ARRANGEMENT OF SUBURBAN GARDENS. 45 



SUBURBAN GARDENS. 



Half-acre plots are about the average space allowed for the majority of suburban 

 residences, and with these far more can be done than may appear at first sight 

 — in fact, some of the most interesting gardens in the countr}^ are comprised in this 

 categor}'. One-half of that space would almost necessarily be given up to the 

 growth of fruit and vegetables, and the other lialf, or thereabouts, be set apart for 

 the dwelling-house and other buildings, lawn and flower garden. It sometimes 

 happens that those who plan out these sites set back the house for the purpose of 

 affording a short drive to the front door, but this is in many cases a doubtful 

 advantage. A drive, however short, makes a material reduction in the quarter of 

 an acre that is available for pleasure grounds.'' 



Locating the house and outbuildings in the centre of the plot is an error that 

 ought, where possible, to be avoided. Naturally it affords the architect better 

 scope, while the owner does not often realise the effects of it till it is too late to 

 remedy the error. A good clear space is needed for the kitchen garden and frame 

 ground, and also for the pleasure grounds. AVhat can the landscape gardener do with 

 less than a quarter of acre when this is broken up into small plots surrounding a 

 dwelling-house ? It is true lawns may merge into the kitchen garden, but if 

 pleasure grounds are to be thoroughly enjoyable there ought to be a certain amount 

 of privacy connected with them. There is no good reason M'hy the house should not be 

 in the form of a parallelogram rather than a square, and be located wholly in the 

 pleasure-ground quarter of an acre as is shown in the design on page 47. If neces- 

 sary, a drive could be formed to reach a side entrance; this also serving as an 

 approach to the back of the house, stables, • and gardens. The house, in any case, 

 should be set well back, say from 20 feet to 30 feet from the road, and if a suitable 

 pavement is laid down and a porch formed, there need be no great difficulty in 

 reaching a carriage clean and dry in all weathers and in the lightest of costumes. 

 A glass-covered arcade, festooned with roses and other hardy plants, makes a beautiful 

 approach. A low stone or brick wall, surmounted by an unclimbable iron fence, the 

 wliole standing 5 feet clear of the ground, ought to enclose that portion of the pleasure 

 grounds abutting on a higli road, a strong holly or other evergreen hedge usually 

 proving sufficient for less exposed boundaries. A hedge of Cupressus Lawsoniana, 

 Thuia gigantea, holly, or tree-box should also be planted inside the railing-surmounted 

 wallj and kept at a height that will not unduly shade a border just inside. 



