LAYING OUT THE GARDEN 21 



each way a yard, which gives plenty of space for 

 numbers or other designations. 



All borders should be not less than four feet in 

 width; six is better, and they may run up to ten or 

 twelve feet if there is access from both sides. Three 

 feet is a good average width for a path, but if 

 growth is eventually to fall over both sides allow 

 another foot. 



Straight lines depend largely upon the amount 

 of formality that is to enter into the plan. Some- 

 times, however, they are considered as the means 

 of saving work. Every variation from straight 

 lines calls for more labor of maintenance, as well 

 as construction, and the same is true of the mul- 

 tiplicity of beds and borders in a layout. The 

 time to think of both things is when the paper 

 plan is taking shape. 



At this point, too, it should be borne in mind 

 that laying out a garden does not necessarily im- 

 ply that you are binding yourself to do all the work 

 designated before the next summer has flown. As 

 a matter of fact, in the case of any layout of size 

 or one of complexity, the better way is to make only 

 a start the first year. If, as is again and again the 

 case, the start is a wrong one, it will be the more 

 quickly remedied. 



Suppose the garden scheme to be a bordered 

 path leading down to a parterre plot. Plant only 

 the path border the first spring and let the re- 

 mainder simmer until autumn when it can be 

 made ready for planting the following year. This 



