races, or one made on a steep slope, appears smaller than an area of the same size 

 which is in one level and unbroken sweep; a turncourt on more than a slight 

 grade requires a radius larger than that ordinarily used, to eliminate the danger of 

 cars skidding at these places ; and terraced vegetable gardens have only their level 

 areas available for use. Terraces resulting from the leveling required for lawns, 

 turncourts, and the like may support the planting necessary to enclose and sep- 

 arate the various features on the different levels, thus wasting no space. Pleasure 

 gardens do not demand extensive levels, and therefore these may be adapted to 

 almost any form of topography. 



A slightly hollowed (concave) grade is the most pleasing one for a lawn; and 

 if the area is large, gradually steepening slopes may, with excellent effect, mount 

 at the borders to marked differences in level. Lawns necessarily made on slopes 

 for a greater part of their area are in effect more pleasing, and appear more nearly 

 level, if the lowest ground is not at their borders. To avoid this condition it is 

 even better to steepen a part of the slope, in order to obtain a little flat ground, 

 and perhaps even a slight rise, before the borders are reached. For very conven- 

 tional effects, lawns should be quite flat; but if picturesque effects are desired, 

 a varied but generally concave lawn surface is preferable. The outstanding feat- 

 ures of a lawn are its extent and the unbroken sweep of its surface. Hence it is 

 plain to be seen that the part of the lot selected for this purpose should have 

 suitable topography. 



Gardens also appear larger if all on the same level. But gardens for small 

 homes do not, as a rule, need to appear extensive in order to look well. And 

 however broken the garden surface may be, even it if consists of a series of steep 

 terraces, as long as the dimensions of its details are not unreasonably small, the 

 scale will not be petty and the terraced garden will be pleasing. As a rule, gardens 

 need diversity, both in level and in plan; and distinct differences in levels afford 

 opportunity for such decorative details as steps and walls in addition to the usual 

 garden features, which, in turn, seen from different elevations multiply the pleas- 

 ing aspects of the garden. Of course, the character of the garden area immediately 

 adjoining the house needs to be more roomlike in order to be a proper adjunct 

 to the living room. Beyond this area immediately adjoining the house, however, 

 the gardens may consist of naturalistic or conventional effects on rising or falling 

 grades, preferably taking advantage of existing conditions; but they must be 

 congruous parts of the whole. On rough and irregular terrain, unavoidable 

 remnants of ground may almost always be adapted to some interesting architec- 

 tural or gardenlike feature. 



One is less apt to realize or to concern himself with the requirements or the 

 opportunities in the more distant parts of the yard than he is with the practical 

 aspects of entrance facilities and with the appearance of his house from the street. 

 Many persons balk at the suggestion of locating a house on a level which is con- 

 siderably higher or much lower than that of the street. As was stated in chapters 

 II and III, the function of the front yard is that of furnishing an appropriate 

 foreground to the house, together with entrance facilities. Nevertheless, unusual 

 or difficult conditions are not in themselves a sufficient reason for not making 

 practical and interesting entrance drives and arranging for the satisfactory ap- 

 pearance of the house from the street. Similar topographic conditions will usu- 

 ally prevail along a street and even throughout a neighborhood. Occurring thus, 



