310 ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. 



employed. A knowledge of materials is quite indis- 

 pensable on the part of the architect. He should be 

 familiar with the natures and merits of all the plants he 

 sets out ; the proper selections to make, and the soils and 

 exposures most suitable for each ; the effects of sunshine, 

 shade, moisture, dryness, upon them, the sizes and forms 

 they attain at maturity, the shades of foliage, colors of 

 flowers, and a multitude of other things in order to pro- 

 duce lasting good effects. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

 LAYING OUT THE GROUNDS. 



From the time the first spade is struck, until the 

 garden is completed, there will be frequent need of con- 

 sulting the plan for guidance. It must be early 

 determined where excavations for walks, foundations, 

 etc., are to come, that the material from these can be 

 utilized in rough shaping. The soil of borders for trees 

 and shrubs, as well as of flower beds, ferneries, etc., will 

 probably need special preparation, and that is often best 

 made while the rough work is in progress. Any rockeries, 

 terraces, lakes, etc., to be introduced, must be located 

 early. 



All improvements and objects being in place on the 

 map, their exact location on the grounds should be 

 determined with the measuring tape and marked with 

 stakes. Usually, in laying out, a place must be gone over 

 a number of times in parts, because stakes get disturbed 

 or covered up, and the surface keeps varying more or 

 less during construction. 



While most points are readily located by measurement, 

 this is more difficult in the case of walks and other curves, 



