TASTE AND TACT IN ARRANGING HOME AND OTHER GROUNDS. 



The foregoing details given by Mr. Troop are drawn 

 from many years of successful practice. His conclusion 

 of the whole matter is, that to secure a really perma- 

 nent road-way, wholly satisfactory at all times, the utmost 

 care must be taken to make the work as substantial as 

 possible at every stage in the first construction. In the 



subsequent wear and tear of travel, equal care should be 

 given to prevent incidental damage of any character, 

 under all circumstances, and if damage be done in spite 

 of all precautions, it must be promptly and thoroughly 

 repaired. The lesson is one that everywhere deserves 

 wide consideration. 



TASTE AND TACT IN ARRANGING HOME AND OTHER 

 GROUNDS— XXIII. 



HOW A WATERSIDE LAWN MAY BE IMPROVED. 



ROM a reader in the western part of the 

 state of New York the following com- 

 munication has been received : 



" I have been vainly waiting month after 

 month for an article on waterside gardening in 

 the present interesting serial, but as none has 

 appeared, I make bold to ask for assistance in 

 arranging my own grounds, which have a 

 creek frontage on one side. The enclosed 

 diagram (fig. i) shows the shape of the place. 

 It has a street frontage of 215 feet and a creek frontage of 370 

 feet. The depth along the house-line to the orchard is 220 feet. 

 The trees at present en the grounds are shown by X. The 

 buildings now on the grounds and a temporary road and walks 

 are also shown., The course of the latter can be changed if this 

 would improve the appearance of the place, provided the new 

 road and walks do not run wide of the present location. We 

 wish to erect a small boat-house, and would be glad for any 

 suggestions as to its location. From the veranda on the creek 

 side of the house there is a beautiful view of the water for 

 nearly the entire length of the place. The distance from the 

 house to the water's edge is 190 feet, with a slope of about 15 

 feet. Toward the rear of the house, beyond the young orchard, 

 are some rough factory-buildings, which are something of an 

 eyesore. We are heartily in favor of hardy shrubs and flower- 

 ing trees, as well as hardy plants for screens and for adorning 

 grounds. 



" If you can, with these particulars before you, give some 

 directions for improving the grounds, the favor will be greatly 

 appreciated." 



It is evident that the chief improvements for these 

 grounds must be in the selection and arrangement of 

 trees, shrubs, etc., but a few changes in the drives 

 and walks may be made. As one of these changes, 

 we would suggest a convenient turning-place in the 

 drive for the carriages of callers. The presence 

 of the porte-cochere to the left of the house implies 

 that visitors who drive would enter here, so a con- 

 venient turning-circle may be introduced a little be- 

 yond. This is shown in fig. 2 (opposite page), which 

 plan also embraces the other improvements that sug- 

 gest themselves to our mind. The circle may be 40 

 feet across from outside to outside, with a carriage- 

 track 8 feet wide surrounding a 24-foot grass-plat, 

 planted in the center with a mass of trees or shrubs 

 Just out from the turning-place, the lawn being nar- 

 rowed here, would be the place for the boat-house, 

 which might be connected by a walk with the carriage- 

 drive, and thus by a direct course with the buildings. 

 By this means something like a division of the lawn 

 is obtained, making a front and back lawn, which 

 might be an advantage in grounds of such length. 



In planning for the location of trees and shrubs, we 

 must work with the purpose of enhancing the pretty lawn 

 and water-views in the direction of the creek, and of 

 hiding the factory-buildings near the rear of the grounds. 

 If the orchard consisted of large, old trees, perhaps these 

 might hide the buildings : but as the trees are young, a 

 screen of kinds that grow more rapidly than fruit-trees, 

 and are more ornamental, may be planted in a heavy 

 mass of growths to the left of the barn. Suitable trees 



G. I.— Diagram of Home-Grounds with Water Frontage. 



