Landscape Gardening and Home Decoration 5 



The trees we plant may be a legacy that will last through 

 many generations. 



The Natural versus the Artificial System 



In earlier times and in other countries much of the work 

 in landscape or ornamental gardening was done in what is 

 known as the geometrical or artificial system (Fig. i), where the 

 work was largely laid out in squares, circles, or other geo- 

 metrical figures; the changes in grade were largely obtained 

 by steep terraces, the trees and shrubs trained to regular 

 and often grotesque forms. In our own country the natural 

 system is more largely used, and more and more in Europe 

 it is coming into use, where all the work is done so as to 

 represent the best and most beautiful in nature. By this 

 system the walks and drives are laid out in graceful curves, 

 the changes in grade made by graceful slopes and rounded 

 surfaces, and the trees and shrubs are encouraged to take 

 the most perfect natural forms, while they are so grouped 

 as to give the greatest variety of natural beauty. 



Under some conditions, as in squares or city lots, close 

 up to large, tall buildings, with paved roads and side- 

 walks, on steep hillsides and abrupt slopes, or where the 

 terrace or retaining wall is a necessity, the artificial system 

 may not be objectionable, but in the country, with so much 

 of freedom of thought and action, and so full of natural 

 growth and beauty, the artificial style is not in good taste 

 and should generally be avoided. The house and sur- 

 rounding buildings, walks, drives, fences, etc., must of 

 necessity be artificial, but even these may be toned down in 

 their architecture and coloring so as to blend and harmonize 

 with the natural ornamental features about them. 



