THE MAKING OP TERRACES 181 



shows an ideal slope, with its double curve, com- 

 prising a convex curve on the top of the bank, 

 and a concave curve at the lower part. This is 

 a slope which would ordinarily be terraced, but 

 in its present condition it is a part ,of the land- 

 scape picture. It can be mown as readily as any 

 other part of the lawn, and takes care of itself. 

 A terrace always obtrudes a hard and rigid line, 

 and fastens the attention upon itself rather than 

 upon the landscape. 



The diagrams in Fig. 160 indicate poor and 

 good treatment of a lawn. The terraces are not 

 needed in this case; or if they are, they should 

 never be made as at 1. The same dip could be 

 taken up in a single curved bank, as at 3, but the 

 better way, in general, is to give the treatment 

 shown in 2. Fig. 161 shows how a very high 

 terrace, 4, can be supplaced by a sloping bank, 5. 

 Fig. 162 shows a terrace which falls away too 

 suddenly from the house. 



In grading to the borders of the place, it is not 

 always necessary, nor even desirable, that a con- 

 tinuous contour should be obtained. This is 

 especially true if the border is higher or lower 

 than the lawn. A somewhat irregular line of 

 grade will appear to be most natural, and lend 

 itself best to effective planting. This is especially 

 true in the grade to water -courses, which, as a 

 rale, should be more or less devious or winding ; 

 and the adjacent land should, therefore, present 



