19 



V 



variegated eflfects are not as pleasing as somber greens and occasional white 

 flowers. The flowers of course, are always transient, and the foliage and the 

 winter effect are therefore of prime importance. Unfortunately, few evergreens 

 will stand street dust and the abuse incident to exposed situations, whether that 

 of persons or of weather. But, evergeeen or deciduous, front-yard plants should 

 always be adapted to their situation, as sickly or damaged plants are by no 

 means decorative. 



On some properties, hedges or small groups of shrubs look well on the side 

 boundary, extending from the building line part way to the sidewalk. Preferably 

 such planting in front yards should be uniform with that in all the yards on the 

 street. Also one must be sure to maintain such planting in good condition. 

 Hedges or other fences, if in character, and if in accordance with the custom of 

 the street, may add considerably to the appearance of the fronts. In old cities 

 and villages, "door-yards," as they were called, were always enc!losed by walls, 

 hedges, or fences. Whatever their size, the yards appeared larger when some- 

 what enclosed, and also, being enclosed, they could be used. Any enclosed area 

 seems larger because it is not then merely a part of a larger expanse by com- 

 parison with which it appears diminished. In illustration of this, doubtless 

 everyone has looked into the cellar of some new house and commented on how 

 small that house would be, but when he later entered the house as it approached 

 completion, was surprised to find it mrch larger than he had expected. When 

 the cellar was just a hole in a larger lot, it appeared small by comparison; but 

 when one had gone into the house and could judge its size only by his recollection 

 of other houses, then it was possible to form a fair opinion as to its size. It is 

 weU to enclose front yards in situations where this has become the custom. 

 However, hedges are with difficulty maintained if too near a sidewalk or if, for 

 any reason, they receive much wear. A hedge inside an inconspicuous fence usual- 

 ly does better. But walls and fences with attractive gates, if well done, are 

 always both practical and decorative. 



Care should be taken to select only such plants as, whatever their position in the 

 front yard, may easily be kept within the desired size by trimming, or such as do 

 not of their own habit grow beyond bounds. It is by no means uncommon to 

 see shrubs or small trees spreading over a large part of a front yard or growing 

 so tall as to cover up the windows. If these are carelessly cut back, they become 

 ragged. If flowering shrubs are sheared, they look equally bad without most 

 of their flowering wood and with but a weak and scattered flower crop. Again, it 

 is neither good gardening nor good sense to make pretty little groups with small 

 evergreens, which, as they mature, become forest trees. Most of these evergreens 

 soon grow beyond the desired size and become sickly when restrained with 

 shears. It is not difficult to obtain the necesssary information about plants 

 before they are selected. 



Vines may weU be included in the planting scheme for a house front. Their 

 habits vary, however, and one should decide whether the whole front, or only a 

 part of it, is to be covered; whether there should be an even and clinging sheet 

 of foliage, or a loosely draped curtain, or a mass of vine growth for a roof comer; 

 in brief, one must know exactly what particular effect that can be produced by 

 vines is desirable. Some vines, such as the wistarias climbing up a house comer, 

 have sufficient foliage, not only at the ground but all the way up, to satisfactorily 



