The Surroi'Ndings of the Farm Home 



2065 



to develop in, instead of the bushes being crowded in order to obtain a 

 quicker effect. One bush will grow into better form if it is unhampered, 

 though it may have one or more low-growing shrubs about its base. It 

 is best to use individual bushes at the comers of the house (Figs. 210, 211, 

 217) or in groups about the porches rather than to plant an unbroken mass 

 of shrubs all about the base of the house. A continuous fringe of plants 

 is quite as monotonous as none at all. 



Three trees, more or less, so disposed about the house as to afford shade 

 and to give the house its background and frame, are all that are necessary. 

 Elm, sugar maple, oak, or similar tall, 

 strong trees are best ; they afford shade 

 without keeping air currents and light 

 from the house. Poplar and silver 

 maple give a quick effect because of 

 their rapid growth, but they are brittle 

 and short -Uved, and should not be used. 



PLANTING THE BORDERS 



Between the plantings right next to 

 the house and those on the borders of 

 the yard there should be nothing but 

 open unbroken lawn space. The lawn 

 is needed to set off the planting, and a 

 bordered lawn not only looks better but 

 even larger than one not so enclosed. 



The borders of trees and shrubs, 

 arranged to frame the lawn, and to 

 encircle the outdoor sitting-rooms, 

 should be planted in rather solid masses, 

 much as nature fills in fence rows or 

 hedgerows. Individual plants should 

 be spaced so as to allow them to knit 

 together as they mature. Slow-growing 

 plants and large trees may be underplanted with temporary quick-growing 

 material, which can be taken out later. 



The line of the border looks best as a series of bays or curved recesses. 

 Opposite the important outlooks from the house these bays should be 

 deepest in order to give the greatest length of view. Borders may there- 

 fore be drawn farther away at such points, and brought nearer at others. 

 These bays may enclose little areas of flower-bordered lawn or garden. 

 Since too-marked curves may look unreasonable, the definite line of the 

 border may be lost in scattered groups of large shrubs, or even trees, and 

 such breaks will be the border's greatest charm. 

 130 



Fig. 218. A PLAN FOR BORDER 



PLANTINGS 



The line of the border looks best as a series of 

 bays or curved recesses. Opposite the im- 

 portant outlooks these bays should be deepest 



