8 



LANDSCAPE GARDEN SERIES 



The nature of the finished grade is determined by the require- 

 ments of construction, drainage, appearance and upkeep, and the use 

 which will be made of the grounds. 



In grading about buildings it is necessary to have the ground 

 immediately surrounding the building to slope away from it to carry 

 off the surface water. A fall of one-half inch to the foot will in most 

 cases be satisfactory. In grading large areas for lawn purposes the 

 shape of the ground should be made to resemble the ground that sur- 

 rounds it and of which it seems to be a part. Grading for lawns re- 

 quires the smoothing up of irregularities, but it does not require the 

 earth to be brought to an even plane except perhaps on small lots, and, 

 of course, for formal gardens and areas for games. A vast area 

 appearing almost flat is generally uninteresting. The natural undula- 

 tions, the gentle rises into banks or mounds or gradual falls into regular 

 depressions, all add attractiveness to the lawn and resemble the natural 

 landscape in character. 



When the housq is located near the street the method of grading 

 is largely determined by the difference of elevation of the grade level 

 of the outside walk and the grade line of the house. When both the 

 level of the outside walk and the grade line of the house are practically 

 the same it is best to grade the lawn so that it slopes away from the 

 outside walk and then rises to the house. (Fig. 2 A). When f he 



BAD 



G OOD 



Fig. 2 Showing methods of grading. (A) good arrangement when house is on 

 same level a* street; (B) when house is below street; (D) when house 

 is above street; and (C) poor method not as satisfactory as (D). 



