LAWNS AND BOWLING ALLEYS 95 



Its uses are very numerous. As a border it is 

 unrivalled, and it is equally adapted to the edging 

 of beds, paths, or buildings. The house that rises 

 from turf appears to stand upon a level lawn, and 

 there is no better base for the purpose of defining 

 the contour of its plan against the ground. Turf, 

 moreover, will allow of creepers and climbing plants 

 growing against the house, and will prevent all 

 untidiness. Narrow beds should be carefully 

 avoided next the walls of a house, for they are 

 small of content, difficult to keep in order, and they 

 spoil the lines of the building. On the other hand, 

 wider beds are also undesirable, for although they 

 are beautiful in themselves, they obscure the build- 

 ing and carry damp to the walls. Gravel paths, 

 too, are unsatisfactory against brick or stonework, 

 for the materials do not harmonise and the colour 

 generally clashes. Turf or stone paving makes the 

 best border, the latter being akin to the architecture, 

 and the former by its level character and fresh green 

 colour affording a grateful contrast, besides acting 

 as an absorbent of all damp and moisture. 



Turf, then, may make our border between the 

 house and the main paved walk or terrace, and it 



