PREFACE 



THE purpose of this book is to set forth briefly some 

 simple basic principles concerning the processes 

 whereby home grounds can be made beautiful. 

 From the beginning it \\ill follow the various stages 

 through which may be gradually and naturally developed 

 the sensible, which is always the pleasing and attractive, 

 dwelling place ; for everything which is done according 

 to sound rational principles and common sense is bound 

 to be agreeable and beautiful. In as short a fashion and 

 as clearly as lies in the author's power, it \^ill seek to set 

 do\vn the few points which are to be kept always in mind 

 to properly work out and accomplish the permanently 

 satisfactory result. To make these points tangible, by 

 giving with the reason the example which makes that 

 reason evident, the author invariably reverts to the gen- 

 eral principles that should never be lost sight of in the 

 selection and arrangement of the territory intended for 

 occupation. These principles apply invariably to the 

 small as well as the large places. The statement cannot 

 be made too emphatically at the very outset, that it 

 is always just as simple and just as difficult to lay out 

 a small yard 25 x 100 feet as a gentleman's great country 

 place of many acres. There may be more details in the 



