Beautifying the Farmstead. 



37 



effort should be miulo to accomplish it in the most natural manner 

 practicable. If at all possible this should be by using a double curve, 

 known to carpenters and landscape designers as an " ogee," which 

 consists of a convex surface for the upper part of the slope and a 

 concave surface for the lower part. Such curves may. be either short 

 and sharp, as shown in figure 38, or long and flat, as in figure 

 39. Where banks similar to those on railroad cuts or fills are neces- 

 sary, they should be held in place by embedding rocks in the surface 

 (fig. 40) when stone is available and planting among the stones 

 or by setting out shrubs or vigorous vines (fig. 41), especially if 

 the rock treatment is not practicable. 



FIG. 41. A bank held by vines. 



Plane surfaces, either flat like a table or on a slope like a roof, are 

 not desirable except in formal gardening. 



The kind of law r n cover is important. The best for the region 

 should be used, even if it requires a little more care to establish it. 

 In most parts of the United States grasses can be utilized for lawns. 

 In a few places other ground covers must be used unless great care 

 can be given the lawn. Wherever it is at all practicable to grow it, 

 grass is the most pleasing cover. 



Lawns should be of sufficient size to give an ample setting, espe- 

 cially for the house. If well placed, 2,000 or 3,000 square feet may 

 answer all purposes, although much more space is better. The ap- 

 parent size of a lawn may often be materially increased by having a 



