THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 131 
ON THE LAYING OUT OF SMALL GARDENS. 
BY JAMES CRUICKSHANES. 
(Pr1zzE Essay ContT#ibuTED To THE MassAcuusETTS HonTICULTURAL SocIETY.) 
pH principles upon which Landscape Gardening is 
4/ founded are intended to produce unity of design with 
harmony in execution, and also picturesque beauty, and 
where these are not combined, the grand object in view 
is not attained. 
It is necessary to consider the location of the house, with all its 
surroundings, the size of the place, also the views to be obtained 
from it; whether they are distant or circumscribed, of wood or 
water, tame or romantic, of mountain or meadow, of sea or land. 
An estate commanding wide views requires very different treatment 
in the arrangement, from one where the house is imbedded in a 
forest, with only space enough to get a small lawn, and consequently 
without distant views. In forming the component parts of a good 
landscape, much also depends upon the character of the scenery in 
view ; for if the sea can be seen on the one side, and a mountain on 
the other, the planting would require to be bolder and more decided 
than if the only views to be obtained were a meadow with its flocks 
and herds. 
These different circumstances would require to be borne in mind 
by any one who undertakes such work as the laying out and deco- 
rating a suburban residence in the style now practised in landscape 
gardening. Much may be learned by the attentive observer from 
studying the natural forests, whether on meadow or mountain side, 
the natural groups being, in many cases, so arranged as to give the 
landscape a very pleasing effect, so that little improvement could be 
made by the most skilful artist. 
The first thing that requires attention is to have the ground 
properly drained and subsoiled, and afterwards well dug over and 
enriched ; also to have the places marked off for groups of trees 
which it is intended to plant. The surface must be made fine, and 
you will then be ready to sow the grass seed, and must be sure to 
procure the best mixture to produce a good lawn. 
It is difficult to give a design for any supposed place, as almost 
every one differs somewhat from its next neighbour; but assuming 
the ground to be nearly level, or slightly undulating, with a public 
road in front, and rather sloping to the road than otherwise, placing 
the house about two-thirds of the depth of the property towards the 
back, will give a good opportunity to have the necessary buildings, 
such as the stables, carriage-house, etc., behind the mansion, where 
they can be shut out from view, if desired, by irregular groups of 
planting, which could lap over each other, and thus secure privacy. 
This arrangement would afford space for a fine lawn in front, with 
small, irregular clumps of trees and flowering shrubs near the road, 
making the lawn look as large as possible, and giving views of 
pleasant objects beyond. 
May. 
