THE GENERAL PLAN OR THEORY OF THE PLACE 27 



There is a persistent desire among workmen to shear and to 

 trim: it displays their industry. It is a great thing to be able 

 to allow the freedom of nature to remain. The artist often 

 builds his structures into a native planting (as in Fig. 18) rather 

 than to trust himself to produce a good result by planting on 

 razed surfaces. 



In this discussion, I have tried to enforce the importance of 

 the open center in non-formal home grounds in greensward 

 regions. Of course this does not mean that there may not be 

 central planting in particular cases where the conditions dis- 

 tinctly call for it nor that there may not be trees on the lawn. 

 If one has the placing of the trees, he may see that they are not 

 scattered aimlessly; but if good trees are already growing on 

 the place, it would be folly to think of removing them merely 

 because they are not in the best ideal positions; in such case, it 

 may be very necessary to adapt the treatment of the area to the 

 trees. The home-maker should always consider, also, the plant- 

 ing of a few trees in such places as to shade and protect the resi- 

 dence : the more closely they can be made a part of the general 

 design or handling of the place, the better the results will be. 



The flower-groiving should he part of the design. 



I do not mean to .discourage the use of briUiant flowers and 

 bright foliage and striking forms of vegetation; but these things 

 are never primary considerations in a good domain. The struc- 

 tural elements of the place are designed first. The flanking and 

 bordering masses are then planted. Finally the 'flowers and 

 accessories are put in, as a house is painted after it is built. 

 Flowers appear to best advantage when seen against a back- 

 ground of foliage, and they are then, also, an integral part of 

 the picture. The flower-garden, as such, should be at the rear or 

 side of a place, as all other personal appurtenances are; but 

 flowers and bright leaves may be freely scattered along the 

 borders and near the fohage masses. 



