LAWN-PLANTING FOR WINTER EFFECT. 137 



how we can best produce the desired result. I assume that 

 most of us possess lawns of limited dimensions ; in the case 

 of the larger lawns, their treatment may be considered by 

 regular experts. The small landholder, however, with his 

 few hundred square feet of land, must generally bestow 

 such treatment as he can give himself, with the help of in- 

 ferior labor. Moreover, a thousand are interested in small 

 holdings where one possesses or cares for the grand estate. 



Most houses have several windows, any one of which 

 may be selected for the frame of our winter picture. Other 

 things being equal, the window should be chosen that looks 

 out on the bleakest part of the lawn, or in some direction 

 where objects would otherwise be visible which it is desir- 

 able to screen. In either case, it will be found that ever- 

 greens, of which all artificial winter landscapes should be 

 more or less composed, serve to modify and render cosey 

 bleak places, as well as to hide unsightly details. Fre- 

 quently this point lies on the northwest part of the grounds. 

 Complete unity, however, must exist between the treatment 

 of this and other sections of the lawn ; otherwise every- 

 thing will have a loose, straggling, semi-detached look, as if 

 the plants had happened together by chance, and were not 

 at all sure that they were worthily treated or comfortably 

 situated. 



The general outline of the masses of foliage will natu- 

 rally be made coincident with the boundary lines of the 

 property, except as glimpses without are desired ; so that 

 when we use the larger evergreens they will very properly 

 occupy the background of the picture. In other words, 

 their rich, solid mass will make a bold and suitable foil, 



