The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-02-12

The reason that so large proper
tion of home grounds are not specially
attractive as Individual wholes is less
that planting has been neglected than
that the trees, shrubs and other gar
den materials have been placed so bad
ly that they ave no combined meaning
or significance, but are just so many
trees. shrubs, ETC.. growing where they
happen to have been planted. There
Is no need for such state of aairs. Ev'
cry garden, while differing from every
othr garden and thus revealing the
personality of the gardener, should
form distinct picture or series OF pic
lures II large enough for more than
one. Moreover, this individuality
should be sufficiently striking to catch
the eye of the casual observer who
should not be able to detail immediate
ly the number and kind or quantity of
each species or variety of plant In
view. Ordinary gardens---those con
demned above-show that the garden;
ers had no clearly defined or construc-
tive idea of what beauty of landscape
even In limited area is founded upon.
! Instead of a planting where every
tree, bush or plant is separate In
dividual claiming attention as such,
the plan of arranging the subjects so
that they will each support the other
and together set forth picture should
commend itself to every one who wish
es to make garden worthy Of the
name---one that will annually grow
more beautiful. restful and satisfying
Not q penny more need be paid for
plants; the only difference being In
the placing
without trespassing on the domain
of the landscape gardener, whose eff
forts are supposed to be directed Ia
large areas. II may be taken M fun
damental that the home is or should
be the central feature of the great ma
jOrity of gardens How shall this be
emphasized without being too insist
ent? How shall the restful idea o.
"home" he brought forward without
making the idea of house" too obtrus
I've? Perhaps the first step is to pusl
back the planting to the side lines Sc
rs to leave a clear space in the fore
ground, or toward the view which thu
house commands for the gardel
| ~ all h., fD, MI 4,
and rest of the indwelers. In thi'
space thus left open the best thin,
that can be done IL to plant grass, be
cause OF all plants grass is the mos
restful to the eye. Besides. when |
IL grown we'll In properly tende'
, lawn 1t gives an impression of breadtl
|, to the area.
4 This impression of breadth can b
e emphasized or enlarged by seizing NJ
e on natural or artificial pecularitie
4 OF the neighborhood, Suppose that Il
one direction Is a beautiful view OF
lake. river, meadow. a forest,
mountain or other natural object; SUI
y pose that In the absence OF these
n neighbor has a fine lawn or wei
y planned shrubbery border, or beautif,
;. specimens of trees anything; In tn
former case II would be folly to plar
tall growing subjects and thus shut OF
the natural beauty, and In the latte
3 the neighbor viii In nowise feel robbie
o II his paintings are admired from ne,
|. door. On the other hand, the rule a
plies to the screening OF unsightly q
jects, Here is the place for tall plan
ings. Indeed. the paintings shoul
~ vary in height according as the desil
is TO include or TO exclude objects I