244 HOW TO PLAN THE HOME GROUNDS 



by bedding-plants to be found on the place, and as it 

 adjoins the formal lines of the fountain basin, it is in 

 entirely good taste, and, from its limited size, compara- 

 tively inexpensive. On the other hand, it is, perhaps, 

 the least important feature of the place, and would be 

 missed less on account of its ephemeral character than 

 either the grass, the trees, and shrubs, or the water of 

 the fountain. On each side of the station, and border- 

 ing the railroad, considerable areas of green lawn ex- 

 tend for about one hundred feet either way, giving space 

 for an abundant display of grass, the most inviting object 

 the eye can rest on at a railroad stopping-place. 



On the borders of the lawn are disposed, in irregular 

 groups, with a few trees intermingled, various hardy 

 and vigorous deciduous shrubs, that afford attractive 

 leaves and beautiful flowers at various seasons of the 

 year, according to the habits of the different kinds, which 

 include dogwoods, viburnums, spiraea opulifolia, S. thun- 

 bergii, philadelphuses, privet ibota, forsythias, berber- 

 ries, bush honeysuckles, and the Japan rose, rosa rugosa. 



The deciduous trees consist of such kinds as elms, lin- 

 dens, maples, tulips, American ashes, and Oriental plane 

 trees, and are planted fifty feet apart, so as to give them 

 a park-like effect. In this way a varied effect of bark, 

 branches, and foliage is obtained throughout nearly the 

 whole year. 



The writer desires to point out that one feature which 

 usually accompanies the railroad station, and that does 

 not happen to exist in the plan we have been considering, 

 is the steep slope or bank that is frequently made by a 

 railroad cut in the front or back of the station. Such 

 a place affords a most excellent opportunity to plant out 

 a woody-looking growth, in every way natural, of run- 



