THE SAGE SAG HARBOR HOME 



this scheme of treatment has been ampHfied from 

 time to time by extending it over such additional 

 ground to the west as has been bought by Mrs. 

 Sage to enlarge the surroundings of the house. 



The construction of this place was somewhat 

 difficult. The soil was poor and sandy. The 

 dry climate made it peculiarly difficult to grow 

 grass or trees and shrubs. In order to overcome 

 the difficulties presented in the character of the 

 soil, quantities of clay loam were brought from 

 several miles away. It is a scarce article in that 

 region. This material was spread over the ground 

 to the depth of six inches and on its surface was 

 spread and well incorporated three inches of 

 thoroughly decomposed humus, without which 

 the clay loam would not have been a perfect soil. 

 The shaping and grading of the lawn with this 

 soil were very carefully done. Wherever the 

 planting was located, there elevated areas a few 

 inches above the general level were made. The 

 remaining surface of the lawn was kept on easy- 

 flowing lines, just varying enough from the original 

 to give it a certain touch of elegance and artistic 

 effect. 



The border of the drive and the edges of the 

 shrub and flower beds were carefully sodded with 

 strips about one foot wide. The roadbed itself 

 was made of an asphaltic earth which had been 

 found elastic and enduring, agreeable to the 

 tread, and not open to the objections of ordinary 

 asphalt. The character of the rhododendron 

 plantations was made irregular in appearance, 



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