2o6o 



The Cornell Reading Courses 



in evidence in contrast with green grass, they should be laid out carefully 

 and attractively. 



Roads and walks are very conspicuous; therefore one must think of how 

 they are to affect the lawn space over which or about which they pass. A 

 lawn cut in two by a road appears scarcely larger than the greater portion. 

 For this reason a drive is best kept to one side of the yard. To keep 

 walks inconspicuous they may be made of large smooth stepping-stones 



]olaced at ordinary pacing inter\^als 

 and level with the turf so that the 

 lawn mower may pass over them. 

 From a little distance the effect is 

 that of an unbroken turf. 



The grades of walks and drives 

 must be easy, not only for progress 

 along them, but also to prevent 

 their washing. They should be 

 provided for first; therefore the 

 grading of lawns is usually done 

 after the walks and drives are 

 made. 



GRADING THE YARD 

 A few rules may be generally 

 accepted for the grading of lawns. 

 The ground about the house should 

 be apparently level, though a slight 

 slope away from the house is a]wa}'s 

 allowed for drainage. The grades 

 at the entrance to the yard should 

 not be abrupt; if there must be 

 some steepness, it had best be 

 arranged somewhere between the 

 entrance and the house. Most im- 

 portant of all are easy grades 

 about the house, so that passage 

 ' to and from house and yard may be almost as easy as from one room 

 to another within the house. If there seem to be insurmountable 

 difficulties in this regard, porches, covered or uncovered, or terraces may 

 be built to serve as connections. A roundabout way, a high or steep 

 flight of stairs, will deter the housewife from carrying work out under the 

 trees, and will really prevent her going out as often as she should. 



If the natural contour of the yard is comparatively flat, it is only neces- 

 sary to smooth the surface. The usual method of cultivating will accomi- 



FlG. 214. A WALK OF STEPPING STONES 



To keep walks inconspicuous they may be made of 

 large smooth stepping stones placed at pacing 

 intervals and level with the turf 



