4 



TASTE AND TACT IN ARRANGING HOME AND OTHER GROUNDS. 



each of the entrances from the street, one to include, say three plants of the golden bell [Forsythia viridissimd), 

 and the other three of the plumed hydrangea {H. paniculata grandijlora). 



In plat 4, along the street, there might be the same kind of shade-trees as suggested for plat 3, while the con- 

 tinuation of these at other points indicated along the entire highway front, would meet with our approval. At 5 

 in this plat, a short branch from the walk leading to the vegetable-garden appears, the assumption being that here 

 are to be several shade-trees, with a seat to which the walk leads. For these trees, a weeping poplar or a Cam. 

 perdown weeping elm would be suitable near the walk, with such a tree as the pin oak, a European bird-cherry, 

 or a royal willow back of it, towards the vegetable garden. In the flower borders near the house it would be well 

 to introduce some choice hardy perennials, giving a long succession of bloom, with tender flowers added for 

 brightness in midsummer and later. If, among hardy flowers included here, the Japan anemones in 

 several colors, Aquilegia cccriilea and A. cJirysantha, perennial phloxes, day-lilies, tiger and Japan lilies, 

 tulips and hyacinths, should be the chief, then the borders would never be without interest. ^/ghest 



At 6, in the large plat, would be a good place for an assortment of roses and other fine 

 hardy flowering shrubs, the idea being that the beds containing these are to be cut out in 

 the greensward, and kept cultivated. The shape and position of these beds are such 

 that a grass walk leading from the vegetable-garden walk is provided — a delight- 

 ful spot for sauntering in the midst of blooming roses and handsome shrubs. 

 For roses, the hybrid perpetual class is recommended in the main ; if the 

 elongated bed to the left of this grass walk was to be devoted wholly 

 to these, and a few be carried also into other beds across the 

 walk, the effect could not be otherwise than pleasing 

 The selection of shrubs for this group of borders (i 

 eluding the one across the walk towards the hi; 

 way) might be the following, which includes 

 only the choice kinds, such as together /'^^ ^ 



would give flowers almost perpet- O 



O 



ually the season through : 

 Flowering almonds, rose and 

 white ; golden bell, deutzias, 

 Japan quince, lilacs in varie- 

 ty, plum-leaved spiraea, vibur- 

 nums (snowballs) in several 

 species and varieties, spice , 

 bush (calycanthus), summer- 

 flowering spiraeas, including 

 Billard, Reeves, Douglas and 

 mountain-leaved; weigelia in 

 variety, mist-tree (Rlius coli- 

 nus), althaea or rose of Sharon, 

 blood-leaved plum, snowberry 

 and Indian currant, strawber- 

 ry-bush (euonymus), Stuartia 

 psntagyna. The small bed 

 nearest the house, laid out 

 somewhat alone, would be 

 well located for a geranium 



bed, or to be planted with other bright-colored flowers, 

 to enhance decidedly the general landscape effect. 



In the original diagram. Fig. i, there is a stone wall running crosswise of the back walk, at a point correspond- 

 ing with 7, in Fig. 2, which our correspondent informs us was built to keep the water that flows from the higher 

 land, away from the house. This appears in the new plan at 7, together with some steps m the walk. Such a 

 break in the surface had better be marked by masses of shrubs at and about the ends of the wall ; placing at the 

 right-hand end, say, an irregular clump of weigelias (both the green and the variegated-leaved, the former pre- 

 dominating), and at the other end a similar group of lilacs, with a mass of various viburnums, bush honeysuckles 

 and mock-oranges above the wall to the left of the walk. If these plants were introduced, adding their harmoni-. 

 ous combinations of color and outline, would not the effect be excellent ? 



In the portion of the grounds marked 8, some elms, lindens or maples might be planted at the highway, with 

 a few choicer trees, such as Wier's cut-leaved maple, golden-leaved oak. Magnolia speciosa, ring-leaved willow, 

 gingko, or yellow-wood, farther back. A shrub border is indicated in this part, across the drive from the house. 



Fig 



-A Place in New Haven County, Conn. 



Such an arrangement of trees and flowers would not fail 



