14 THE GARDEN BEAUTIFUL 



generous, yet well and fittingly framed with plants, 

 shrubs, and trees on all sides. If you must have a 

 large, spreading palm on a small lot, place it at the 

 side of the house, well toward the rear, or, better 

 still, in the back yard where it may also serve as a 

 shade tree. Yet even there the same rules properly 

 should obtain that govern the planting in front. 

 Better to use fan palms, if you must have palms, or 

 plant the more beautiful Cocos plumosa, of which 

 we have some hardy varieties. Avoid, if possible, 

 cutting your front lawn in two equal parts unless 

 a purely formal effect is desired. Rather have the 

 front walk well to one side and thus gain a larger 

 single lawn. This procedure will also allow a grace- 

 ful, sweeping curve in the approach to the front 

 entrance, a pleasing variation from the usual inar- 

 tistic straight-from-gate-to-door plan. 



PLANT IN MASSES 



Plant in masses and not in isolated specimens 

 dotted about here and there; group instead of scat- 

 tering. Orchards are systematically planted for 

 economic reasons, giving each tree a like amount of 

 space. This insures uniformity of growth and bear- 

 ing and ease and economy in cultivation, irrigation 

 and harvesting. No such considerations govern the 

 planting of ornamentals. On the contrary, art, with 

 a due regard for utility, is the inspiration of the 

 landscape designer. Therefore, have tree and shrub- 

 bery masses irregular in outline, in gently-flowing 

 curves, not abrupt, nor yet in straight lines. 



Trees, shrubs and lowly plants should be grouped, 

 each kind by itself, for nature so disposes them, and 

 we should aim to copy nature. In this way you will 

 not only get artistic and natural effects, but also 

 decided character, for planted in this manner every 



