LAWNS, GLADES AND GARDEN WALKS. 



portions of the grounds nearest the house, and that 

 the designer's task will include the introduction of 

 order and primness consistently with the existing 

 wildness which is to be retained. There is also the 

 further consideration, that the coppice, which looks so 

 well when maturing for its periodical cutting, leaves 

 a bare scraggy patch when cut down, so that 

 permanent standard trees of oak or other varieties 

 of English timber should be encouraged to ensure a 

 permanent woodland ; and glades should be planned 

 to bear a proper relation to those trees, so that the 

 effect of avenues may be obtained. Where possible, 

 any opening made in the woodland, whether arranged 

 as a formal or informal glade, should be considered 

 first in relation to points of view from the residence 

 or important parts of the immediate surroundings, 

 and also in relation to views outside the estate 

 boundary. 



Two practical considerations must affect the 

 manner of forming woodland glades. These are the 

 shade and drip from trees, which tend to keep the 

 ground sloppy and to encourage the growth of moss 

 instead of grass. To remedy this, land drains should 

 be laid on either side of the glade at a greater depth 

 than usual, say about four feet, in order to lessen the 

 risk of the tree roots entering them, and in addition to 

 this, the grass should be raised in the centre or, on 

 a hillside, sloped slightly from one side of the glade 

 to the other, to throw heavy rains in the direction 

 of the drains. 



Soil in coppice woods, though excellent for the 

 growth of shrubs and trees, is seldom rich enough 

 for grass, so that if manure cannot be obtained, 

 a liberal supply of leaf mould gathered from the 

 surrounding woodland should be added as a top 

 dressing or forked into the top spit of soil. If the 

 soil is very light, give a thorough rolling and sow 

 with clover ; if heavy, allow it to consolidate naturally 

 and sow with the grass seed given below. 



Other things may take the place of grass in a 

 glade. Ivy is often used, or the St. John's Wort 

 (Hypericum calycinum), which is so extensively used at 

 Normanhurst near Hastings, and does not look in the 

 slightest degree exotic as one would suppose among 

 English timber trees. Where a still freer treatment 

 is required, there can be nothing more suitable than 

 bracken, especially where one looks towards the sun 

 down the glade, when the play of light and shade 

 is very beautiful. The russet brown carpet in Winter 

 is also another attraction in favour of brake, especially 

 if there are holly undergrowths at either side of the 



i 







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SCALE! OF i 



i" r r \& 



Substitutes 

 for grass 

 under trees. 



FIG. 157. 



127 



