February, 1923 
75 
The paths and open 
spaces are paved with 
warm red tiles that have 
become mossy with age. 
Formally clipped acacias 
stand on either side of 
one of the paths 
further, as is often the case, to excavate 
still deeper in order to lay drainage tiles 
over an impervious sub-soil before putting 
the top-soil in place. With the method of 
construction used in this garden no exca¬ 
vation is necessary. Over the original 
surface of the ground the drainage tiles 
may be laid; arranged, of course, to divert 
the water toward convenient outlets, and 
over the tiles the new top-soil may be spread. 
The retaining walls should Ire erected be¬ 
fore the soil is brought in and spread, and 
they should never be’ higher than the width 
of the narrowest path. 
(Continued on page 94) 
H. V. Duryea 
garden’s design is that of the raised 
flower beds, held in place two feet 
above the level of the paths by 
retaining walls of brick. In the 
matter of appearance it gives to 
the garden an added feeling of 
snugness and seclusion already 
made effective by the surrounding 
enclosures of wall, lattice, and foli¬ 
age. The coping of this low re¬ 
taining wall, coming as it does to 
a comfortable sitting height, in¬ 
vites repose and offers a leisurely 
way to get at the plants growing 
along the edges of the beds. View¬ 
ing the scheme in a practical light 
it becomes a solution for one of 
the most difficult problems which 
confront the builder of a backyard 
garden, namely the necessity for 
excavating a foot or more of sterile 
earth to replace with top-soil, and 
.4 semi-circular bench 
fits perfectly into a 
side bay and is flanked 
by two chairs similar 
in design and by a pair 
of blue water jars re¬ 
peated opposite 
The plan of the garden 
shows how well its 
arrangement occupies 
the space. It will be 
noticed that, happily, 
there has been no un¬ 
due effort to achieve 
absolute symmetry 
