Manual of Gardening | Page 7

should determine the locations of the leading features of the
place and the relative importance to be given to the various parts of it,--as of the
landscape parts, the ornamental areas, the vegetable-garden, and the fruit plantation.
The details of the planting may be determined in part as the place develops; it is only the
structural features and purposes that need to be determined beforehand in most small
properties. The incidental modifications that may be made in the planting from time to
time keep the interest alive and allow the planter to gratify his desire to experiment with
new plants and new methods.
It must be understood that I am now speaking of ordinary home grounds which the
home-maker desires to improve by himself. If the area is large enough to present distinct
landscape features, it is always best to employ a landscape architect of recognized merit,
in the same spirit that one would employ an architect. The details, however, may even
then be filled in by the owner, if he is so inclined, following out the plan that the
landscape architect makes.
It is desirable to have a definite plan on paper (drawn to scale) for the location of the
leading features of the place. These features are the residence, the out-houses, the walks
and drives, the service areas (as clothes yards), the border planting, flower-garden,
vegetable-garden, and fruit-garden. It should not be expected that the map plan can be
followed in every detail, but it will serve as a general guide; and if it is made on a large
enough scale, the different kinds of plants can be located in their proper positions, and a
record of the place be kept. It is nearly always unsatisfactory, for both owner and
designer, if a plan of the place is made without a personal inspection of the area. Lines
that look well on a map may not adjust themselves readily to the varying contours of the
place itself, and the location of the features inside the grounds will depend also in a very
large measure on the objects that lie outside it. For example, all interesting and bold
views should be brought into the place, and all unsightly objects in the immediate vicinity
should be planted out.

[Illustration: Fig. 2. Diagram of a back yard.]
A plan of a back yard of a narrow city lot is given in Fig. 2, showing the heavy border
planting of trees and shrubs, with the skirting border of flowers. In the front are two large
trees, that are desired for shade. It will readily be seen from this plan how extensive the
area for flowers becomes when they are placed along such a devious border. More color
effect can be got from such an arrangement of the flowers than could be secured if the
whole area were planted to flower-beds.
[Illustration: Fig. 3. Plan of a rough area.]
A contour map plan of a very rough piece of ground is shown in Fig. 3. The sides of the
place are high, and it becomes necessary to carry a walk through the middle area; and on
either side of the front, it skirts the banks. Such a plan is usually unsightly on paper, but
may nevertheless fit special cases very well. The plan is inserted here for the purpose of
illustrating the fact that a plan that will work on the ground does not necessarily work on
a map.
In charting a place, it is important to locate the points from which the walks are to start,
and at which they are to emerge from the grounds. These two points are then joined by
direct and simple curves; and alongside the walks, especially in angles or bold curves,
planting may be inserted.
A suggestion for school premises on a four-corners, and which the pupils enter from three
directions, is made in Fig. 4. The two playgrounds are separated by a broken group of
bushes extending from the building to the rear boundary; but, in general, the spaces are
kept open, and the heavy border-masses clothe the place and make it home-like. The
lineal extent of the group margins is astonishingly large, and along all these margins
flowers may be planted, if desired.
[Illustration: Fig. 4. Suggestion for a school-ground on a four-corners.]
If there is only six feet between a schoolhouse and the fence, there is still room for a
border of shrubs. This border should be between the walk and the fence,--on the very
boundary,--not between the walk and the building, for in the latter case the planting
divides the premises and weakens the effect. A space two feet wide will allow of an
irregular wall of bushes, if tall buildings do not cut out the light; and if the area is one
hundred