^Continued fiovi Popular Gai doling . \ 



TASTE AND TACT IN ARRANGING HOME AND OTHER 



GROUNDS--XIII. 



HE grounds to which the accom- 

 I? panying plans relate comprise 



an area of four and one- half 

 acres, situated near St. Cath- 

 erines, Canada. The buildings, 

 trees, drives, walks and other 

 features set forth in the first 

 diagram, were on the place at 

 the time assistance was sought, for improving the 

 grounds, by our correspondent. 



That the home is occupied by persons of taste and 

 means is apparent from the nature of the existing 

 improvements. The residence is large and first- 

 class in character. The greenhouse and grapery, 

 the ample lawn, the extended walks, numerous or- 

 namental trees, flower-beds, etc., all speak of the 

 owner's desire to possess a fine garden ; but with all 

 the expenditures made to date, the garden is far 

 from satisfactory. What he wants to know, there- 

 fore, is, What can be done to surround the home with 

 a garden as handsome and satisfactory as the gen- 

 eral circumstances will allow ? In answer to this 

 earnest call for aid, let us consider the present ar- 

 rangement of our reader's place, with a view to dis- 

 covering its defects, and to suggest certain changes 

 for the better. 



First, let it be noticed that the general shape of 

 the place, the location of the buildings, the mill- 

 race crossing the rear parts of the land, are all in 

 fair shape and place for contributing to a fine gar- 

 den. The very irregularity of the southern bound- 

 ary should be favorable rather than otherwise, for 

 giving picturesqueness and variety to the place. 

 Other things equal, we always count on handsomer 

 garden effects from plats somewhat irregular in 

 outline than from those of regular shape with right 

 angle corners. Indeed, regularity of form must be 

 looked upon as one of the greatest foes we have to 

 strive against in all handsome garden-making. 



With the main fixed features thus favorable, where 

 are the defects in the first plat to be looked for ? 

 These are found chiefly in the arrangement of the 

 supplied features of the garden ; namely, the walks, 

 drives, lawn areas, trees, etc. It seems clear that 

 whoever staked out the present walk system had 

 very little idea of what constitutes a pleasing garden 

 walk. Curves were sought, it is true, as may be ob- 

 served by the first walk back from the highway, and 



running in the sam,e general direction, but with a 

 poor conception of the beauty tliat a walk may be 

 made to contribute to a garden. Irregularity in the 

 course of the walks also seemed good in the de- 

 signer's mind ; but see what awkward and meaning- 

 less bends were secured, especially in the rear one. 

 The combination of straight courses and right 

 angles with the curves is equally faulty and un- 

 called for. ' Tlien where is provided the ample lawn 

 areas, affording distant vistas such as every garden 

 of size should contain ? They are lacking : owing 

 chiefly to the presence of the straight walk across 

 the main lawn centrally, and the unfortunate posi- 

 tion of the other walks. A minor defect is seen in 

 the angular form of walk extending from the street 

 to the house at the extreme left of the plan. 



In locating the trees, these seem to have been 

 placed more with a view to embellishing the course 

 of certain walks than for handsomely adorning the 

 whole garden. No attempt was made to take ad- 

 vantage of the mill-race of clear water for adding a 

 fine water effect to the garden. The same is true of 

 the embellishment of various parts of the grounds. 

 In all this not the slightest disposition is felt to find 

 fault with the designer of the garden ; his intentions 

 undoubtedly were of the best, but clearly his con- 

 ception of what constituted good principles in gar- 

 den design were of a very meager character. 



From the present plan, let us proceed to consider 

 the improvements the same grounds easily are capa- 

 ble of supporting, as set forth by the right hand dia- 

 gram. Viewing the plan in general, it is observed 

 that here is provided a great array of garden 

 features and materials, extending to all parts of the 

 area, yet arranged by a plan at once graceful, sin_- 

 ple, and abounding in charming and restful garden 

 scenes. In the matter of walks, while the extent of 

 the main ones is actually somewhat less than in the 

 original plan, yet how much more beautiful and 

 satisfactory ! The reader is left to imagine the de- 

 lights of following such a system of graceful paths 

 amidst trees, shrubs and flowers, down through the 

 lawns and across the water to the further arbor and 

 return, as compared with making a circuit of the 

 present arrangement of walks. 



Let us proceed briefly to consider some of the 

 improvements that may be suggested to this reader. 

 Plat A represents the front lawn and approaches 



