IMPROVEMENT OF PRIVATE GROUNDS. 435 



ing of eyes, nose and mouth form the principle difference of those 

 millions of features. The arrangement of the grass plot, or lawn, 

 the laying out of driveways and foot paths, and the grouping of 

 trees, plants, shrubs and flowers, is what makes or spoils the beauty 

 of public or private grounds. To have beautiful grounds no one 

 thing contributes more than good thick, rich, velvety grass. This, 

 of course, first calls for a thorough grading and smoothing up and 

 rounding out of all the unsightly points. 



In grading and laying out grounds the natural lay of the land 

 should be studied closely, or you may very seriously injure the 

 beauty points. In making lawns care should be given to a thor- 

 ough preparation of the soil. It should be well plowed and thor- 

 oughly enriched with good stable manure, and harrowed, pulverized 

 and rolled until a good smooth surface is secured. I believe the 

 use of subsoil plows where the land will permit pays richly, for it is 

 claimed this treatment forms a reservoir for the retaining of the 

 moisture which is absolutely necessary for a good catch of grass 

 in a dry season. A good, rich, thick, velvety surface of grass is a 

 question of time, but I think plenty of good seed, moisture and rot- 

 ten manure — in cases of necessity commercial fertilizer can be used 

 — with frequent resowing of the thin places, will ultimately pro- 

 duce a rich, smooth, grassy lawn. I am inclined to think that many 

 a fine lawn has been spoiled by too close mowing with the lawn 

 mower, and using water sprinkled over a large surface in small 

 quantities on a hot day. Good buildings, not costly as a necessity, 

 but tasty and suitable, with a good, rich, smooth lawn will make a 

 pretty place anywhere. 



Driveways and paths, I think, come next. The natural lay 

 of the grounds should be studied now and not have things too 

 straight and stiff nor so utterly regardless of straight lines as to 

 be constant temptation to leave the laid out paths or drives and cut 

 across. All grounds are viewed from three points, viz. : ist, from 

 points without to points within; 2nd, from points within to points 

 without; and 3d, views entirely within the grounds. Now, drive- 

 ways and paths lined up with trees and shrubs may open up or 

 create views of their own or they may completely cut off some beau- 

 tiful view either outside or in, and the secret of landscaping on 

 large or small scale is to open up the beautiful and shut out the 

 unsightly. 



Driveways and paths should be well built, smooth, slightly 

 crowned in the center, and covered with asphalt, coal cinders, 

 gravel or common earth. To be a thing of beauty they must be kept 

 perfectly clean from grass or weeds. A row or a double row of 



