IN THE FRONT YARD. 37 



this. It is free, and though not very full, it gives many 

 useful hints. 



I will, however, make some suggestions which I hope 

 will be helpful. I like what I term the amphitheater 

 plan. This is nature's plan. Often on the edge of a na- 

 tive forest you will see little parks surrounded by trees. 

 In the background tall trees. Then as they are more 

 scattering they branch out more, and do not grow so tall, 

 and then as if to hide the trunks and decaying limbs 

 there will be prickly ash, high bush cranberries and 

 hazel brush. You notice these grow taller next to the 

 trees, the shade comipelling them to climb toward the 

 light, and then as they come down to the border they 

 spread out more. This native park gives a good sug- 

 gestion for the home grounds, which of course will be a 

 little more formal. 



Suppose you have one or two acres you wish to fix up. 

 To the right and left on the sides of your plat you plant 

 a row of elms. These are rank, strong growers, and you 

 can depend on them. 'Next plant a row of basswood or 

 native ash, which do not grow as fast. Perhaps next you 

 will want a row of white spruce, so hardy over Minne- 

 sota and the Dakotas. IvTow you are coming down. You 

 can back up against your trees circles, or semicircles of 

 shrubbery. If a circle, put in a spiraea opulifolia in the 

 center, for this is the rankest of all. Then Van Honti, 

 dropping in now and then a golden one. Then the 

 Arguta. Then you come down to the Collosa and Collosa 

 Alba. Then the Thunbergi, and lastly the Anthony 



