74. The height or level of the road relatively to Hie height or level of the ground floor of the house, may seem almost too insignificant a subject to be noticed as a separate desideratum. In practice, however, it is of very considerable importance. No house that stands on a lower level than the adjoining road ever yet looked well; unless, indeed, the extent of the scenery was so great, and the house at such a distance, and so decidedly below the level of the road, as not to tempt the comparison. Every one feels that there is always something mean in looking down upon an suject, or in descending to it; while, on the contrary; there is always something dignified and commanding in ascending to one. The truth or falsity of these positions any one may prove, by observing the front gardens of houses, even of the smallest size, in the neighbourhood of London, Edinburgh, or any large town. Where the front garden ascends towards the house, there is an appearance of dignity, dryness, and comfort; but, where it descends, we receive from it the impression of meanness, dampness, and unwholesomeness.

Even in the choice of a street, or of a public road, on which to choose or build a residence, it is desirable, if it can be done without sacrificing more important objects, to fix on one that ascends towards the residence, rather than descends. In all cases of this kind the absolute elevation is, in a great measure, out of the question; the effect is produced by the elevation or depression of the spot on which the house stands, relatively, to a near object; and it can, in all suburban residences of moderate extent, be completely effected by art, whatever may be the natural character of the surface. Let it be observed, however, that this evil can only be avoided before the house is built, and afterwards is past remedy, for, when once the house is set down on a piece of ground on a lower level than the adjoining road, and the ground floor is on a level with the surface, or even if it is only a little above it, it is beyond the art of man to give a character of dignity to the house All that he can do is to raise the ground round it and between it and the house or road, in effecting which a portion of the house is necessarily buried; and, while a part of its dignity is lost by diminishing its height, the expression of meanness, and the actual unwholesomeness, are aggravated by having to descend to the parlour, or ground floor, by steps.

Many villa houses and large mansions in England have been spoiled, both in regard to effect and use, as well as rendered Unwholesome, by earthing them up, in order to give them the appearance of being situated on a level, or on a gentle elevation. It is better, in general, to submit to the first evil, rather than to incur another which is greater. What we would recommend, in the case of small suburban houses built on a lower level than the adjoining street, would be to shut out the lower part of the house from the road, by a wall or open fence, so that the relative levels of the house and road might not be observed; then to scoop out the ground between the house, and the door opening to the road; and to arrange the walk so that the entrance-door to the house could not be seen till the person walking on it had arrived at the lowest part of the intervening walk, from which he might ascend to the house. A great deal more might be said on this subject; but to one class of readers We need only add, bear in mind that elevation is dignity, and depression meanness; and to another, who require principles to be reduced to rules, avoid a house to which yon have to descend, either through the front garden or grounds, or by steps outside or within the house.

75. The size of suburban gardens generally varies from 50 ft. to 300 ft. in length, and from 20 ft. to 100 ft. in breadth; at least we shall take these dimensions as those of the gardens we are about to describe; and it may be here observed that the same modes of planting and laying out are applicable to all the plots between these two extremes, and even to larger and smaller ones attached to houses, forming part of a street or row. The Boil of such a plot, whether large or small, we may suppose to be a loam more or less light or heavy; that soil being more common than any other in the neighbourhood of towns, because they are generally built in valleys or on plains, where the soil is most commonly alluvial or clayey, though sometimes it is Sandy or gravelly. The surface of the ground within the given limits can scarcely be otherwise than tolerably even; for though it may slope in some directions, and have some holes and protuberance, from accidental circumstances, it can scarcely have any natural undulatioris.

The extent and the kind of ground being given, the first things to be considered are, the supply of water or of gas to the house, if by pipes that come through the garden; the pump or well, if water is not laid on; the outbuildings, if any; the under-drainage of the ground; the surface drainage; the number and direction of the walks; the improvement of the texture of the soil; and the arrangement for posts for drying clothes.