\6 How to Lay Out 



CHAPTER in. 



True art is expressive before it is beautiful 

 at its height it is still the adornment of a 

 service. — Charles Eliot. 



N the choice of a home site the practical uses must 

 not be overlooked. There must be reason and con- 

 venience in arrangement before the beautifying 

 features are introduced. Notwithstanding the im- 

 pression that art is not practical it is worthy of note, as keen 

 observers will find, that in the works of the masters of the land- 

 scape art there is a simplicity that is charming, a convenience 

 that is reasonable and direct. The practical utilities are made 

 the means of expressing the beauties of art whether in beauty 

 of line and direction, contour or shapeliness, or the disposition 

 of the embellishments of trees and shrubs. 



There is a prevalent idea that there must be a front yard 

 and a back yard to every estate. The front is to be neat and 

 well kept, while the back yard is neglected and considered 

 waste space. See Plates VI and VII. 



This notion is fast passing away and the desire for privacy 

 has led to the development of the lawn or garden front. In- 

 stead of the refuse and offal boxes being scattered about the 

 premises they are carefully placed in an inclosure near the 

 kitchen entrance. See Plates XXIII and XXIV. 



The practical adaptability of the house to the site is worthy 

 of serious thought. Of the many types the level open lot is the 

 easiest and cheapest to develop and almost any type of Jiouse 

 is adaptable, as the whole surroundings are to be made. See 

 Plans I and V. 



The expense for gi'ading will be light about the house, which 

 is often an important item. The greatest disadvantage of an 

 open lot is the necessity of waiting years for n(>wly planted 



