124 How to Lay Out 



The province of the landscape architect or designer is to 

 advise as to the arrangement of the grounds and prepare plans 

 for their execution. He will mould into shape the ideas of 

 the home builder or suggest entirely new ones. He is to pro- 

 tect the owner from unscrupulous contractors or nurserymen 

 so as to secure the best results at the least expense. Choose, 

 then, a reliable, well trained man in whom can be placed 

 explicit confidence. As his remuneration for services ren- 

 dered is in the form of professional fees there should be no 

 inducement for him to order an excessive amount of work or a 

 larger number of plants than is needed to accomplish the 

 effect. He should have nothing to sell — either materials or 

 plants. His knowledge, training, experience, and above all his 

 artistic taste, are his stock in trade. The best landscape archi- 

 tects very rarely advertise commercially and are known by 

 their experience, training, and work. Avoid the free plan idea, 

 for it is a well known fact that something for nothing is rarely 

 given. There must be pay somewhere. 



The card of the landscape architect is usually on this order 

 and shows the scope of his work: 



The undersigned offers his services to those who contemplate 

 the subdivision or improvement of land for sale, the develop- 

 ment or revision of large and small estates, parks, public 

 squares, playgi'ounds, the surroundings of factories, hospitals, 

 and other public institutions. He will consult with owners, 

 architects, engineers, and others concerning the placing of 

 buildings, laying out of drives and walks, gi-ading of surfaces, 

 and the treatment of old and new plantations. In general, 

 his services are offered where the appearance of the result is 

 worth consideration, whether in the arrangement of the land 

 or of the objects upon it. 



A preliminary visit and consultation on the gi-ound is essential 

 in most cases to acquaint him with the client's wishes, and with 

 the physical and financial conditions of the case, to the end 

 that he may suggest the most suitable method of procedure. 



