266 LA WN-PLANTING 



convenience, which must at times overrule considerations 

 of beauty. It is well planted with shrubbery, however, to 

 relieve all stiffness and vary the straight line. This system 

 also introduces the pleasant element of surprise, as the full 

 effect of the lawn is only presented after the place has been 

 fairly entered. Flowing, graceful lines, with one exception, 

 are retained everywhere, especially in the vistas that extend 

 off to the full depth of the lot. On the most extended side, 

 the vista takes a slanting direction across a croquet-ground, 

 reached by a winding path and fronted by a summer-house 

 in the extreme corner. This simple, inexpensive rustic 

 structui'e — shown in the lawn-planting study — looks out 

 toward the house over the croquet-ground, down the most 

 attractive vista of the place. About it should climb 

 vines, honeysuckles, etc., and some flowering shrubs. The 

 entire feature is finely crowned and perfected by associat- 

 ing with it a slender, drooping, cut-leaved birch, with tender 

 gray or light-green foliage and gleaming Avhite bark. It will 

 thus form one of the corner posts, or prominent points that 

 define the outline of the picture, and, at the same time, 

 constitute a most interesting and picturesque termination 

 for a walk. One such feature is almost enough for a small 

 place. Architecture should be confined, as a rule, to the 

 house structure, and the lawn devoted to plants. Even 

 rock work, except in peculiar spots, has hardly a place on 

 any small lawn, for reasons that should be obvious. What- 

 ever portion of the summer-house appears from among the 

 vines and surrounding foliage is intended to show a rustic, 

 graceful, and solid structure. Simple rustic seats may, of 

 course, be erected in suitable positions, but should not be 

 made architecturally prominent. As a rule, however, chairs 



