PARK AND CEMETERY. 
1S5 
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS. 
Conducted by 
Frances Copley Seavey. 
Leave the World a pleasanter place than yon found it. 
A LITTLE or, I EOT LESSON. 
It is said that by precept and example even the 
children of South Park, a suburb of Dayton, Ohio, 
have become so proficient in the basic principles of 
HOME OE MR. GARBER, MADISON, IND. 
An example of "Open Centre” and “Massed Sides.” 
landscape gardening, that they appreciate such 
points as an “open centre” and “massed sides” and 
that they freely criticise the planting that comes 
under their observation. 
Our illustration shows an example ot the “open 
centre,” which, while good in a large way, is in a 
fair way to be spoiled. 
GOOD FEATURES. 
The good features especially noticeable in the 
picture are the open lawn, the massed sides and 
the position of the sidewalk from the street en- 
trance to the house. 
The open expanse of sward and balanced 
masses of foliage give opportunity of a glimpse of 
the street from the windows, and offers a pleasant 
picture of the home from the street. 1 he same 
causes produce eflects of light and shade that in- 
troduce pleasing variety into the picture from 
either point of view. 
The position of the sidewalk, at the side instead 
of stretching its unattractive length through the 
middle of the lawn, results in an apparent increase 
in the size of the grass plot, and the leafy screen 
that partly shelters the wa'k lends a pleasant air of 
mystery to the interior when seen from the street 
and gives an agreeable sense of scclusicn to these 
who pass in and out of the grounds. 
The character of the surface of the ground, 
which rises more rapidly from the street line to 
the house than is clearly indicated in the picture, 
accounts for and in some degree 
excuses th.c use of terrace steps, 
and the group of shiubbcry be- 
side them is an excellent feature 
C)f the ])lanting. 
The massed fo’iage makes a 
protective Iramc and b ckground 
for the dwelling, setting it apart 
from all surrounding jilots and 
buildings, and increasing its 
home-like effect as it sits far bai k 
from the street on its own partic- 
ular hill. 
DEFECTS. 
The defects, as shown by the 
photograph, are the unwarranted 
intrusion of three small trees on 
the left side of the lawn ( one be- 
ing on the high ground near the 
house) which interfere with the 
view of the dwelling, and one 
small one near the walk on the 
right side of the lawn between 
thelarge tree in the middle dis- 
tance and the terrace steps. 
IMPROVEMENTS. 
The entire effect might be improved by remov- 
rr.AN. 
