HORTICULTURE AND DESIGN IN HOUSE SURROUNDINGS. 123 



sorts of foliage and bloom, but keep the whole scene to its own 

 appropriate st3'le, admitting brilliant decoration only in detail and 

 conspicuous single objects onh'' rarel}' if at all. If many flowers 

 are desired they should be grown in a garden, or in formal beds 

 close beside the formal building. The permanent scene can be 

 helped onl}' in its details by the temporary beauty of bulbs and 

 herbs. 



To appreciate that a house-scene depends for real effectiveness 

 upon its general design and not upon decoration, one need only 

 look upon some such ground as that of the Longfellow place before 

 mentioned, where the planting consists of two elms supporting the 

 sides of the house, creepers covering the balustrade at its base, 

 and lilacs flanking the balustrade and forming a hedge along the 

 street wall. The open space of grass is well proportioned and the 

 whole scene is one which — in its formal, S3'mmetrical style — is not 

 surpassed for effectiveness in all New England. Suitable general 

 design is just as effective in any other conceivable style. 



Space forbids further dwelling upon the suburban lot and I must 

 close with a few words about the country seat. All that has been 

 said of the importance of care for the house-scene on the part of 

 the architect, is just as applicable here as in the suburbs. 

 Approach roads ma}' be rightly or wrongly placed, and much 

 depends upon this. The house, if it stands in wild scenery, should 

 either be made to harmonize with the scener}' or it should distinctly 

 contrast with surrounding nature. In this latter case it should be 

 given a setting of its own, divided by terrace, wall, or hedge 

 from the scener}' around. Within this setting the rarest and 

 strangest specimens may be handsomely and flttingly displayed, 

 even though the neighborhood be extremely wild and rough. On 

 the other hand, if specimen planting generally works mischief in 

 the suburbs, it is absolutel}' monstrous in a broader landscape. 

 Small or large scenery can be " improved" by one method only : 

 it ma}' be induced to take on more and more of appropriate beauty 

 and character. What nature hints at she may be led to express 

 fully ; and, if the genius of the place be continuall}' consulted, there 

 is no scene the natural beauties of which may not be heightened by 

 landscape art. 



Discussion. 



William C. Strong said that the nature of their business leads 

 nurserymen to recommend the planting of many trees and shrubs, 



