328 LANDSCAPE DESIGN 



mating and ordering plants ; supervision of construction ; supervision 

 of planting. This enables the client, at any of these designated stages, 

 to place the landscape architect's plans in the hands of some one else 

 for execution or to cease to employ the landscape architect altogether. 

 It enables the landscape architect, if he sets his price for each succes- 

 sive service only when this service is about to begin, to estimate the 

 actual service required more closely. On the other hand, it is possible 

 only roughly to determine under which head the professional assist- 

 ance given should be classified. For instance, many decisions as to 

 grading and planting must be made in preparing the preliminary plan. 

 In land subdivision work* it is a frequent practice for the landscape 

 architect to fix his charge at so much per acre of land developed, for 

 certain specified plans and service. This definiteness is particularly 

 desirable from the client's point of view in these cases, and a landscape 

 architect with experience in such work can determine rather closely in 

 advance what his charges should be. 



When the client is willing to put himself in the hands of his land- 

 scape architect, the charge may simply be determined by the land- 

 scape architect as what seems fair when the work is done. If the 

 landscape architect is conscientious and his office is efficient, and no 

 misunderstandings arise, this would be the best way, but usually some 

 statement as to probable charges will save later embarrassment. When 

 nothing is stated beforehand the courts would probably uphold a 

 charge which was shown to be in accordance with the general custom 

 of reputable practitioners in such a case. 

 Professional Every landscape architect sets before himself the ideal of being 



Reputation widely known as a good practitioner. The only final firm basis on which 



such a reputation can rest is actual work well done and clients satisfied. 

 It is evident, however, that the landscape architect must get the work 

 to do before he can establish such a reputation, and this is the greatest 

 problem which first confronts the young practitioner. Anything which 

 he can do without loss of dignity or honesty to make himself known 

 and professionally respected is desirable. He may advertise in certain 

 acceptable ways. He may locate his office so that it is to be seen by 

 people who might become clients, and so that he may mingle with such 



* Cf. Chapter XI, p. 280. 



