AND GROUNDS. 135 



through such an approach will serve to bring into bright relief the 

 unshadowed front of the house, and' the open expanse of sunny 

 lawn around it. The evergreen trees that are within fifteen feet of 

 the deciduous trees which form the avenue should not be allowed 

 to rnake their full natural growth upwards, but be topped irregu- 

 larly so that the latter may not be obstructed in their natural 

 expansion. The avenue trees are to be considered the rightful 

 owners of all the space they can grow to fill, and the evergreens 

 only tenants at will so far as they occupy places which the 

 branches of the deciduous trees will eventually overgrow. But 

 for many years both may grow unharmful to the other. 



In the back part of the lot let us take an inventory of the utili- 

 tarian features of the plan, and then of their connection with the 

 decorative effect. The grape-walk, it will be seen, is on a right line 

 with the length of the side veranda. A double arch marks the 

 entrance to this and the dwarf pear walk. Arch openings in the 

 grape-trellis give access to the walks of the kitchen-garden for the 

 family, while for work and for servants' use, another walk leads 

 from the wash-room and the back veranda. The vegetable garden 

 is thus entirely out of sight from the house, and from every part 

 of the grounds, and yet has a sufficiently open exposure, and the 

 most convenient proximity to the kitchen. The long grape-walk 

 trellis will have a good exposure, to whatever point of the compass 

 its length tends. The same may be said of the dwarf pear border. 

 There are six standard pear trees, four cherry, two peach, and 

 one apple tree marked on the plan. Other peach trees may be 

 planted in between the cherries and pears if the owner will be 

 sure to cut them out as soon as the cherry and pear trees need all 

 the room. Few persons are aware how much healthier and more 

 productive fruit trees are which are allowed to grow low, and with 

 unlimited expansion from the beginning. Therefore we warn 

 against planting permanent trees too thickly, and against leaving 

 short-lived trees, like the peach, too long in the way of the per- 

 manencies. There are, however, some dry clay soils where the 

 peach tree does not quickly become decrepit — as it is pretty sure 

 to do in a light sand or rich loam — and there it may be well to 

 allow it the necessary room for mature growth, independent of the 



