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whole property to the lawn, should determine its general scheme. With such a 

 general plan for a beginning, one may proceed to arrange the details of the lawn 

 and of its border planting. Haphazard arrangements of plants, scattered groups 

 of various color schemes, and a diversity of specimen plants all make for confusion 

 as seen from a distance. The entire effect always should be a first thought. 

 Pretty, or even striking scenes, if well placed, fit in as appropriate parts of the 

 whole plan, and are interesting in themselves as well. 



The service yard should be carefully planned in order to reduce the space 

 allotted to it and at the same time to insure its convenience and neatness. 

 The minimum space consistent with convenience will make for the easiest use of 

 this yard. The service yard must necessarily lie somewhat in view of- the house, 

 and for this reason it should be so planned as to encourage neatness. All space 

 that is not needed in this area should be combined with the rear lawn. Further, 

 it is important to restrict the service area to that part of the yard nearest the 

 kitchen, and to arrange its outline parallel to the boundary of that side. A 

 service yard which projects in the direction of the lawn cuts off the house view of 

 that part of the lawn lying beyond it. It may be possible to use to advantage the 

 space thus cut off from the view of the house, but it is best to so define the outlines of 

 the service area, and to so locate it, that the space left for the lawn remains in a 

 single area and one of regular outline. Thus in most cases it is best if the service 

 yard can be planned to occupy a space against the service side of the house; if 

 it can continue from the house to the rear boundary; and if it can be of sufficient 

 width to allow dimensions practical for buildings, turncourts, and other necessary 

 service-yard features. 



While a garage is usually the most important single feature to be accomodated 

 in the service area, other possible considerations are a tumcourt, a laundry yard, 

 a vegetable garden, a cut-flower garden, cold-frames, a chicken-house and runs, 

 a compost pit, and access to the kitchen door, the coal bins, the cellar entrance, 

 the ice door, and the like. While for most of these features, the niinimum di- 

 mensions are more or less fixed, in some instances the same space may be made to 

 serve more than one purpose. Rectilinear outlines are the most practical, for an 

 area of regular form will subdivide most easily and most economically. While a 

 garage facing the street and at the end of a straight driveway is apt to display a 

 mussy interior when the doors are left open, this arrangement is the most econom- 

 ical of space and is the only scheme possible in small areas. A garage so built as 

 to be apparently part of the house although actually quite disconnected from it, 

 looks far better than a distinctly separate structure. But unless the lot is very wide, 

 the garage should open in a manner similar to that of a separate building, — that is, 

 facing the street. The open-door difficulty is not a fundamental consideration, as it 

 may be remedied with but a little trouble; very likely some one will soon invent a 

 device for opening and closing these doors more easily. The garage may be placed 

 directly at the side of the house if one is willing to back in or out; and even in the 

 case of houses near the street, it may be better to forego a tumcourt in the rear and 

 to place a garage no farther from the rear face of the house than will allow for 

 necessary space and light about the kitchen. Of course, the shorter the garage, 

 drive, the less space it will occupy and the less will be the cost of the construction 

 and maintenance of the drive. A turntable within the garage, although expen- 

 sive, may be cheaper than the space required for a tumcourt and the cost of 

 paving it. Unless an ample area may reasonably be allowed for the service yard. 



