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be less than eight feet and the maximum not over ten, what would be the results? 

 It should be recognized that it is difficult to maintain good effects in hardy-peren- 

 nial borders with widths of less than eight feet. Since this is so, there will be parts 

 of the border too narrow in width to maintain the best appearance. More serious, 

 however, will be the unfortunate appearance of the open lawn which will have a 

 width nearly equal to that of the bordering features. Looking from the house, 

 the apparent width of the lawn will be that of the distance between the farthest 

 projections of the border, while the apparent quality of the flower border would 

 be that of its narrowest parts. Does not this mean a deal of trouble for a curved 

 line, for which, after all, there is opportunity in neither length nor degree? Since 

 the first consideration with respect to such an area should be the expression of 

 openness, and of all possible spaciousness, details inconsistent with this purpose 

 cannot be good. 



The greater part of the back yard should be thrown into an open lawn or court. 

 Whatever the bordering features, the width of the lawn should be greater than the 

 sum of their widths; and a definite expression of spaciousness requires a subtantial 

 majority of lawn area. 



In endeavoring to produce the effect of large space, there are several details well 

 worth observing. Within reasonable dimensions, the higher the enclosure, the 

 larger will the yard appear. The gardenlike and out-door-room effect of the yard, 

 so much to be desired, requires a fence height of at least six feet. Americans 

 are not accustomed to high walls, but when they make a garden, their tendency is 

 unquestionably toward higher barriers. If the yard is to be enjoyed, privacy is 

 essential; and at least at some points, if not all, fences should be even higher than 

 six feet. Again,the effect of space in a lawn will be increased if the side borders 

 have an even and neutral surface. For example, continuous and trimmed hedges 

 appear longer than do rows of shrubs of different species and of varying heights. 

 The ground width likewise appears greater if the surface is of unbroken turf or 

 of uniform pavement rather than if broken by walks or flowers or ground cover, 

 even though the last may not grow materially higher than the grass. In every 

 detail, continuity of surface increases scale. 



If back yards have a depth not much greater than their width (that is, speaking 

 now merely of the area behind the house), it is best to plan the whole yard as one 

 scene. If the depth is sufficient to subdivide and still leave an open lawn adjoin- 

 ing the house, approximately as described above, then a hedge or like barrier may 

 be carried straight across the rear and the enclosure devoted to a salad garden, 

 flowers, or any other purpose. Lot widths of forty feet or less will not as a rule, 

 permit subdivisions parallel to the side boundaries. The apparent size of these 

 yards may further be increased by placing interesting features, such as summer- 

 houses, arbors, trees, or even flowers of somewhat dominant color, at the far end of 

 the yard; for by this means attention is focused upon more distant points and the 

 greater dimensions are thus emphasized. The element of interest in the yard is 

 also thus increased, and still more is it enhanced when it is possible to present 

 from the viewpoint of such an arbor or seat, an entirely different picture, such as 

 a view into a small garden or merely the reverse of the yard scene. 



Few persons have the time to maintain flowers, and frequently it is difficult to 

 procure intelligent care for them. It is quite possible to design interesting 

 flower features with annuals, which may be gardened by men sent from the 



