CHUfeCH, SCHOOL, tlTC, GARDENS. 273 



flowers. There is no excuse for this, because the stock 

 necessary to improve the grounds, need not cost much, if 

 bought, while in most cases no outlay would be required, 

 as native plants and trees could be had for the digging. 

 School trustees should see to it, that the work is done in 

 every district, not by planting only, but also by properly 

 protecting the trees, etc. 



That there is little danger that trees will be damaged 

 in school yards if somewhat protected, and with 

 proper rules respecting their safety, is shown by the 

 many cases of city school yards that abound in shade 

 trees. Here, in fact, may sometimes be found the other 

 extreme, and almost as objectionable as the one alluded 

 to above — namely, too many trees. 



In carrying out such improvements, the best way is to 

 plant the trees in clusters, so that plenty of air and sun- 

 light, as well as shade, may be present. 



Figure 112 shows a school yard designed to present 

 a great deal of natural beauty and variety, as well as 

 to afford comfort to the children. It is intended that the 

 general surface be finished with gravel, or other hard 

 material, instead of grass. In the figure A, A, represent 

 shrubbery and flower borders about eight feet wide, well 

 guarded against intrusion from the children, by a stone 

 or brick coping one foot high, with or without an addi- 

 tional light iron guard on the top. B is an ornamental 

 raised bed or terrace, about a foot high at the lowest 

 part, Avith the soil retained by a coping similar to that 

 around A, A. From this terrace, which is grass-covered, 

 a second one, smaller in diameter, rises above the surface 

 about a foot, and is also retained by a coping of stone or 

 brick. This one is surmounted by low-growing, bright 

 flowers. C, C are grass-covered slopes of al)out two and a 

 half feet rise, and surmounted by low-growing, attractive 

 shrubs. By the novel means of such slopes, some grass 

 for beauty may be had in perfect order, without danger 



