PART I 



THE SELECTION OF HOME GROUNDS 



IN attempting to select home grounds suitable for the 

 requirements of a home, one necessarily commences 

 with some more or less vague idea of what the place 

 should be. Generally it is a very vague idea, growing 

 out of partial experience or hearsay, or so-called personal 

 taste. Personal taste is admirable, but only when under 

 the discipline of full knowledge of the subject to which 

 it is applied. 



A dozen practical and important considerations may be 

 lost sight of, and one, such as mere beauty of scenery, 

 finally determines the selection of the spot. It is possi- 

 ble, however, to set up some general type or model, the 

 characteristics of which will serve to illustrate the qual- 

 ifications to be kept in view in all selections of home 

 grounds. 



In the first place, all home grounds, especially very 

 small ones, should be comparatively level. Considerable 

 variety of surface and a sky line can be secured by 

 grading and planting the lawn, and the long undulating 

 contours that can be thus secured are more agreeable 

 and restful than the sudden curves of rugged country. 

 Breadth and simplicity of treatment are invited by level 

 or slightly sloping land, and these qualities are indis- 



