Suburban Home Grounds. 29 



tion of walks, drives, gardens, lawns, and tennis courts in their 

 relation to the house and to each other. See Plans III, IX, 

 and XV. 



The height of the first floor above the street should be deter- 

 mined, allowing for the height of the under pinning of the house 

 and the necessary slopes to the street. At this point if there 

 is much difference in elevation a cross section should be made 

 to assist in determining the height. See Plan XI. 



Before going too far, examine the practical points such as 

 the coal delivery, the delivery of supplies to the house, the 

 relation of the living room windows to the sun and to the lawn 

 or garden. There may also appear difficulties in grade for 

 the walks or drives which will need adjustment. See Plate XX. 



That which is usually carried in the mind's eye on the ground 

 will appear out of place and awkward when drawn on paper 

 and studied. Drives that would seem easy enough in grade, and 

 graceful in alignment, will be found to be excessively steep 

 and crooked when drawn and figured. The supposed position 

 for a lawn or flower garden will be found to be impossible. The 

 bulkhead or coalhole may need to be moved or a flight of steps 

 or a door introduced into the design of the house in order that 

 access to the lawn or garden may be made direct. After- 

 thoughts in building are always expensive, and there are many 

 examples of what "not to do" in the houses and grounds that 

 have been carelessly constructed. See Plans VII and VIII. 



The outlines of the beds of shrubs and position of the trees 

 are then added to the preliminary sketch, but not until all the 

 practical points have been determined. There must be a use 

 for every portion of the grounds the same as there is for the 

 house, whether for service, pleasure, or adornment. If the 

 problem is too difficult an experienced landscape architect 

 will be of assistance in sifting the chaff from the wheat in 

 the ideas and give unity and originality to the scheme. 



Having determined the preliminary sketch the next step is 

 to enter more into detail of both house and grounds. 



