SELECTION OF THE SITE OF THE HOUSE 17 



front and side lawns so as to give breadth and simplicity 

 and as much depth as possible. To secure this effect in 

 the best way, self-restraint must be exercised in setting 

 out trees. It may seem a little strange to the reader to 

 be warned against setting out trees and shrubs, but it is 

 easy to conceive a small house lot where the proper sim- 

 plicity and dignity of the place require the plant adorn- 

 ment to be limited to turf on the lawn, and vines on the 

 fence and house. 



In the same way these small places should be graded 

 level, and not scooped out in valleys in a forced and un- 

 natural and often undignified fashion. Simplicity and 

 dignity should be the key-note of all landscape gardening, 

 and from the nature of the plants, variety will be sure to 

 follow with happy effect the presence of the few trees 

 and shrubs and vines to which we may be obliged to limit 

 ourselves. 



These preliminary principles being laid down, whoever 

 adheres to them, when he assumes the responsibility of 

 selecting a house site, will find that the comforts and 

 delights of living will be reasonably provided for. It 

 only remains for him to successfully pursue his own indi- 

 vidual taste in the selection of trees and flowers, and the 

 readjustment, as time goes on, of the roads, paths, and 

 lawns to any altered conditions that may arise, provided 

 he will never forget to be controlled by these simple and 

 common-sense basic ideas. 

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