THE USE OF TLANTS 
Again we illustrate the abstract with concrete example. The various parts of the planting 
plan are here presented in a series of elevation sketches which demonstrate, more clearly 
than can any words, the meaning of the rules. 
First, let’s examine the view from 
the street, since that is the place 
from which most people see our 
homes. See how this simple arrange¬ 
ment of Major Accent Plants makes 
the composition of our picture; how 
the planting across the front gives 
a broad, flowing, continuous line, 
and the house itself, half revealed, 
intrigues the interest, for partial 
concealment is more inviting than View from the street 
full, open exposure. And what an 
air of retiring refinement is provided. And highly practical, too, for this planting acts as 
a screen from the noise, dirt, and fumes from our modern motor traffic. Plants absorb 
a large part of exhaust gases, convert them into plant-food, use it in making growth— 
and expel life-giving oxygen so vital to our health. 
Now we step inside the hedge and 
discover the house itself. Mind, this 
is the first real impression of our 
home which our friends get when 
they come to see us. A quiet, gra¬ 
cious, dignified effect, simple and in 
excellent taste. The “Foundation 
Planting” should not “steal the 
show.” Rather it should embellish 
the house, but not dominate it. For 
this reason, too-positive forms, either 
in size, texture, or color, should be 
omitted. Our friends will be coming 
View from inside the front border planting tO SCC US thrOUghout the year; SO 
winter, summer, spring or fall, this 
quiet dignity should be maintained. For this purpose nothing quite fills the need so well 
as the Minor Evergreens and Evergreen Shrubs found on pages 20 to 31. 
As we enter the door, we pause to look back on 
the scene we are leaving. Note how the circum¬ 
ferential planting of the front-lawn area gives 
the illusion of spaciousness and seems to remove 
us from the traffic of the street; how the street- 
side planting gives a feeling of protection, 
privacy, quiet, and peace. 
The front border from the front door 
As we step into the sun- 
room, a different view is 
afforded by the border 
planting, and a double 
purpose is achieved—the 
combination of the utili¬ 
tarian and the artistic. 
Nowadays our houses are 
apt to be all too close to¬ 
gether. We have nice 
neighbors, but just the 
same we don’t like to be goldfish—on exhibition every moment. This border planting does an 
efficient bit of screening while still retaining all the tenets of tasteful art. The very trees—Accent 
The left side border from the sun-room 
3 
