CHAPTER, III 
EXECUTION OF SOME OF THE LANDSCAPE FEATURES 
THE general lay-out of a small home property having now 
been considered, we may discuss the practical operations of 
executing the plan. It is not intended in this chapter to discuss 
the general question of how to handle the soil: that discussion 
comes in Chapter IV; nor in detail how to handle plants: that 
occurs in Chapters V to X; but the subjects of grading, laying 
out of walks and drives, executing the border plantings, and the 
making of lawns, may be briefly considered. 
Of course the instructions given in a book, however complete, 
are very inadequate and unsatisfactory as compared with the 
advice of a good experienced person. It is not always possible 
to find such a person, however; and it is no little satisfaction to 
the homemaker if he can feel that he can handle the work him- 
self, even at the expense of some mistakes. 
The grading. 
The first consideration is to grade the land. Grading is 
very expensive, especially if performed at a season when the 
soil is heavy with water. Every effort should be made, there- 
fore, to reduce the grading to a minimum and still secure a 
pleasing contour. A good time to grade, if one has the time, 
is in the fall before the heavy rains come, and then allow the 
surface to settle until spring, when the finish may be made. 
All filling will settle in time unless thoroughly tamped as it 
proceeds. 
The smaller the area the more pains must be taken with the 
grading; but in any plat that is one hundred feet or more square, 
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