56 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY 



METHODS OF PRACTICE 



VIII. A visit to the grounds and a 

 consultation is ordinarily the first step, 

 to become thoroughly familiar with the 

 client's wishes and with the nature of the 

 problem. This visit binds neither party 

 to any further dealings. Sometimes verb- 

 al instructions on the ground, in the 

 course of a visit, with or without a writ- 

 ten report or sketches, will meet the 

 needs of the client. 



IX. The usual procedure if further 

 services are desired from the Landscape 

 Architect, is as follows : 



a. The making of surveys either by 

 the Landscape Architect or in accord- 

 ance with his instructions. 



b. The making of preliminary studies 

 as a basis for discussion of the problem 

 with the client. 



c. The preparation of a general plan 

 based on the revised preliminary 

 studies (a written report frequently ac- 

 companying this general plan to ex- 

 plain further any intent of the design 

 that might not be clearly illustrated 

 by the plan itself). 



d. The development of working draw- 

 ings (with specifications) such as 

 grading and drainage plans, large scale 

 construction plans, detailed planting 

 plans, and garden details. 



e. The obtaining of bids, and negotia- 

 tions with contractors preceding the 

 letting of contracts ; or, in the case of 

 day labor, the making of the necessary 

 arrangements for executing the work; 



and the selection and ordering of 

 plants. 



/. The general direction and super- 

 vision of the work by the Landscape 

 Architect or his assistants during its 

 execution. 



X. The employment of a Landscape 

 Architect conveys no authority to him to 

 proceed beyond those stages of the work 

 clearly covered by the terms of his em- 

 ployment ; and the client has a right to 

 terminate his services at any time on 

 payment for services rendered and ex- 

 penses properly incurred to date, unless 

 there is a definite contract to the con- 

 trary. The plans and specifications pre- 

 pared by a Landscape Architect are "in- 

 struments of service," and remain his 

 property unless by special agreement in 

 exceptional cases. Because of the extra- 

 ordinary difficulty of securing satisfac- 

 tory results in the execution of landscape 

 plans without their designer's supervision 

 to aid in their interpretation, it is con- 

 trary to the best practice for Landscape 

 Architects to furnish plans for execution 

 by others, divorced from supervision by 

 themselves. 



XL In cases where growing plants 

 are essential elements in the design the 

 work of the Landscape Architect normal- 

 ly requires several years for its success- 

 ful development, and the quality of the 

 result is largely dependent on the skill 

 with which the maintenance is supervised 

 during this period. It is therefore im- 

 portant, especially in the larger problems, 

 that he be retained in an advisory capa- 

 city for a period of one or more years 

 after the completion of the initial work. 



