ORNAMENTING HOME GROUNDS. 105 



The relative position of house and barns should also receive 

 attention. It is in bad taste to have the barn in the fore ground, 

 partially shutting off the view of the house as approach is made 

 from either side. It is in much worse taste, indeed it is the 

 worst taste, to place the barn on the opposite side of the street 

 from the house and directly in front. The proper location of 

 the barn is at one side and to the rear of the house. 



WALKS AND DRIVES. 



The best grounds are those which combine the greatest con- 

 venience with the greatest pleasure. In general, every object 

 should be easily accessible. Walks and drives are, however, 

 always unsightly, and there should be as few of them as is con- 

 sistent with convenience. They should approach the buildings 

 with direct curves. Indirect and reversed curves, without an 

 apparent reason, give the idea of an attempt to "show off" the 

 grounds unduly. When walks or drives branch or turn aside 

 abruptly from their general course, there should be an apparent 

 reason for such change of course. This may be accomplished 

 by placing some obstruction, as a group of shrubs at the angle 

 or turn. 



In the construction of walks and drives the natural undula- 

 tions of the surface should be followed, though of course sud- 

 den swells or dips should be avoided. A firm bottom should 

 be secured by excavating somewhat as shown in the cut. The 



trench thus made is filled to within three inches of the surface 

 with cobble stones, coal ashes, etc., placing the coarser material 

 near the sides to insure drainage. At least three inches of 

 gravel should be placed above the coarser material, and this 

 should be slightly convex at the surface — not so much so, how- 

 ever, as the bottom. Both the gravel and the coarser material 

 in the bottom should be packed very firmly. 



THE LAWN. 



A good lawn is the most essential element of beauty in any 

 grounds and in these days of cheap lawn mowers there is no 

 excuse for not having a neat lawn in front of the humblest 



