Landscape Gardening. 
It need scarcely be said that the limitations of a short article such as this must 
necessarily preclude the possibility of discussing so broad a subject in anything like 
an exhaustive manner. But we desire, as briefly as possible, to point out some of 
the rules of the art, the observance of which is im¬ 
peratively necessary' to the beautifying of the horpe 
grounds, whether it be a country place of many 
acres or merely a suburban lot. That much 
the larger number of country and sub¬ 
urban places are badly planned and 
badly planted must be apparent to every 
one who possesses a cultivated eye. The 
cause of this is often due to false notions 
of economy. No one intrusts the build¬ 
ing of a costly house to a joumey'man 
carpenter; in all cases an architect of 
recognized ability is engaged to prepare 
the plans and superintend the construc¬ 
tion. With regard to the grounds, this 
common-sense plan is not always em¬ 
ployed ; frequently the whole tiling is 
given up to the tender mercies of some 
itinerant gardener, whose knowledge of 
tree and shrub life is confined to the 
narrowest limits, and who is totally un¬ 
aware of the great resources of the 
Hardy Herbaceous Perennials. The 
chief aim of this class of so-called land¬ 
scape gardeners appears to be the making 
of unnecessary roads and walks, the 
planting of common and coarse-growing 
trees where shrubs would be better, or 
where a carpet of grass only should 
exist, and to the making of hideous 
“designs” for flower beds. Such a 
method can only result in disappointment 
and loss of time and money. The true 
way is to begin right; do not commence 
parson’s silver fir, weeping Norway spruce and weeping larch. planting hap-hazard, but secure the 
sendees of the best landscape gardener 
to be had, and have a map made showing the location and ground plan of the house, the accurate position of trees and 
shrubs already growing and the proposed improvement, roads, walks, trees, groups of shrubs, flower beds, etc. The map 
can be carefully studied in leisure hours and a fairly-correct idea formed of the appearance the place will present after a few 
years growth. Visit the best gardens in your neighborhood and note the habit and growth of trees, shrubs and plants ; this 
will aid materially to a correct understanding of the map. 
A Good Lawn, robed with a mantle of velvety-green grass, smooth and closely mown, is an element of beauty in 
the landscape of the first importance. No matter how skillfully a place may be planted, or how costly the trees, shrubs and 
plants may be, if the grass is ragged and uncared for it will not be a beautiful place. The best way to secure a good turf 
on small grounds is by sodding. On large grounds this would be expensive and impracticable ; but equally good results can 
be obtained by seeding, and the best mixture for the purpose is that in which Kentucky blue grass and white clover pre¬ 
dominate. Grass seeds mixed in proper proportions for lawn sowing can be purchased from nearly all responsible dealers. 
I he first operation is that of preparing the ground for the seed. Rich and deep soil is as essential for the production of a 
good turf as it is for flowers or vegetables. Decomposed manure should be used liberally and the ground plowed deeply 
and brought to as fine a condition as possible with the harrow and rake, being careful to fill up all holes and inequalities on 
the surface. 
The best time to sow seed is in early spring, or in September, and it should be sown as evenly as possible, at the rate of 
