University of Virginia Library

“There is scarcely a page in it in which the reader will not remember, and turn to again
with a fresh sense of delight. It bears the imprint of nature in her purest and most joyous
forms, and under her most cheering and inspiring influences.”

“If we would show how a modern could write with the ease of Cowley, most gentle
lover of nature's gardens, and their fitting accessaries from life, we would offer this volume
as the best proof that the secret has not yet died out.”

“It is a collection of twenty or more of the stories which have blossomed out from the
summer soil of the author's thoughts within the last few years. Each word in some of
them the author seems to have picked as daintily, for its richness or grace, or its fine fitness
to his purpose, as if a humming-bird were picking upon his quivering wing the
flower whose sweets he would lovingly rifle, or a belle were culling the stones for her
bridal necklace.”

“The book embraces a great variety of personal and social sketches in the Old World,
and concludes with some thrilling reminiscences of distinguished ladies, including the
Belles of New York, etc.”

“This very agreeable volume consists of sketches of life and adventure, all of them, the
author assures us, having a foundation strictly historical, and to a great extent autobiographical.
Such of these sketches as we have read, are in Mr. Willis's happiest vein—a vein,
by the way, in which he is unsurpassed.”

“Few readers who take up this pleasant volume will lay it aside until they have perused
every line of its contents.”

“Some of the best specimens of Mr. Willis's prose, we think, are herein contained.”

“In the present volume, which is filled with all sorts of enticements, we prefer the
descriptions of nature to the sketches of character, and the dusty road-side grows delightful
under the touches of Willis's blossoming-dropping pen: and when we come to the
mountain and lake, it is like revelling in all the fragrant odors of Paradise.

“It is one of the most thorough works of the kind we have ever seen, dealing in particular
as well as generalities, and imparting many valuable hints relative to soil, manures, pruning
and transplanting.”

“A mass of useful information is collected, which will give the work a value even to
those who possess the best works on the cultivation of fruit yet published.”

“His work is one of the completest, and, as we have every reason for believing, most
accurate to be obtained on the subject.”

“A concise Manual of the kind here presented has long been wanted, and we will
venture to say that, should this volume be carefully studied and acted upon by our industrious
farmers, the quantity of fruit in the State would be doubled in five years, and the
quality, too, greatly improved. Here may be found advice suited to all emergencies, and
the gentleman farmer may find direction for the simplest matters, as well as those which
trouble older heads. The book, we think, will be found valuable.”

“It is full of directions as to the management of trees, and buds, and fruits, and is a
valuable and pleasant Book.”

“The work is prepared with great judgment, and founded on the practical experience
of the Author—is of far greater value to the cultivator than most of the popular compilations
on the subjects.”

This Book supplies a place in fruit culture, and that is saying a great deal, while we
have the popular works of Downing, Thomas, and Cole. Mr. Barry has then a field to
himself which he occupies with decided skill and ability.

Among the many works which within a few years have been brought before the public
designed to give impulse and shape to practical husbandry and horticulture, this is among
the best, and in many respects, the very best. It ought to be in every family in the
United States.

It is a manual that ought to be in the possession of every man that owns a foot of land.

Both to the active fruit grower and the novice in Pomology, this book will be found
invaluable.

“In this neat and tasteful volume, Mr. Wheeler has condensed the results of an accomplished
training in his art, and the liberal professional practice of it.

“We can confidently recommend this elaborate production to the attention of gentlemen
who are about building or renovating their country houses, to professional architects,
and to all readers of discrimination, who wish to know what is truly eloquent in this beautiful
art, and to cultivate a taste worthy to cope with “judgment of wisest censure.”

“The cost of such establishments is carefully considered, no less than the comforts they
should afford, the display they can (honestly) pretend to, and all the adjuncts that go to
complete the ideal of a convenient and elegant mansion.”

“It is extremely practical, containing such simple and comprehensive directions for all
wishing at any time to build, being in fact the sum of the author's study and experience as
an architect for many years.”

“Mr. Wheeler's remarks convey much practical and useful information, evince good
taste and a proper appreciation of the beautiful, and no one should build a rural house
without first hearing what he has to recommend.”

“Important in its subject, careful and ample in its details, and charmingly attractive in
its style. It gives all the information that would be desired as to the selection of sites—
the choice of appropriate styles, the particulars of plans, materials, fences, gateways, furniture,
warming, ventilation, specifications, contracts, &c., concluding with a chapter on the
intellectual and moral effect of rural architecture.”

“A book very much needed, for it teaches people how to build comfortable, sensible,
beautiful country houses. Its conformity to common sense, as well as to the sense of
beauty, cannot be too much commended.”

“No person can read this book without gaining much useful knowledge, and it will be a
great aid to those who intend to build houses for their own use. It is scientific without
being so interlarded with technical terms as to confuse the reader, and contains all the information
necessary to build a house from the cellar to the ridge pole. It is a parlor book,
or a book for the workshop, and will be valuable in either place.”

“This work should be in the hands of every one who contemplates building for himself
a home. It is filled with beautifully executed elevations and plans of country houses from
the most unpretending cottage to the villa. Its contents are simple and comprehensive,
embracing every variety of house usually needed.”

“To all who desire a delightful rural retreat of “lively cottagely” of getting a fair equivalent
of comfort and tastefulness, for a moderate outlay, we commend the Rural Homes of
Mr. wheeler.”