The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-18

The owner of single village OF
| city lot, averaging, as at present plat
ed, about 5000 or 5000 square feet
| in area, is certainly not in position to
attempt very much in the way OF land.
scape improvements as they are gen
orally classified in our minds; still
| the case is not SO entirely hopeless
and much more can be accomplished
| than the property-owner thinks pos
| sible. .--.a
! Two things must characterize our
ventures when on SO small a scale, if
they are to be successful artistically-
neatness and simplicity.
Our field of action may we'll be di-
Vided into two sections, that adjacent
to the street, which lies open to the
view Of the public; and the more re-
tired poEtion of the lot, where some
degree Of privacy may be secured.
In the treatment of the first sec
ton the street itself is an important
feature, and the cooperation of
neighbors and often of city officers
also is needed to accomplish much
here.
While the extreme width of street
between property lines should rarely
be less than sixty feet, the roadway
proper should not be wider than is
required by the demands of traffic,
and a wel]-huilt and maintained road
way of twenty to twenty-four feet i'll
width vii! b. amply sufficient in many
II not all instances when the public
is educated up to the appreciation of
the fact. The sidewalk should, if
possible, be placed next to the prop
erty line, thus allowing a wide boule-
ward or parking between the walk
and roadway. Here the row of street
trees may be placed with ample room
for development and far enough from
the gutter line to be reasonably safe
from hungry horses.
Where lots are small and houses
close together these street trees must
necessarily furnish most Of the shade
that can be obtained, tho an Occa-
sional large trees may find place on
the lawns. Much of the planting on
the lots will be, however, of small
trees of choice varieties, shrubs or
hardy plants, not overlooking the most
useful of all, the hardy vines which
will decorate a castle or a cottage,
give us desired privacy on our veran. ,
das and porches, or trailing over de-
lapidated fences and outbuildings like
charity will "hde a multitude of
sins" and short comings.
OF course to those who live in this
latitude the list of small trees is much
shorter than for the inhabitant of a
milder climate, but we are not entirely
bereft. The cut-leaf birch is a favor
lite variety, but unfortunately in course
of time is too apt to lose it's head'
Were ~cut-leaf maple is more reliable,
the various mountain ashes and native
haWthorns, mountain maple and buck
eye will do we'll and with little pa
t1ent waiting a Japanese lilac will
prove to be both unique and beautiful.
More tender varieties will some
times surprise the experimenter by
thriving in unexpected fashion, and we
can find in Minneapolis a few perfect
catalpas and at least one beautiful
gingko tree.
In the line of shrubs we have album
dant wealth at hand for any effects
we can reasonably ask for
The home ground, be it large or
small is not entirely for the public,
however, altho in the first enthusiasm
for village improvements the cam
paign against fences and other indi-
cations of property lines was carried
to an extreme which would seem to
indicate such to be the fact. A reac-
ton has taken place and the house
holder is now asking for spot which
shall during the warmer months be
an outdoor complement to the living
room; for this we must generally turn
to the rear of the lot and in the plan
ming of the dwelling it would be we'll
to SO arrange it that the living-room
if possible have direct connection
Herewith.
The extension of electric lines, the
substitution of automobiles and bicy-
cles for other methods Of travel and
modern conveniences within the house,
have rendered unnecessary the stables
and other buildings which have in
the past occupied so much space and
oftentimes been such disagreeable
features in the landscape, and so we
may gain valuable addition to our
lawn and garden areas.
Privacy being one of the conditions
sought in this section of the grounds,
we will probably avail ourselves along
the boundary of our lot fences or trel-
Uses of sufficient height, covered with
some luxuriantly growing vine, tho
if the area in question be sufficiently
large we may utilize tall hedges or
mixed border plantations of shrubs
and small trees. Within the frame
thus provided must be wrought out the