A TALK ON GARDENS. 113 



space is a border six feet wide filled with all the old-fashioued 

 flowers so dear to the feminine heart. In the central space of the 

 quadrangle are a few beds, cut out of the turf, of bright colored 

 plants, which are always kept filled from the border, the higher 

 plants being placed in the central bed. To relieve the flat effect 

 of the garden six pyramidal Arbor Vitals are introduced, one at 

 each corner of the turf space, and one in the centre of each long 

 side. The dark green foliage forms a fine contrast to the brilliant 

 hues around, and in winter saves the garden from desolation. 



The lawn, whose broadest expanse is advantageously seen from 

 the living rooms, runs close up to the terrace, at the base of which 

 are two or three masses of shrubs varying in height. Vines are 

 creeping here and there over the stones, partially hiding them from 

 view. The effect of this planting happily unites the house to the 

 grounds ; each helps the other in forming an harmonious picture. 

 The surface of the lawn is carefully modeled into gentle undula- 

 tions, except where a sufficiently flat space is preserved for lawn 

 tennis or croquet. Where the view of the neighbor's barn 

 obtrusively thrusts itself upon the gaze, the ground near the 

 boundary rises in a decided swell, which is thickly planted with 

 shrubs, at the rear of which several poplars raise their pointed 

 heads, shutting out from view the objectionable feature. The 

 turf of the lawn is for the most part encompassed with bushy 

 foliage planted so as to form little bays, according to the 

 topography of the ground. In one of these little dells is placed a 

 covered seat for quiet reading or intimate conversation, partially 

 concealed from the house by a small isolated mass of shrubs 

 placed between the house and the bay. This mass adds greatly 

 to the effect of distance. The shrubs are planted thickly to- 

 gether, as the general effect is better and more immediate. 

 Due thinning, however, is to be practised from time to time, 

 as a too thick growth may demand. In general, the tallest grow- 

 ing plants are placed next to the boundary, lower ones next, while 

 very low shrubs, creepers, and masses of ground-covering 

 perennials are placed in front of all. The sky line of the 

 planting varies, in some places being high while in others it is low. 

 Thick masses are predominant here, while there they are thin and 

 graceful, forming a picture harmonious in itself, but of endless 

 variety. No isolated flower beds are seen in the lawn to mar this 

 picture, for although pretty in themselves, they are detached 

 8 



