318 ORKAMEKTAL GARDENrKG. 



closer together along the house as shown by the letter s 

 in the cut, we may indicate the desired grade throughout 

 on these, by simply measuring down one foot from the 

 datum line at any point, provided it is intended to keep 

 the desired grade straight. But most likely it ought to 

 be a departure from a straight line to some extent, with 

 probably a crowning point midway between corners. In 

 such case, the measure should be something less than a 

 foot, say ten or eight inches downwards on the stake at 

 the most crowning point, and then gradually increasing 

 the length of the measure in proceeding towards the cor- 

 ners, in order to make a generally curving contour, even 

 if slight. 



With a row of an equal number of stakes between cor- 

 ner and corner all around the lot, as well as around the 

 house, marked with the desired grade in the manner de- 

 scribed, we may now proceed to run lines, shown by dots 



Fig. 126. — GUAGE FOR SLOPES. 



in the figure, across the plot between the stakes of the 

 boundary row and corresponding ones at the house. 

 Along these cross lines the desired grade may also be 

 marked on the stakes, which should also be twenty feet 

 apart. By passing over the entire grounds in this way, 

 the new grade will be shown on stakes about twenty feet 

 apart all over the area, and the finishing of the grading 

 may be guided by these. 



It remains for those having the work in charge to de- 

 cide on how much, if at all, the general contour shall 

 vary from the straight line in all parts. The presence 

 of any desired undulations here and there about the 

 grounds, need not, with due allowance, interfere with this 



