New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-11

FOR COUNTRY HOUSES.
NEW IDEA FOR A ROOF GARDEN.
The DEVELOPMENT Of a country house and its sur
rounding grounds is as yet not half UNDERSTOOD
and infinitely more might be made OF both II thelr
possibilities properly appreciated FOR IN
stance II is not long since the bare porch, the con-
ventional piazza chairs. and at best hammock or
two were all that were deemed necessary for out
door comfort Now all that has been changed, ana
the veranda has become beautiful. being trans
formed by the aid of rugs tables easy chairs,
books and decorative plants-a veritable open-air
sitting room.
This is certainly step in the right direction but
II should go further. Why should there not be In
every house roof garden on top OF the outdoor
sitting room or veranda? 1t could be made &C
cessible by means Of a stairway from the piazza
below and thus easily become charming feature
OF any home. Where there are mosquitoes such a
place would be a godsend as these troublesome
insects rarely fly TO any height-at least not in the
open air. For GOODNESS. too, roof garden pos
sesses great advantages over the covered veranda
below
A semi-coonial semi-Italian. and wholly delight
fu house. which has recently been built the
Hudson has one of these late additions to the
comfort of summer living. The roof garden is so
arranged that it really has the effect Of being on
the ground. II is sunk to speak, within four
brick walls. which are completely covered with
vines, the roots of which Planted in deep boxes
concealed by broad white benches. fashioned like
the marble seats in Italian garden. Against the
end wall is large rockery. covered with creepers
tall ferns and palms. in front OF which is tank
for goldfish also artstically concealed with pots
OF flowers and creepers. In the centre of the tank
. is a marble boy on dolphin, which blows a mina-
ture fountain out OF a cOnch shell. The floor of
this sky parlor is covered with sailcloh stretched
smooth and painted white this being the best way
of making fiat roof perfectly watertght. On this
laid gay rugs. with tables. chairs etc II being
the intention of the owner TO the garden for
after-dinner coffee, and even on extremely hot
nights as dining room. for which reason ne has
had II connected with the pantry below
standard trees planted In large Italian flower
crooks, placed at intervals and a profusion of
towering plants In pots arranged in well-assorted
groups are the remaining accessories of this pretty
spot When one considers that over the low wal
may be seen in the distance the broad Hudson.
with the Catskil Mountain, a BACKGROUND. II
Will be easily imagined what delightful spot such
a place must be for afternoon tea or a dinner
al fresco
On Southern plantations summer houses con-
structed up among the branches OF the giant live
OAKS are not uncommon. but in the North where
IN the dog days they would be equally delightful,
they are practically unknown.
In one oldfashioned Northern garden however
where great oak and a beautiful elm stand as
sentries at the entrance, rustic stairway 1anked
on either side by lilies and hoyhocks reaches 10
the hrst branches Of the latter tree Here a bridge