66 A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



PLAN FOR A LARGE CITY PLACE 



The accompanying plan, designed by Mr. Caparn, I think an especially good one — very 

 original and artistic — and, properly carried out, would make a very charming garden. It is 

 designed for a city home, rather than a country one, where it is desirable to secure privacy 

 from numerous pedestrians and to conceal from view surrounding streets and buildings. 

 Some would object to the arrangement shown on account of its exclusiveness, but after 

 the making of many gardens I am still of the opinion that privacy is one of their best quali- 

 ties. Mr. Caparn explains his plan as follows : 



" This plan is for a place of average shape and about two and a half acres in area. 

 The unusual location of house and lines of walk will show that economy of space is quite 

 consistent with convenience and breadth of effect. Picturesqueness is obtained by arrange- 

 ment of planting, not by meandering of sinuous ribbons of gravel. By placing the house in 

 the corner the greatest possible extent of unbroken lawn space is secured, while the porch 

 fronting the lawn is as private as it could be on a place of this size. The lawn runs up 

 to the house unimpaired by any stripes of arid pavement, and the lines of the house are 

 relieved only by the creepers covering it (Boston ivy on the walls and clematises, wistarias 

 and Hall's Honeysuckles on the porches) and the tall conifers to the south of the house. 



"This kind of design is suited only to land level, or approximately so, but within 

 those lines could be easily adapted to many places. An ideal contour map would show the 

 lawn gently sloping from all sides to the middle, with the walks on level ground. Along 

 the front boundary runs a wall or iron fence ; the entrance is through iron gates into a court 

 large enough to admit of a carriage being turned. There is a smaller gate, admitting pedes- 

 trians to a paved walk leading to the front and back of the house. The carpet-bedding on 

 each side of the entrance court is justified by the formal lines of building and macadam 

 which it supplements. The shrubbery behind it sets it off and separates it from the main 

 part of the grounds. The drying ground is inclosed on three sides by a hedge or vine- 

 covered trellis. The stable is placed at the corner of the vegetable garden and entered 

 from a side street, thus being kept entirely away from the house ; but if the place were not 

 on a corner the stable could be placed opposite the drying ground and the paved walk 

 widened to allow the passage of vehicles. 



"The interest and value of the vegetable garden could be added to by borders of 

 annuals, herbaceous and tender plants for cut-flowers, grape-vines, and dwarf fruits. It is 

 inclosed by a wall. A hedge would be a good protection, would look better and be far 

 cheaper, but would take several years to become an effective defense. If the walks are 

 made wide enough to admit of a horse and cart being used in the garden, six and one-half 

 feet will be wide enough for them, and the inner corners should be rounded a little to 

 allow for turning ; in this way manure may be carried to all parts of the garden with great 

 convenience. If desired, breaks could be left in the shrubbery to admit views from the 

 street without injury to the general design." 



EXPLANATION OF PLAN 



1. Japan maples. 4- Magnolia parvtflora. 



2. Retinispora obtusa. 5, 5. Shrubbery, with small trees and groups 



3. Yulan magnolia. of large herbaceous plants in margins. 



