456 TASTE AND TACT IN ARRANGING HOME AND OTHER GROUNDS. 



plan is the extreme variety effected in the size of the sec- 

 tions, the motive for which, as relating to principles, will 

 next be explained. 



In arranging grounds of almost any size or character, 

 if we study for guidance pleasing natural landscapes of a 

 somewhat similar order as far as may be practicable, we 

 need not be afraid of making mistakes so far as principles 

 are concerned. The natural landscape now in mind as a 

 model contains an area of considerable extent more or 

 less open through its center, and this is skirted with a great 

 variety of isolated trees aud shrubs, groves of deciduous 

 and evergreen trees, masses of shrubby growth with 

 wild flowering plants interspersed, and in places the latter 

 standing by themselves. In this natural landscape, from 



beginning to end, there is no repetition. To make our 

 public gardens accessible to multitudes of people at all 

 seasons, it becomes necessary to introduce walks and 

 drives not found in natural landscapes. If these be a 

 defect in gardens from a landscape point of view — a 

 matter we are not ready to admit — we have a corres- 

 ponding gain in the made landscape over the natural one 

 in the' use of the nurserymen's large collections of hardy 

 trees, shrubs, etc., brought from temperate regions all 

 over the earth, from which to choose for planting a rich 

 and varied selection, beside which the indigenous growth 

 of any region seems poor. The breadth and repose, so 

 marked in our finest natural landscapes, we may also 



secure in a large measure for the made landscape, by 

 proper attention to the necessary methods. 



Let us take a short imaginary stroll in a park laid out 

 after the plan of fig. 2, and note how it differs from fig. i. 

 Approaching by the lower left-hand corner we notice a 

 change in the entrance, the improved plan showing the 

 corner of the park (each of the four corners, in fact) to 

 be cut off somewhat, on the principle that an approach 

 looks more inviting and has more character thus than 

 when it enters from the extreme corner, as in fig. i. 



Proceeding along the path we see that the width be- 

 tween the diverging walks and the streets is sufficient to 

 support liberal masses of trees and large shrubs, besides 

 having considerable lawn between these and the walks. 



These lawn-areas serve to con- 

 vey the impression of breadth 

 and restfulness, and prepare the 

 visitor to realize at a first glance 

 that the garden is not only beau- 

 tiful but of considerable extent. 

 In these small open spaces near 

 the entrance, some attractive 

 specimen shrubs and trees are 

 planted, and from here a per- 

 spective view of the near irreg- 

 ular groups shows them with 

 much better effect than if they 

 were brought closely up against 

 the walk. 



Further in, a small triangular 

 section of lawn formed by the 

 walks is planted with three 

 masses of flowering shrubs — 

 weigelias, forsythias or privets, 

 handsome in leaf and in bloom. 

 The first clear view of the broad 

 open lawn extending through 

 the center of the park, and 

 which is one of its most distinc- 

 tive features, is revealed as you 

 advance along the left walk at 

 the end of the triangular plat. 

 A. long vista intervenes between 

 this point and the opposite cor- 

 ner, and in all directions there 

 is open space enough to give an 

 impression of broad landscape. 



Where the left-hand walk divides there is a fine clump 

 of trees, distinct from those through which we have just 

 passed, and near the walks are some isolated clumps of 

 shrubs. The two walks diverging here extend by a sys- 

 tematic but difiering course almost around the entire park, 

 meeting again, as shown on the lower side of the plan. 

 Our object in calling attention to this feature is to em- 

 phasize the gain for effect that is obtained by unity in 

 the walk-systems of parks. In all gardens abounding in 

 details, the mind craves some such comprehensive plan 

 involving the whole while you survey different sections. 

 The inner walk from here leads through scattered shrubs 



