ARRANGEMENT IN PLANTING. 95 



where lots of this size are built on, other houses are usually so near 

 such improvements, as to darken the ground with their shade. 

 The degree of exposure to the sun and air in these places must 

 govern their use, but in general it is better to have either grass or 

 pavement in them, or a paved walk and bedding plants, that may- 

 be renewed from a green-house. Plate XIII shows a lot of one 

 hundred and sixty feet front by three hundred feet deep, on which a 

 vista of unbroken lawn, the entire depth of the lot, is obtained from 

 the main entrance. This place is supposed to adjoin lots whose 

 fronts are improved in common, so that each of the principal win- 

 dows of the house is provided with a distinct foreground for a 

 picture, the middle distance of which will have such character as- 

 the neighboring improvements make. Were the ground improved 

 to conform to this plan the effect would be much finer than the 

 rather formal character of the trees in the design would indicate. 



Plates X and XI are of lots two hundred feet front by three hun- 

 dred feet deep. On the foirmer, the rule we are endeavoring to illus- 

 trate is sacrificed in a measure to the requirements of an orchard 

 and kitchen-garden ; on the latter, the orchard is given up to secure 

 the beauty of a more extended lawn- and more elaborate plantation. 



On Plate XXVII are some good illustrations of this rule applied 

 to the laying out of what are usually considered awkward forms of 

 lots to improve. It will be seen that the views from the street-corner, 

 at the point A, on the right-hand plan looking towards the house, 

 and in other directions, are long, open, and well varied, in the group- 

 ing of trees, shrubs, and flowers. As one walks along to B and C, 

 at each opening between groups of shrubs the views are over the 

 longest stretch of lawn that the size of the lot will admit of; while 

 the views from the main windows of the house, and from the front 

 and rear verandas, are as extended as possible. 



Plate XXI-I, which is designed to illustrate the advantage of 

 joining neighboring improvements, however cheap or simple their 

 character, is an excellent illustration of the beauty and garden- 

 esque effect that may be secured by leaving an unbroken vista of 

 lawn and low flowers from one side of a block to the other, as 

 shown on the line B C, though the block is covered by five inex- 

 pensive residences. The vignette of Chapter IV is a view takea 



