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have the different plants to the plan for- arrangement ftirther than the mere 

 amount of ground space that they occupy? What bearing have scenic effects on 

 the use of a yard? Why may not a pretty effect in plants look as well in one place 

 as in another? 



The need of certain planting effects in the front yard has been explained. In 

 the case of gardens, there are few persons who will not understand the need of 

 hedges or walls to make suitable backgrounds for the color of the flowers. They 

 will not, however, be much concerned about the kinds of plants used to enclose 

 such practical features as laundry yards and vegetable gardens. But the lawns, 

 -^whether including a greater part of the yard or merely an ample area carefully 

 reserved by the economical allotment of the yard space and desirably enclosed 

 to make them somewhat private for purposes of family recreation, — ^these, in 

 the popular conception, are but open grass plots surrounded by border planting. 

 Is there no ordering of the scenery of this area by which its attractiveness may 

 be increased? 



A lawn is seen more from some points of view than from others. It is seen 

 most from certain windows, porches, or terraces of a house, aU approximating 

 the same point of view, and this view of the lawn may be called the prospect 

 from the house. This being the case, the general plan of the lawn should not 

 only make for convenient access to living rooms, porches, and terraces, but 

 in outline and plan it should look its best from this point of view. Even the 

 modeling of the ground and the details of the scenery should be considered and 

 planned primarily from the point of view of the house. This prospect wUl be 

 more pleasing if the full size of the area can be apparent, or if it can be made to 

 appear even larger than it actually is. For a certainty, any details of its plan 

 which might make it appear smaller should be rejected. If the borders all about 

 the lawn are alike, or are so evenly varied as to produce no particular f ocalization, 

 then the center of interest will be the approximate center of the area. If a single 

 conspicuous plant, or a prominent group of plants, is situated in the open turf 

 area or in the border planting, one's eye will unconsciously fix upon that point, 

 and one's evaluation of the entire lawn will be largely determined by the attri- 

 butes of this particular aspect of it. If the interest is situated at the point farthest 

 from the house, the greatest dimensions of the lawn will receive prominence. 

 Therefore, in the plans for most yards, that comer of the lawn which is in view' 

 but most remote from the house should be marked by the most conspicuous 

 planting effects. In yards which are very long and narrow, the difference in 

 length between a diagonal and an axis line is not worth considering. Therefore, 

 in order to fix upon a point in the borders for the best view, a study of the situation 

 should be made from points just within or just without the house. The lawn 

 should be presented to the best advantage, and the shape of this area may suggest 

 that the Une of view be directly to the rear, to one of the comers, or to the side 

 border. Again, in the case of formal lawns or 6i those of regular outlines, 

 it may seem best to employ a balanced grouping of conspicuous plants — groups 

 or individuals, — in all corners and about aU sides. However, in some formal 

 lawns, and surely in all lawns of informal character, it is more pleasing if the 

 greatest interest is concentrated at one point, whether or not lesser points of 

 interest are made at other places. In most city and suburban lots of rectilinear 

 outline, the house will be parallel to the lot lines and to the lines of division between 



