THE GENERAL PLAN OR THEORY OF THE PLACE 27 
There is a persistent desire among workmen to shear and to 
trim: it displays their industry. It is a great thing to be able 
to allow the freedom of nature to remain. The artist often 
builds his structures into a native planting (as in Fig. 18) rather 
than to trust himself to produce a good result by planting on 
razed surfaces. 
In this discussion, I have tried to enforce the importance of 
the open center in non-formal home grounds in greensward 
regions. Of course this does not mean that there may not be 
central planting in particular cases where the conditions dis- 
tinctly call for it nor that there may not be trees on the lawn. 
If one has the placing of the trees, he may see that they are not 
scattered aimlessly; but if good trees are already growing on 
the place, it would be folly to think of removing them merely 
because they are not in the best ideal positions; in such case, it 
may be very necessary to adapt the treatment of the area to the 
trees. The home-maker should always consider, also, the plant- 
ing of a few trees in such places as to shade and protect the resi- 
dence: the more closely they can be made a part of the general 
design or handling of the place, the better the results will be. 
The flower-growing should be part of the design. 
I do not mean to discourage the use of brilliant flowers and 
bright foliage and striking forms of vegetation; but these things 
are never primary considerations in a good domain. The struc- 
tural elements of the place are designed first. The flanking and 
bordering masses are then planted. Finally the flowers and 
accessories are put in, as a house is painted after it is built. 
Flowers appear to best advantage when seen against a back- 
ground of foliage, and they are then, also, an integral part of 
the picture. The flower-garden, as such, should he at the rear or 
side of a place, as all other personal appurtenances are; but 
flowers and bright leaves may be freely scattered along the 
borders and near the foliage masses. 
