HINTS ON i,.\.vds(;apin(^. o* 



(if harmony in composition iu landscape is dependent upon association is 

 hard to say. We who have not the genius of the late F. L. Olmstead, that 

 great master of landscape construction, will do well to follow nature 

 in planting for ■harmonious effects. With your permission I will quote 

 the M^ords of Mrs. Van Rensselaer: "If now we ask when and where we 

 need the fine art of gardening, must not the answer be, 'whenever and 

 wherever we touch the surface of the ground and the plants it bears 

 with the wish to produce an organized result that shall please 'the eye.'" 

 The name we usually apply to it must not mislead us into thinking that 

 this art is needed only for the creation of broad landscape effects. It 

 does not matter whether we have in mind a great park or a small city 

 square, a large estate or a modest dooryard, we must go about our work 

 in an artistic snirit if we want a good result. Two trees and six shrubs, 

 a scrau of lawn and a dozen flowering plants may form either a beau- 

 tiful little picture or a huddled disarray of forms and colors. 



The development of the grounds about a house should be primarily 

 laid out for use and convenience. It must be borne in mind that 

 places differ much in climate, soil, in the requirements of the owner and in 

 the amount to be expended. It would therefore seem futile to lay down 

 any hard and fast' rules for design, for that which would be suitable 

 for a plain would be unsuited for a hillside. When cost is not an item 

 of consideration, a complete plan should be made by a skilled landscape 

 gardener who is willing to incorporate as far as possible the trees and 

 plants desired by the owner. Many individuals who have a snecial love 

 for nature and have studied the effects of varying forms, size and colors 

 of different trees and shrubs are qualified to make a satisfactory plan 

 for themselves. Once a definite plan is decided unon do not change 

 any detail as it may destroy the unity of the whole scheme of orna 

 mentation. Do not make the mistake of spending too little for outside 

 features, so that your nlace is in dans-er of lookine stinery, noor, .snorty 

 or tasteless. On the other hand, do not be tempted to s^end too much 

 as some of the wealthy do, for statuary, marble fountains, Greek god- 

 desses and such like. A hanpy medium ous'ht to be about seven or eight 

 Iter cent of the total cost of your house for outside ornampntation. 



After deciding where to build your home, "hich should be located 

 at some distance from the street or highway, where one is less troubled 

 by dust and noise and also eives you a better onoortunity for natural 

 and beautiful decoration, with your greater extent of lawn, you can use 

 larger trees and shrubs for ornamentation. Before any decoration of tht 

 grounds can be begun, see that all debris is removed from the land. A 

 common error is to allow the contractor to leave broken bricks, stone, 

 old mortar, shavings, etc., around the house to h° covered over with 

 five or six inches of good soil. Under such conditions a good lawn is 

 impossible; when dry weather comes along your grass burns un and i^ 

 M constant source of Avorry. Have your ground slone from the hous*^ 

 in all directions to insure drainage from the house. 



The first question in planting should be whether privacy is wanted 



