with slate or fanciful
woodwork; stone is used for the first
story and brick or wood above; all stone
houses, formerly rarely met with, are
now frequent, even small cottages being
built of this material with good effect.
In old times architects did not know
what to do with chimneys, hence made
them as small and Insignificant as posSl-
BILE, but sisce it has been found that
prominent chimneys are as essential TO
a house as good nose on mans lace,
much attention is given them. The dec
orations are more masslve-cornlce ana
piazZas built almost entirely OF stone.
Nor is the color of painted houses less
striking and novel; almost every color
but white is INDUCED in. White is an
outrageous color, particularly for coun-
try houses, it being in such violent con-
.rast with all surroundings; yet nine
farmers out of ten paint their houses
white. Does not nature avoid this color!
Yes, the snow is white, but for special
purpose. How would you like the sky,
trees, grass and leaves white? The in
ternai arrangement has been improved.
This is of more practical Importance
than the outward appearance;
thus no one should build much OF a
dwelling without consulting the designs
of an architect.
What world of labor, what countless
stems can be saved the housewife by
conveniently arrar ged rooms, And how
much more cheerful and healthful rooms
may be made by skilful planting efore
construction. Much warmth is secured
to dwellings by covering with stout pa
per beneath the siding. The Yentila-
important as the heating, flues in the
chimneys being used for this purpose.
No matter how rich you are don't build
too large, don't make your home all
house. How many colossal failures We
see of this kind. The house should be
simply part ofthe home, the surround
ings another equally important part, and
al should be in harmony. Instead OF
inviting the remark, '0h. what a fine
house" | would rather covet, "Oh, what
a pleasan homer And this introduces
the subject of vines, walks, drives, lawns
and trees. But l have reached the end
of the chapter.-Charles A. Green IN n.
Y Tribune.
How to Have a Good Lawn.
good lawn of fine grass may be
made by sowing equal parts of common
June grass or Kentucky blue grass, as 1t
is often called and red top. Any other
proportion, or either alone, will answer
about the same purpose. A sprinkling
of sweet-scented wernal grass should
be added for its fragrance. The last
three grasses named all have narrow
leaves, and form a smooth, compact
turf. By many white clover is consid-
cred quite an addition to the lawn. 1t
NAV be mixed with either fine or coarse
grasst s, and produces q better effect
than the blending of fine with coarse
grasses. With care a pretty lawn may
be made by sowing white clover alone,
but it cannot be depended upon for per-
manence Lawns should not be moved
too often the first year, as fair growth
is needed 10 strengthen the roots. April
and the latter part of September are re-
parded as favorable seasons for seeding,
but with facilities for watering II may be
done at any time when the ground can
be prepared.
A thin seeding is often made depend
ing upon the spread of roots to form the
lawn. A thick sowing is attended with
immediate and more satisfactory results,
and under favorable circumstances will
make lawn in few weeks. Besides,
a thin seeding affords better oppor-
tunity for weeds, which will be trouble
some to eradicate. One of the worst of
these is the smooth crab-grass, an an
nuaI appearing the latter part of sum
mer. Its low, spreading habit, combin-
ed with the toughness of its stems, rem
ders it difficult subject for the lawn
mower Its purplish color gives the
lawn a dingy, uninyiting appearance. 1t
is not advisable TO despair of lawn-mak-
ing because the most -Nvorable condi-
lions cannot but for the