At Bridge Hill, Helper, many of the steep walks in the pleasure-grounds are entirely of flag-stone, which, in our opinion, is peculiarly appropriate to the situation, and contributes much to the pleasure of walking, both in dry and wet weather, as well as being much more economical than gravel. All the walks in the kitchen-garden are also of flag-stone; which, though more costly than gravel at first, yet is much cheaper in the end, because it saves the expense of edgings, weeding, rolling, renewing, &c., does not harbour insects, and at all times affords the most comfortable description of walk. The forcing houses are most extensive, some of them heated by hot air, and others by flues. The back sheds, into most of which we entered, are kept perfectly clean, and all the materials and tools arranged in the most orderly manner. In one house, heated by hot air, the orange trees were covered with fruit and blossoms, with the foliage of a deep shining green; in another, an abondant crop of grapes was ripe. The flues, or chimneys, from all the close fireplaces in the house at Bridge Hill, are carried into one tunnel, which is conducted up the steep side of the hill, and terminates in one chimney, at such a distance from the house, that the smoke is no nuisance. All the laundry operations are carried on as described in Sylvester's Philosophy of Domestic Economy, already mentioned. The coals for the bed-room fireplaces are carried up outside of the house, to depositories on a level with the principal bed-room floor, thus saving much dirt and inconvenience. There is a "turn about," or barrel door, by which all articles usually carried into the kitchen, or given out from it to the farm servants, are received or transmitted, without the one party entering the house, or the other going out of it; such as milk from the cow-house, meat from the butcher, vegetables from the garden, &c. The jib-doors in the passages to the kitchen may be opened by applying the foot to a lever, like the pedal of a pianoforte, so that a servant, with a tray, or any article which requires to be carried by both hands, need not set the tray down, but, by applying its foot, may pass right on.
