The Canadian Horticulturist. 143 



PLAN OF HOUSE YARD. 



Sir, — 1 want to lay out the grounds in front of my house with trees and shrubs and 

 -walks. I first referred the matter to Principal Mills, of the Ontario Agricultural College, 

 and he referred me to you. I have already a row of large soft maples on the north, besides 

 which is the drive-way to the barn. Oa the south side, I have two rows of Norway 

 spruces- planted list spring. In front of the house, there is an elevated lawn 140 feet wide, 

 around which is a circular road to the south side of the house. I want to know how to lay 

 out and plan the ground between the elevated lawn and the highway. It is level and 

 smooth, and seeded down to grass. 



Am; us McKay, Embro. 



Not having seen Embro subscriber's place, and having no measurements, 

 any plan for improvements which I could make would be very imperfect. 

 However, this plan which I herewith send you may give him some assistance. 

 On whatever part of the lot the dwelling house is located the natural way of 

 approach, which is commonly adopted, is by a straight road from the entrance 

 gate to the front door of <.ne house. Graceful curves are more pleasing to the eye of 

 the landscape admirer: yet, curves should not be made in driveways, unless there 

 be some apparent reason for making them ; therefore I would plant clumps of 

 flowering shrubs and plants where indicated in this plan. These shrubs should 

 be suitable for the climate. I think the following kinds would do well there, 

 without much protection : Dogwoods, elders, strawberry tree, forsythias, fringe 

 tree, mock orange, lilacs, nardy hydrangea, spiraea, snow berries, honeysuckles, 

 viburnums, wiegelias, and Japan quince. These clumps should be cultivated 

 and intermixed with hybrid perpetual roses, paeonias, phloxes, hardy lillies, 

 delphiniums, aconitums, columbines, campanulas, dielytras, rudbeckias, irises, etc. 



In addition to the trees already growing along the fence lines as indicated 

 in subscriber's sketch, I would plant in rear of the dwelling house some 

 American elms, American lindens, silver-leaved and cut-leaved maples. For 

 ornamental trees on the lawn in front of the house, I would plant, weeping birch, 

 purple birch, oak-leaved mountain ash, tulip tree, arbor vitres and Austrian 

 pines ; but they should not be planted so thickly as to prevent a view of the 

 dwelling house from the highway. No trees should be planted very near the 

 house. I would plant some clematises to climb on the veranda railings. 



Be it observed, that the approach, driveway and gravel walks must be kept 

 clean and neatly edged, and the lawn kept cut short ; otherwise the boorish 

 straight road, native plants, shrubs and trees in their wild state is much to be 

 preferred. I am sure this need not be mentioned to your intelligent subscriber, 

 although I have no doubt you have seen many instances of designs being half 

 neglected. 



Cataraqui. D. Nicol. 



