INTRODUCTION 



THE aim of this book is to answer explicitly any question that 

 might arise relative to the creation and maintenance of the 

 home grounds, from the time of selecting the site for the house 

 to the occupancy of the finished home. The word "home" used in 

 this sense, comprises the grounds as well as the dwelling and service 

 buildings. 



This does sound ambitious, but we believe there is a demand for 

 such a book, and therefore respectfully submit this one, in an endeavor 

 to fill the need. The information here contained is the result of over 

 twenty years joint experience and study of the subject, and of con- 

 stantly observing and acquiring knowledge from numerous actual 

 plantings. 



Unfortunately, the average property owner has been led to believe 

 that the word "Landscape" refers only to large areas or estates, and 

 as a natural result, feels that his own problem is too small to justify 

 his seeking professional advice. As a matter of fact, it can be said 

 that the smaller the property the more difficult it is to treat it cor- 

 rectly. With this in mind, we have incorporated in this work all 

 details, common (or uncommon) to the city or suburban lot. 



Our conception of the mission of the landscape man is "to promote 

 the comfort and enjoyment of the majority (the urban dwellers) who 

 as a general rule have little or no access to rural scenery, by introduc-*^ 

 ing into their very homes, that peaceful atmosphere and quiet scenery 

 found in nature." Indeed it is only when each small property owner 

 becomes personally interested in beautifying his surroundings that 

 we can look forward to a national improvement in home and civic 

 planning and planting. ^ 



Without the valuable assistance of Mr. L. H. Johnson, it would 

 have been well-nigh impossible to make this volume as useful and 

 interesting as the author hopes it is. The value of the illustrations 

 cannot be overestimated, and their clearness makes them self-ex- 

 planatory. This is particularly true of the construction work sketches, 

 although the author is also greatly indebted to Mr. Johnson for much 

 of the text matter dealing with that particular phase of the subject. 

 For the logical arrangement and general appearance of the book, 

 the author is indebted to Mr, E. L. D. Seymour, whose close coopera- 

 tion has been a great help. 



