384 LANDSCAPE GARDENING 



banks and steep ravines present a picturesque type of 

 beauty. This spirit of boldness, irregularity, and wild- 

 ness may be enhanced in the designing of walks and drives 

 and even in the buildings themselves when improving such 

 landscape scenes by the picturesque style. 



Each style of landscape gardening may be introduced 

 with good effect in appropriate surroundings. In public 

 squares or about stately buildings where gardens of a 

 highly pretentious and elaborate character are desirable, 

 the formal style is most suitable. Very frequently, too, 

 in small gardens where variety and naturalness are impos- 

 sible because of limited size, the formal garden is most 

 appropriate. In the country where the surroundings are 

 natural, either the picturesque or natural style is suitable. 

 Where the land is rough and abrupt, or where some large 

 bowlder or irregular group of trees determines the site, the 

 picturesque style may be desirable ; while in districts 

 where. the land is gently rolling and covered with maples, 

 elms, and other smooth, round-topped trees, the natural 

 style is to be preferred. 



The purpose of landscape gardening is to arrange the 

 buildings, walks, drives, lawns, and plantings so that 

 they will best serve the purposes for which they are in- 

 tended and still be combined in a pleasing manner. All 

 home grounds possess elements of natural beauty, and the 

 landscape gardener should perceive and enhance this 

 natural beauty rather than attempt to create a different 

 type. 



Selection of Building Sites. In the selection of build- 

 ing sites there are three things to be kept in mind ; namely, 

 soil drainage, air drainage, and exposure. A well-drained 

 soil is the first requisite. Air drainage is of nearly equal 



