38 



shrub and flower border, though still more strik- 

 ing by themselves. 



The width of the shrubbery border should 

 depend upon its length, and also upon the ex- 

 tent of space between the highway and the resi- 

 dence. - Very wide borders, where the frontage 

 of a place is not deep, contract the grounds and 

 curtail the expanse of lawn. Judicious planting 

 becomes the more necessary the wider the bor- 

 der, or large patches of bare ground will obtrude. 

 Very long, narrow borders are equally objection- 

 able, and have a stinted look. 



I take it for granted the lawn will receive 

 the consideration it deserves. Undoubtedly the 

 most important element of beauty of the grounds, 

 without it all other forms of embellishment go for 

 little. Green is the natural relief of floral color ; 

 and in no way does floral color stand revealed 

 so vividly as when set off by a perfect sward. 

 To form a perfect lawn, 



ful thikke of gras, ful softe and swete, 



requires pains. The soil must neither be too 

 poor nor too rich, but contain a sufficient depth 

 of good garden soil to insure against drying out 

 during hot weather. Above all, earth removed 

 in excavating, usually composed of clay or gravel, 

 should never be used for surface soil, as is not 



