February, 1915 
T H E G A R 1) E N M A G A Z I N E 
25 
ground, as well as a fairly level platform for 
the house to rest upon. The latter was 
especially desirable for a colonial house. 
The landscape designer was called in 
after all this was graded and the lawn 
well established. The client desired 
to have a planting scheme which would 
recognize the following conditions: 
The owner of this property lived 
across the street to the northwest and 
did not wish his view of the valley 
obstructed in any way by the planting 
upon the new place — not even by a 
hedge. He wished to give the house 
a good setting and also insure privacy 
to the service quarters. A semi-pri- 
vate lane along the eastern boundary 
had to be screened, and the service 
path to the kitchen door should be 
as private as possible. A plantation 
was needed between the driveway turn- 
around and the top of the second ter- 
race, so that traffic would apparently 
be kept from sliding off down the 
bank. And yet plants must be used 
which would not grow too tall or those 
which would stand 
shearing or careful 
pruning. Shade was 
very much needed 
on the southwest 
corner of the house. 
In order to obtain 
this quickly, three 
trees were planted 
quite close together 
— using trees of a 
fan-shaped type, so 
that neither the view 
nor the summer 
breeze would be ob- 
structed. The elm 
will probably be re- 
tained as the per- 
manent tree. 
Another requisite 
was to enhance, if 
possible, the south- 
ern view over Jersey 
farm land. The plan 
shows how the cen- 
tral section of the 
boundary was ! left 
open, and the wild 
cherry trees which 
were already grow- 
ing just beyond the 
boundary line were 
reinforced with 
specimen ever- 
greens. A grove of 
fir trees was planted 
in the southwest 
corner, so as to ulti- 
mately break the 
skyline here and 
concentrate one’s at- 
tention on the best 
part of the view — toward two distant hills. 
This grove is balanced by pines in the 
southeast corner. 
The drying yard was bounded on two 
sides by retaining walls; along the top of 
each wall some planting of a defensive 
nature was necessary to keep one from walk- 
ing over the edge. 
These were the most important planting 
problems to be considered, and the manner 
in which they were solved will be apparent 
after a study of the plan and the horticul- 
tural specifications. 
The proper screening of the eastern boun- 
dary was of great importance, not only for 
the sake of privacy from the daily traffic 
up and down the lane, but so that the 
neighbor to the eastward should not have 
to look right into the kitchen door. 
As the residence is for occupation 
throughout the year, it seemed neces- 
sary to use evergreens of a dense bushy 
growth for the backbone of the plant- 
ation. In fifteen or twenty years, these 
specimens, though planted about twelve 
to fifteen feet apart, should make a 
dense and compact screen, and because 
of their variety, a very pleasing composi- 
tion in color and texture should result. 
Hemlock spruce, because of its long 
life and graceful, feathery foliage, is 
used in the main, with Oriental and 
Douglas spruces for accents in the 
border. A few Norway spruce, because 
of their fast growth and low cost were 
used as fillers in temporary positions. 
For the sake of immediate screen- 
ing a large number of small trees and 
shrubs have been used in among the 
spruces. The key to the plan gives the 
names and number 
of plants used in the 
various sections of 
the plantations. 
White dogwoods for 
their early flowering 
and autumn red 
berries; Oxyden- 
drum or sorrel tree 
for its interesting 
“ lily-of- the- valley ” 
flower and wonder- 
ful crimson autumn 
foliage; the dwarf 
Tartarian maple, for 
its beautiful dense 
and persistent foli- 
age; the cordata or 
Washington haw- 
thorn for its color 
and fruit, as well as 
giving more height 
to the plantation ; 
and a good assort- 
ment of lilacs for 
their flowers are used 
along the eastern 
boundary. The 
Cornus family is re- 
presented by several 
species: the san- 
guinea and Siberian 
for their red bark, 
which is especially 
interesting in fall 
and wi n ter ; the s tolo- 
nifera aurea for its 
contrasting yellow 
bark, as an accent 
where such is 
needed ; and the pan- 
iculata and mascula 
for their white and red berries respectively. 
A few other trees not listed in the key — 
such as Ailanthus glandulosa, Aralia japon- 
ica and Amelanchier canadensis — are used 
as temporary accents. 
A well balanced fruit garden for the average surburban lot, on a 
space 60 x 50 ft. (See page 26) 
On an acre a very practical fruit garden can be established. Small fruits are here allowed to occupy about one half the 
area. References; A, apple; B, pear; C, cherry; D. peach; E, quince; F, blackberries; G, raspberries; H. goose- 
berries; K. currants; M, strawberries; N, grapes; O, plums; P, driveway. (Plans by J. R. Mattem. See page 26) 
