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Pecseatess 4 titty atiatettrat 33 z niyee ih i i i i Baabenattt be Hi #t: tei sear 1: t aos ster rss ery Sitetstee: a6 ttetisets :: 3 7: ait rey at Hin t ts) stitsticss sabetebettt % ith, Huis sapite Tettetitiiatetett at they ste saperereete eesarenes sesese® tS stat: t re eu eniete Pitt bebteey oaths eh realists He Ttieiese: : stieitttistitiaet isis Piatt ttt) cyte ? ert $234 “ * beiitetirstinerste mm + a pictcity sho cacara’ ; etree yar rere. setgtet S 7} antes i + prpreriisosryetrys Sere recrasieten pesepreopetizegeess betest 3 eh Sr Sote Ssieoss Tipastitey, iestretetetets THEE abe tt shit skate Haat Tieipie eset pestis e test eats prey S232 z : ss, RHnitbsishiths wee tttectsiee, . ‘ Suse mn e+ Perms Hberae iskeat haters Pprsrsos) : ste a 3 a satiate ae ce a ues a aaa tit Tit rere taptirer ‘ eo ’ a , ¢ “ é ® A * bo we: ri ¢ Tie a i al rea i miy ‘ -.%, ‘ é 4 “ \ ‘ é a is yy Dace hive oy LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES CNOSNYT] *¥Y NIMUO,) Aq HUIQWIDG ay) WOdT) : HONGHAVY HINGTAGS GNV LHAULS AHLNIN-ALAI ‘“MUVd IVULNAO OL AONVULNG LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES *™*™ BY SAMUEL PARSONS JOHN LANE COMPANY NEW YORK sw» s~ ws» MCMX Copyright, 1910, by JOHN LANE COMPANY PUBLISHERS PRINTING COMPANY, NEW YORK IYNPI ADOC Ds PREFACE Tue work illustrated and described in this unpretending book represents the author’s own undertakings, with one single exception, the pond in Central Park. ‘These concrete examples are selected to show by picture and pen how some problems of landscape gardening were solved by him. They represent certain leading types of work and in a simple way some of the basic prin- ciples of the art. It will be noticed that no reference has been made to the actual design of architectural struc- tures. The difficulty with the landscape architect has often been, that he will insist on designing buildings, something which is really outside of his domain. His province is to deal with Nature and render her more beautiful, more enticing, more lovely in every respect; but always herself, always Nature. It needs a lifetime of study te catch the spirit of her beauty and transfix and utilize it by intelligent manipulation for man’s use and enjoyment. There are broad and simple principles of the art, which should be reflected in a more or less modified way in all good landscape-gardening work. ‘Thus, in order to secure a good composition developed from the surroundings to meet man’s physical needs and at the same time secure a PREFACE due satisfaction of his higher esthetic and spiritual nature, the designer should keep large motives in view: breadth, simplicity, a skillful adjust- ment of the relations between the different parts of the place so that there will be a proper bal- ance throughout the scheme. The place should not be all garden or all pleasure grounds or merely well-groomed and planted farm fields. ‘There | are instincts and sentiments which naturally well up in the mind when the scheme of develop- ment is undertaken that should be allowed to lead the designer into pleasant harmonious rela- tions with the landscape, not forcing or contorting existing conditions, but allowing Nature to guide in all things with her supremely artistic hand. A wind-swept knoll with distant views should not be obstructed by many trees. On the other hand, when a nook at the back or one side of the house suggests a garden or a retired valley, trees and shrubs should further emphasize, perfect, and complete the sense of seclusion. This faculty of design in landscape gardening is, of course, the highest and most difficult attain- ment of the art. ‘The promptings of its suggestion can be trusted, however, only by those who have sought with long and diligent study its manifold secrets. The habits and strange vagaries of individuality characterizing different trees, shrubs, and flowering plants must be well understood. The treatment of the special soils in which these plants are to grow needs attention that many fail to give. The change of the surface of the ground, PREFACE usually termed grading, also represents an impor- tant field for study and involves much artistic training and natural ability. Finally, roads and paths are required to enjoy the finished effect, provided they are so arranged as not to mar it. When sufficient skill and knowledge on these points have been attained there should be associ- ated with them for entire success a breadth of vision and a matured judgment which can be arrived at only by a sympathetic study of the works of masters in landscape architecture. The study of such great examples as Central Park, New York, and Prospect Park, Brooklyn, and in Europe such places as the great park laid out at Muskau, in Southern Prussia, by Prince Puckler; some of the parks in the neighborhood of Berlin; certain of the great English country places, notably Haddon Hall, will do much to give soundness of vision and the needed critical faculty. It may be said also that the study of all landscape-garden- ing designs affords a source of more or less valuable education. It is with this end in view that the following chapters undertake to present by means of text and illustrations the efforts of one student of the art. CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE . ; f Z ; s : r ag LAWNS 4 ' ; P : 5 ¢ § ase Tue REHABILITATION AND COMPLETION OF CENTRAL Park, New YorK . : E : : Ai | A HixisipE Park (Str. NicHoLas) . : inpedes A SEASIDE Park (Coney Isuanp) . Mea 42 SomE DersiGns FoR New York City Puay-Grounps) 25 PLay-GROUNDS CONTINUED . A ; Rae LANDSCAPE TREATMENT OF LAKES AND Ponps . 29 Park TREATMENT OF CEMETERIES . : pmae | HoMEsTEAD Parks : i : ; ; aioe A Park FoR THE NATIONAL CAPITAL . : Bie ates I A Mountain Roap oN THE HUDSON . ; ee AS An AUTUMNAL HILLSIDE : ! i AG THE COLONIAL GARDEN (VAN CORTLANDT) . «49 Two Country-PLacEs . : oe A JAPANESE TEA-GARDEN . : ; Sea Ok Tue Sace Sac Harsor Home . ‘ sche Pierson Hicu Scuoon, Sac HarBor . . 69 An Istanp Home . ' : i ; : Ean EVERGREENS . f Ff foe RHODODENDRONS . : ; : : te OG Mrs Russeiu Sace’s MILE or RHODODENDRONS IN CENTRAL PARK : : : A pat INDEX . : ; ‘ ; ’ ; 5 ce, 99 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Entrance to Central Park, Fifty-ninth Street and pee mnt emetic RR Frontispiece “ Baym. Central Parks, New Yorkers. 202.32. 0 ou. Ove "10 Denudation of Roots of Trees in Central Park............... 14 Play-ground Lawn in Central Park—Bad Condition.......... 16 Play-ground Lawn in Prospect Bark Gecd Condition. 2.35% - 16 Dee WICH OMS) Eames sles bos seca ie olga ay Sials elose a he ak aie helms @ are 20 Poneyilahkiid Parlin ty iil tos tl gb 12 ad Xo oi ad eather aia Bee 22 A blay-cround—_ | homas/setierson: Park) 0)... bjt). ves ae 25 a Eliy-sround——W.7l oeward! Parks jcc. 08 Get. aie 26 de Tlay-cround—-De Witt Clintom Bark): 2025) oo. ois seas 27 View of Fifty-ninth Street Pond in Central Park.............. 28 Another View of Fifty-ninth Street Pond in Central Park...... 29 Niewon bake ny Centralbark yoshi. st:clewae ae ines ee atts 30 Eliza ot bine, Wawim Cemetery . ooo. ace oe se eee Stee el 32 Miew of Mountain berrace 60.05 oao¢e venta yee RS oe 33 Elaniot Glenwood’ (A Homestead Park)... 6...) oe ee 34 Plan of Park Treatment of Territory situated between the Capitol Grounds and the Washington Monument, Washington, D. C.. 37 Study of Bridge over Sunken Transverse Road in Park Treat- MEMiPGhy Vy AS mINeLOno bark 2h) Os otiaaia Memmi a Od ate 39 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE A>Mountain Road is26 7.2 Se ss Sr ae ee ee eee 44 Plan of Colonial Garden in Van Cortlandt Park....... pp aan 50 - Perspective View of Colonial Garden in Van Cortlandt Park. 52 Plan of Miss Bosler’s Grounds, Carlisle, Pa. ......,.......... 54 Plan of F. Nelson, Jr.’s, Grounds, Birmingham, Ala........... 58 Japanese Garden Plantations: 05.605 cs aac vse oe eeieee 62 Mrs. Russell Sage’s Home at Sag Harbor, L. I.............. 66 Original Contours of Pierson High School Grounds ........... 69 Proposed Contours for Grading of Pierson High School Grounds 71 Planting-Plan of Pierson High School Grounds............... 73 Plan of a Small Garden on Sheffield Island, Conn.............. 78 A Study in Grouping Evergreens at Houghton Farm, Orange Counliys NoMa eros ante eee one ee eee 82 View of Rhododendron Plantation given by Mrs. Russell Sage to Central Parkes) 55 7 a ee ee eee 94 . LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES I LAWNS i es grade a lawn properly, requires the eye of an artist and the skilled hand of a true artisan. One has to feel and study not only the contour of the land itself but also the surround- ing conditions. A level lawn in the midst of a roll- ing territory will be forced and ill fitted. The contour of a lawn should form an integral part of the general character of any special region. A level surface, even if it could be obtained, would seldom have value, for no territory is abso- lutely level. ‘Therefore, whether long flowing lines or shorter ones be employed, they should be so graduated as to blend and lose themselves one in the other. If drainage is necessary, the lawn should be underdrained with tile laid about two feet below the surface. Clay loams and heavy clay soils are nearly always improved by such treatment. In England so fully is the value of drainage appre- ciated that landlords will lend money to tenants for this purpose, believing that the returns will secure the payment of the debt. The ideal way of fertilizing a lawn is to secure a chemical analysis of a number of samples taken [9] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES from different parts of the lawn to determine its alkalinity, its clay and humus content, and possibly the lack of some mineral plant-food element. If the clay content is low a coating of two or three inches of clay loam spread over the ground and incorporated with the natural soil will add greatly to the power of the soil to retain moisture and fer- tility, together with the mineral salts it may itself contain. But if the lawn is deficient in organic matter there will be no hope of satisfactory results unless this condition is corrected by increasing the humus content. Under favorable circumstances the best method of securing this humus is to bring it from some thoroughly drained swamp which has been long cultivated. Such humus soil must be well rotted, thoroughly disintegrated, sweet, and well supplied with nitrogen and nitrifying soil germs so essential to active fertility. One or two inches of this material should be harrowed in the same as manure. It might be interesting to know the chemical formule of a highly fertile soil. ANALYSIS ON DRY BASIS MECHANICAL— DONG cca ic Pee ioe > releae pee eee 54.5 per cent Clay 2 Se Ee eee ee 25. werk Dime |.) eee eee eS Bib Sass Bums 3s ee ee eae 18 ne 100. TEXTURE—60 per cent passes 50-mesh sieve to the inch. [10] MYOX MAN “MUVd TVULINAO NI NMVI LAWNS CHEMICAL— Grevme hamus material: |... 5. kee eee 18. (Containing ammonia .90). ESSN 0) A eG RE a Eo ec tea 82 Contaming Limes. 2), 600s. . 2.50 Phosphoric acid ... 35 Pole ca aie .40 Silica and residue .. 78.75 82.00 100 ALKALINE— This is an ideal soil, well balanced and of long enduring fertility. If the soil is acid, which condition can be dis- covered by the use of litmus paper to be obtained from any druggist, lime should be used at the rate of one thousand pounds to the acre. Water slacked (hydrated oxide) is the best form in which to use it, broadcasted and harrowed or raked in. Stable manure can also be used with excellent results to furnish the humus or organic matter for the lawn; but it must be remembered that it should be thoroughly rotted by proper composting in a pit or other situation, where leaching is pre- vented and the drainage liquor can be returned to the heap. In this way a large part of the noxious weed seeds are destroyed and a prolific cause of bad lawns eliminated. An acre of lawn should have at least a hundred loads of well-rotted ma- nure, preferably cow manure, spread on its surface and spaded or plowed under. Before seeding, the soil must be made thoroughly fine by plowing or spading and repeated harrowing [11] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES and raking. If the soil is sandy it might be well _ to roll it before a final, very light raking, so that — when the seed is put in it will not be planted too deep. Whether the seed be sown with a machine, in order to spread it evenly, or by hand, it should be sown in both directions. After seeding, the lawn should be rolled and kept watered if the soil requires it. The foundation of every lawn should be blue- grass, either Kentucky or Canadian. It is long- lived and very hardy, making a thick compact sod that endures drought well. A lawn made of this grass will not come to perfection until the third year. Other grasses, quick-growing and suited to fill in while the blue-grass is coming to maturity, may be mixed in. Such are Pace’s rye grass and Rhode Island bent; the latter, by the way, does specially well in sandy soil. In shady places the best grass is wood meadow (Poa sylvestris). Very soon after the grass comes up, almost as soon as the mowing- machine will nip it, cutting should be started. Only in this way can the lawn be made to grow compactly and luxuriantly. The knives of the mowing-machine should not be set too low in doing this cutting, especially in hot periods and dry weather. [ 12] II THE REHABILITATION AND COMPLETION OF CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK FIFTY-THREE years ago the construction of Central Park was well under way. General Viele had prepared a plan and Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted was Superintendent of Parks. Something had been done but not a great deal, so that when dissatisfaction with the way things were going de- veloped, it was not difficult to call a halt and ad- vertise for the best plan and to offer an adequate reward. The Greensward plan of Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted took the prize, and thereafter both of these artists retained during their lives a more or less dominating influence for good over the carrying out of the design of Central Park. It is largely due to these conditions that we have Central Park as it is to-day; though per- haps the result is still more due to the fact that there were intelligent citizens in New York, Mr. Andrew H. Green among the number, who were willing to fight long and hard for the retention of the original design. It might be well to note that the design of Central Park means the working out of several ideas, which [13] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES were felt to be necessary to the proper park concep- tion of the situation and the peculiar character of New York City. The park consisted of a territory belonging to the city, bounded by 59th Street, 110th Street, Fifth and Eighth Aves. Within this boundary were the unformed elements of a picture, with suggestions of open-air joy for every citizen from childhood to old age. Here was an open meadow where the breezes could play on the rolling surface of the cool greensward, and there a valley, and woodland and lake, with quiet country ef- fects, offering rest and charm for all classes, a place where on a clear, sparkling day every human being could take in with delight the open air undefiled. The problem which the first designers kept before them was to take advantage of the natural features which existed in this territory and so bind ‘them together with planting, grading, roads, and paths as to make not only a picture of the highest artistic value, but to afford pleasure, rest, and comfort to all who come within its confines, to give freedom and enjoyment to all without inter- ference with the rights of any. Round all this charm of natural scenery it was intended to place a frame of foliage that should not only form a fitting border for the picture, but also conceal as far as possible the sights and sounds of the city. Yet Central Park is not completed. Before he died Mr. Vaux had planned almost every de- tail for the final accomplishment of the work. To-day, however, there are large sections of the [14] DENUDATION OF ROOTS OF TREES IN CENTRAL PARK COMPLETION OF CENTRAL PARK park which still remain unfinished after some fifty-seven years of effort on the part of citizens, superintendents, landscape architects, and com- missioners: notably the territories from 79th Street to 86th Street, east side; from 96th Street to 100th Street, east side; all along the west side from 110th Street to 100th Street and from 81st Street to 77th Street. Indeed it may be said that the border plantations and grading need in a great many places throughout the park, not only restoration, but actual completion in order to carry out properly the ideas of the designers. Central Park well deserves all the reputation it has. But these lovely bits of landscape, both open meadows and sylvan dells, have not been brought together with the artistic skill which the original designer intended. So beautiful, how- ever, has the park appeared in the eyes of the general public and the disbursers of the public funds that from the early days of the park down to _ about 1890 or 1895 little thought was given to the completion of the entire design of the park. It is doubtful whether even to-day any considerable number of those who visit the park realize how far it still is from completion. So long was this lack of completion delayed that finally, after scores of years had passed, a new condition appeared, increasing twofold the park’s imperfection. 'This was that the trees and shrubs finally reached the limit of their span of life, a necessarily short one in the poor soil and unnatural conditions of a large city. The lovers of the park, [15 ] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES were confronted, therefore, with a sad condition of things. The great design had never been com- pleted and such beauty as had been secured in large degree had lapsed into decay. At the time a commission of experts was em- ployed to confer with the park authorities with a view to devising aremedy for this incomplete and decaying condition of the park, while the press insisted loyally and persistently that New York should safeguard its greatest art treasure from failure and decay at any cost. Year after year efforts were made to secure ap- propriations for the prosecution of the work of restoring and renewing the soil and plantations of Central Park, but all without avail. The authori- — ties acknowledged the necessity for the work, but considered themselves unable to vote the money in view of the greater necessities of other depart- ments of the city. Finally in 1907, after a specially convincing and complete report had been made by the park commissioner of that time, pointing out where in the park the work should be done and estimating the cost of such work, Mrs. Russell Sage came forward and generously offered to make liberal donations toward the restoration be- cause her husband had always been fond of the park. Her noble gift of more than half a mile of rhododendrons resulted. Thus the great work of the restoration, and also it is hoped of the completion, has been fairly commenced. Surely from one source or another there is reason to hope that funds will be forthcoming to rehabilitate this [ 16] NOILIGNOO Gvd—wMuvd TWULINHDO NI NMVWI GNOOWD-AVId NOILIGNOO GOOD—MuUVd Li adsOuUd NI NMV'TI GNNOUD-AV Id gevea ree ¢ Xe COMPLETION OF CENTRAL PARK most charming bit of water and sylvan landscape. In order to realize better the needs of Central Park and how much should be spent on it, it is worth while to turn to the chapter of this book which gives an account of Mrs. Sage’s gift of rhododen- drons. It might be interesting to go farther and state that the cost of the soil, clay loam, and humus used in making this plantation was $20,000, while the total cost of the gift only came to about $50,000. There are twenty tracts of the park where similar treatment should be given. Besides the need for restoration and completion already re- ferred to, employment of new and rare species of trees and shrubs needs far greater attention. Certainly Central Park, in view of its reputation - as the foremost pleasure ground of America, should present to the world an exhibition of landscape gardening art in its latest and most perfect expression. [17] III A HILLSIDE PARK St. NicHotas Park is built on a portion of a precipitous rugged mass of rock extending from below 110th Street up to 155th Street, New York City. From thence the same ridge extends along the speedway to Dyckman Street and is of nearly the same character. It forms a distinct barrier between two portions of the city, both of which are now becoming popu- lous. It is so precipitous that it is a hard climb to reach the upper level from the sidewalk. Steep roadways have been devised at a few points. By far the greater number of streets, however, abutting the park can not be carried across it at reasonable grades for traffic, this rocky tract forming an almost insuperable obstacle. In order to use this ground profitably and devise ways of crossing for pedestrians, a series of parks have been bought and established by the city, including Morningside Park, St. Nicholas Park, and Colonial Park, all veritable steep hillside reservations, and the Speedway which is bordered by park lands of similar character, in all a distance of some five miles. The most noteworthy of these parks is St. Nicholas. Along the upper level, a hundred feet above [18 ] A HILLSIDE PARK St. Nicholas Avenue, is St. Nicholas Terrace, bor- dering the park for its whole length on the west from 130th to 141st Street. This terrace is sup- ported by a rough cut-stone retaining wall from ten to thirty feet high. On this wall is built a cut-stone parapet of gray granite, and at intervals on its front are constructed flights of steps to the park below, with landings and balustrades. ‘The space beneath these flights of steps is utilized for comfort stations, tool-rooms, ete. On the extreme north corner of this park wall, on the other side of St. Nicholas Terrace, is situated the great quadrangular graystone Gothic mass crowned with numerous castellated turrets and towers, the five-million-dollar City College of Greater New York. This Gothic mass suggests and almost forces a Gothic treatment of the parapet wall, steps, and comfort stations.. Opposite the main entrance of the college building comes naturally the most important entrance to the park, down winding flights of steps to the street below. The park itself is narrow, and therefore only two paths are carried through its entire length. One on the higher level connects the various flights of steps; the other on a lower level connects the various entrances from St. Nicholas Avenue. Between these two longitudinal streets, transverse ones wind about, seeking the easiest grades up the steep slopes till they find their exit at the steps leading out of the park. In order to secure reasonably comfortable grades for foot passengers, a large amount of cutting and [19 ] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES filling has been done, so that sometimes a path will lead through a rocky defile and again creep along the base of a cliff with grassy slopes falling away below. The curves and junctions of these paths are made with long flowing lines and easy turns atthe corners. ‘The lawn spaces are enlarged as much as possible because of their necessarily restricted area, extra rock having been blasted in many places to bring this about. The general sweep and configuration of this side hill is kept as close as possible to the original surface as designed by Nature. In order to retain this appearance, the borders of the walks, especially where the land slopes off sharply, are mounded up so as to form a screen and prevent the eye detecting the walks from below, except in a few places, as where one approaches an entrance and necessarily sees much of the length of the walk. Along the steps, of which there are a great many, at points where the grades are too steep, the earth is mounded up in still larger quantities and rocks are used to diversify its effect. The borders of all these steps are planted heavily with trees and shrubs so as to mask them. Trees and shrubs are also planted at the various junctions of the paths and about the entrances to St. Nicholas Avenue and around the flights of steps. Along rocky defiles are planted whole borders and masses of native gray willows and similar trees. On another hillside are set red cedars the conical forms of which tend to increase the appearance of ruggedness. This is done on the principle in [20] MUVd SWIOHOIN ‘LS “LS £51 “AS abel'M 1S 4SelM SYTIOHDIN LS inboyuousa) wnuing/A UP{OFBIC UIUINGIA “LS.,,0£1 M ereso CMWINELd eb ena enbo0j 013 OE O1,1: SIWOS pu iceywesbasy 092007 sunyofiunig MinssngiA Meng 42g MIMINDA cwobing ericlso2 oye BE eyofjndo e20uIe egy ier e2 8701409 Piet fejmog St eesousey codhpepoyy 7 en/fipuen ©nWo/epe/! Rema gees _snminom ance ape Baal eyepuep/*o 614/22 Iz we == ed y2bou suncsert) Wo 241M OR t PMD eyogs wegerO)7 2241 poom MO//2h 46) B21 Eii4 034/ aL siihes hongune NV71d DNILNVId snucuraroug unoiradial "2 wep] ve2conz » e086) 61499129 9 wopuly uesueuy © pbsoqunys 61729429 *> m/z ye/buz 2 envafivopo weru2eg g 7 vervauy \ ‘wyofuijoy eeys20g coe egns4e = A HILLSIDE PARK landscape gardening that the dominant note must be followed with a harmonious treatment, a high hill made higher, a rugged slope more rugged, a deep valiey made deeper, thus invariably following Nature’s lead. All walks are shaded at intervals of forty to fifty feet with large trees; and against the support- ing park wall above are planted masses of ever- greens and deciduous trees and shrubs of a more or less woodland type. ‘The largest types of trees are planted where the wall is highest, thus pre- venting their ultimate growth from shutting off the view from St. Nicholas Terrace of the park and surrounding country. [21] LY. A SEASIDE PARK At the foot of Ocean Parkway, fronting on Sea Breeze Avenue which bounds the bathing- beach at Coney Island, is a park completely ex- posed to the ocean. The whole side of the park bordering Sea Breeze Avenue is affected by the spray for a distance of a hundred feet into the park. On the west side are situated all the celebrated buildings for amusement, including Luna Park and Dreamland. For many years this park was a waste where only a few stunted trees and shrubs managed to live. | About seven years ago this waste land was covered from one to one and one-half feet deep with good top soil well supplied with clay brought from neighboring farm lands. The original flat surface of the ground was made more attractive by long flowing undulations by means of carefully managed grading. In low places, and especially where shrubs and trees were expected to stand, the layer of soil was deepened in some cases a foot or more. The original soil being nearly pure sand and the exposure most unfavorable to vigor- ous plant growth, this liberal supply of strong top soil was necessary. The theory of the design of this park was to [ 22] xymydvd Nvao° souls wnubyebloy UHs4cNb/ 7 Pwo Ofo"g/ wiraig eb! coplo;wey SPASALOPO4L EIS OUOLOD C114 A/ OP O/14S “IP UOS1/ OAD H/T COLT eI N2AO LUNIA puw JOUMYZIOSY Off PCIOF “uno fi/ AO uinsgenbs7 one puto (D1 Of lui { Off NIOYZIOT ‘“nuojaboy unigenb!7 “2 MuVd ANVWISI AUNOO e7jr00 UUs A O pue CNIOIVASD nneelg tH anv ‘unyofijorg, utagsnbs7T SD C/N UINIUIIGIA PUD 12UTIES2S 214 hesoJ4 Wnuoyoboy WnsZCnbsT 2L110/aS CUIOD “ASUAODONOSD GANY Ts! pu pewi7bues, ral "Of D/ 172 | ld , wrnubpyeboy wars b/7 Rue OL Of (M1 OK, £14029 O79 'en20/J AO COS/GIH wngopuog UiTUsNGlA en7uso2D eebuosPhH Lunubyaboy unssrbl/T puc Uirt/of1sOAQ Uitdg SEIT ‘SUOLPUPPOPOUEY AANCO Ground. § Mall. $ € a antndh Essex St. : 2 ae * a arts! : WILLIAM fi: SEWARD :DARK: _ William R. Willcox. Landscape Architect. Hee Parks Board . ~ Samuel Darsong Jr. A PLAY-GROUND—W. H. SEWARD PARK @) Samucl Parsons Jr landscape Architect, A PLAY-GROUND—DEH WITL CLINTON PARK VI PLAY-GROUNDS CONTINUED Wiuiam H. Sewarp Park is situated along East Broadway, with Jefferson Street, Division Street, Suffolk Street, Hester Street, Essex Street, and Canal Street bounding it. This spot was a few years ago one of the most congested in New York City. The tenement houses which were cleared from this location to make way for the park were dilapidated and noisome in the extreme. The area is less than three acres, but around it is carried a real park effect of trees, shrubs, and lawns, with a central mall extending from Canal to Hester Street. On one side of this mall is a children’s play-ground with every game and amuse- ment for girls of all sizes. A high fence surrounds it in order to afford every means of protection to the little ones in this crowded part of the city. High fences also surround the exterior boundary of the park, and around all grass plots are lower fences with pointed crestings to increase some- what their effectiveness. A double row of trees is planted along the mall. On the west side of the mall are a large gymnasi- um ground and running track, and back of that, adjoining the extreme west boundary, is a hand- some building affording music and shelter for the mothers and little ones. Underneath it are many baths for public use. The walks are asphalted [27] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES and everything is done to protect the park from the persistent stress and wanton destruction of the surrounding mixed population. Dewitt Clinton Park is a children’s play-ground situated on the banks of the Hudson River, bounded on the west by Twelfth Ave., on the south by 57th Street, on the east by Eleventh Ave., and on the north by 54th Street, between nine and ten acres in extent. This park is specially well arranged for the introduction of play-grounds. The borders on three sides are more or less steep and through the center extends a level plateau which has been made more level by grading. Walks wind up from all the four corners and at two intermediate points on one side and one on the other. The steepness of the ground makes it possible to pro- duce a picturesque, park-like effect of trees and shrubs over a large extent of the territory. Natural rocks appear in several places through- cut its surface. A broad path leads from the center of the park on Eleventh Ave. to a gymnasium ground surrounded by trees; and in front of this, on an undulating lawn of its own, is a fine music stand. Beyond this a farm garden for children has been established and five hundred or more little ones from this neighborhood farm their little plots throughout the season. Beyond this, in turn, on a high, steep bank overlooking the Hudson, extends a long pergola or arbor beneath which are rooms used as night schools by the farm children, where they are taught domestic economy. [ 28 ] MUVd IVULNAO NI GNOd LAAULs HLININ-ALAIA FO MATA MUVd IVYLNAO NI GNOd LAAULS HININ-ALAIA AO MAIA YAHLONY Vil LANDSCAPE TREATMENT OF LAKES AND PONDS TuHE pond in Central Park is close to the 59th- Street entrance near Fifth Avenue; it lies thirty feet below the surface of the street and is long, winding, and narrow. Much of the effect of this sheet of water was increased by piling on the pre- cipitous shores on the northwest side quantities of the earth excavated from the lake, which was probably originally only a stream. On the south- east side the ground was graded more gradually in order to carry a walk along the borders of the water and further to give more suitable planting- space for the large trees between it and the street. On the high rugged promontory to the northwest were planted large trees to increase further the effect of height. ‘This ruggedness and picturesque- ness are made more noticeable by the way the lake is led to wind and lose itself behind the promon- tory, terminating at a grassy slope or dell which completes the picture. To the northeast, at a narrow part of the lake, a bridge spans the water. It is built of large bowlders of native stone, with the joints so made as tohide the cement. The weather-beaten sur- faces are exposed and _ there is very little sign of the tool on the bridge except where a bluestone coping finishes the top surface of the balustrade [ 29 ] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES and where the arch stones perfect and hold to- gether the structure. The entrances to this massive stone bridge are heavily screened with quantities of trees, shrubs, and vines, particularly the ivy-like creeper Ampelopsis veitchi clinging by its rootlets to the rough surface of the bridge and covering a con- siderable part of it. Here and there within a short distance of this bridge, and at intervals all along the shores, bowlders are seen just above the water, and back of these, extending over the water, grow white birches and other woodland trees. Wild shrubs, sumacs, and dogwoods appear among these trees and extend up the hillside in great masses. A walk leads over the bridge and along- side a little dell at the end of the lake to the Sixth Avenue entrance at 59th Street. Along the pre- cipitous sides of the promontory on the northwest side of the lake no walk is made. . The walks on the other side of the lake are planted with trees of a less woodland character— European beeches, Norway maples, and others. The view to the north from the bridge completes the charm of the picture. The eye is led through a series of pools and connecting rivulets away from the lake past low undulating grassy banks and obstructing bowlders into an ever widening lawn, where it loses itself at the base of a gentle slope merging into the woodland beyond. The planting of this lake and the curves of the shores are all designed to give limited views, except at one or two unexpected points. [ 30 ] MUVd IVUYLINHO NI AMVI AO MOUIA VILL PARK TREATMENT OF CEMETERIES Ir is unnecessary in this present day and country to advocate the use of the parking system in ceme- teries. Its value and beauty are generally con- ceded. The difficulty experienced, however, is so to balance the portions used for lots and those set aside for parking effects, that the picturesque, natural scenery appears dominant, and the land sold for burial purposes is retained in sufficient quantities to insure a financial success of the enter- prise, which, after all, is the controlling considera- tion. It would be well in the beginning to make a general and emphatic protest against all designs involving a gridiron arrangement of lots. This should not, of course, be understood to imply that one or more angular lots might not occur here and there in the general scheme. All this would depend largely on the character and configuration of the land. For the same reason it is difficult to make hard and fast rules as to the arrangement of any cemetery grounds. ‘Three things, however, should be barred in park cemeteries: they are fences, hedges, and tall monuments. The simplest way to illustrate the proper develop- ment of cemetery ground is to consider an actual example on Long Island. The problem that presented itself was a treatment of two thousand acres of nearly level territory supporting a few [ 31] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES scattering pines within its area. In order to avoid the monotonous treatment which the place dis- tinctly invited on account of its level surface, the scheme of a series of concentric circles was devised because it was recognized that the best effects of park design are produced by massing large features of the landscape together and securing prolonged vistas and continually curving lines in every direction. The whole area was bisected by two long avenues running nearly at right angles. At the inter- section of these roads was established a large park of seventy-five acres which was devoted entirely to lawns and trees, burial places being excluded. Extending in four directions from this center a series of concentric circles were laid out, with one of the avenues before mentioned in every case passing through the center; and connecting the different circles were various areas of irregular form with roads devised to fit their. outlines. The interior of these concentric circles was arranged for burial lots by more concentric circles with connecting roads and paths just as in the larger scheme. The curve of the arc of these circles forming a side or an end of an individual lot was so slight that its deviation from a straight line was barely noticeable, yet viewed as a whole the gridiron effect was entirely eliminated. Points or areas were established at the center and other portions of the curves where trees and shrubs could be planted in such masses as would secure a natural park-like effect. [ 32 ] Se it gp = %) " a 3 if ~— Gy \\ aN YY ov) bh ARCrscK > ‘ ‘ ° ALSO \ ne PLAN FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT “GLENWOOD,” BIRMINGHAM, ALA. By Ly os j \\ 2) ZN iN Te aN 3 rl —_ SCALE: I'= 50! AN dimensions ore onprosimele. MOUNTAIN TERRACE OF VIEW IX HOMESTEAD PARKS Ir we find the gridiron design or checkerboard pattern frequently applied to cemeteries, even more do we find it applied to real-estate develop- ments for the purpose of the sale of lots. The profit to be derived governs in both cases. Greater foresight should be used to insure beauty as well as convenience and comfort. If one would but think a moment it will be evident that such a combination commands a higher price than convenience and comfort alone. It is pos- sible, of course, on a perfectly level plain to devise a square system of lots that will give a picturesque effect by the use of trees and shrubs in a park-like way, each plot indeed being a miniature park. But such conditions rarely prevail and even then, as we have seen in the case of Pine Lawn Cemetery, there are more attractive ways of accomplishing the same result. Each hill and valley, whether large or small, in a park of this character has a definite individuality of its own—an outlook, a vista, a charm of contour that may be retained by proper subdivision of land. In order to illustrate the application of the above principles it will be helpful to refer to Albemarle Park, built a number of years ago, and [33 ] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES Mountain Terrace, a similar reservation recently treated in the same manner. Albemarle Park is a tract of land of about sixty acres situated in Asheville, North Carolina. The scheme is the usual one of a hotel with cottages around it. The unusual feature of the place is its steepness. ‘The natural contours in many places will hardly allow one to reach its upper portions without the most strenuous effort. Consequently it is not surprising that the roads ascend on this place with almost spiral curves as may be seen on the accompanying plan. The entrance to the place is happily worked out by the architect in a simple building with a reasonable amount of dis- tinction, with a fine archway giving a glimpse up a winding road. ‘This building is largely massed with trees and shrubs. The lots on this territory are naturally hilly and sometimes the front door has to be reached by steps. But the very ruggedness of the ground suggests more picturesque buildings and the wind- ing of the roads gives opportunities for masses of foliage to increase the beauty of the place. The views from points all over the park, as one comes from behind a mass of trees or foliage, ranges over the most entrancing scene of mountain and valley, and at the highest boundary of the place one emerges on a road called Sunset Drive which commands the most distant and striking prospect. The lots, which range from one-half acre to three acres in extent, were in each case carefully [ 34] (MUVd GVALSANOH V) GOOMNAID AO NVWId pom aE Ru m ox a ee . 4 ramet = ? 4 : : ; Fy ea PR i Saya mT RT OA DET 8 a oS HOMESTEAD PARKS studied with the architect in the original plan. The spot for the house was designated. ‘The scheme for planting was worked out and in many cases carried out. Individual taste was allowed to dictate preferences as to the use of certain trees and shrubs within certain areas of the lot. Noth- ing was permitted, however, that would tend to destroy the natural woodland effect. Indeed, very many native trees were left standing. Many lots had a bit of lawn, a house, a few natural shrubs like dogwoods, and a background of native trees. It should be understood that, although every appearance of naturalness is preserved in the con- tour, even to the steep declivities of the hills, much change of surface has to be made to keep steep hillsides from washing and to soften by filling the rough and deeply scored hollows and uneven depressions. To illustrate further this method of treatment of a building-lot system, reference may be made to the Glen Wood tract at Birmingham. Here we have a territory, generally of a less steep char- acter, with lower hills around it. The bird’s-eye view of the park, as seen in the picture, indicates the way in which roads on such territories have to find their way along the contours, creeping up the hillsides on the easiest possible grades. It will be noticed that in this tract of fifty or sixty acres few main roads are used. ‘The lots are so irregular and difficult of approach on most sides that it is necessary to carry small winding drives to many of the lots so as to make them [ 35 ] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES properly available. Walks are made in the hill- | sides, five or six feet or more above the drives, and narrow alleys are sometimes employed to reach a stable at the rear of a lot. It is interesting, however, to observe how completely every inch of ground is managed so as to make it salable in the form of a lot. Heavy cuts and fills occur throughout the roads on this tract, some of the grades being at least ten per cent. The lots themselves have not been changed in contour to any considerable degree, thereby allowing the native trees to stand in large numbers wherever they do not interfere with the construction of the house and lawn in front. Along the borders of the roads is a liberal space of greensward. Shade trees are planted three or four feet from the curb. Around the entrance gate of fine stone work appear great masses of foliage, rare and choice, including many evergreen trees and shrubs which thrive specially well in this climate. Another great advantage which this Glen Wood _ tract possesses is that its roads are curbed and guttered, macadamized and in some cases asphalted, sew- ered, and lighted with electricity. [ 36 ] nae ‘0d ‘NOLONIHSVM ‘INAWONOW NOLDONIHSVM HHL GNV SGNNOUD TOLIAVO AHL NAAMLAD GALVOALIS AMUOLIUNUAL AO LINANLVAUL MUVd AO NVWId a a eel Mesa is a a ——. A= Lae | i " = X A PARK FOR THE NATIONAL CAPITAL In 1900 Congress passed an act providing for the preparation of plans for the creation of an extensive park, covering about three hundred and fifty acres in the center of the city of Washington, extending from the Capitol to the Washington Monument and beyond to the Potomac. The preparation of these plans was entrusted to Samuel Parsons who submitted his report to Colonel Theodore A. Bingham, Corps of Engi- neers, in November, 1900.* The following extract from the report will give an idea of the scope of the undertaking and the general style of treatment proposed. In seeking to solve the problem of designing a park in the heart of Washington, a park which will be worthy not only of a great city, but of a great national capital, it is highly important at the very outset to discover and define the natural limitations that grow out of the original structural lines of the landscape and out of the demands both of the residential and of the business interests of the city. I think that these propositions will not be denied by persons who have really considered the subject: * Fifty-sixth Congress, Second Session, Document No. 135. [ 37 ] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES (1) A park, as a pleasure ground, should be set apart and isolated as completely as art can con- trive it from sound and sight of the surrounding city; and (2) On the same line of endeavor the interior of the pleasure ground should be made to suggest woodland and meadow scenery so laid out as to afford convenient and agreeable access, by means of carriage and bridle roads and footpaths, to all points of interest and land- scape charm. Such a treatment would also assume that while every condition necessary for the comfort and enjoyment cf the public should be kept clearly in view, the landscape should be made to take coherent and artistic shape from the original peculiar genius or idiosyncrasy of the place. Under these terms public buildings could not be generally included as part and parcel of the essen- tial scheme of the park, but they would properly find special territories of their own on the borders of the main pleasure ground, where they could be screened with thickly planted trees, and given a landscape treatment suitable to their character. In order to explain what I consider an ideal plan, I beg leave to call attention to the peculiarly fortunate outline and configuration of the pro- posed park. At present it is intended to cover approximately three hundred and fifty acres, which lie in a space bounded by Pennsylvania Avenue and B Street, S. W., with the Capitol looming up at the east, and Washington Monu- ment at the west. An oblong territory occupied [ 38 . “ Lei etaey £ Ee Cy a es ee ee a einer MUVd NOLONIHSVM HO LNANLVAIUL MUVd NI AVOU ASUAASNVUL NOMNOAS WHAO ADGINd AO ACOLE Gh ie Ward ee TloRy tt, * ok ee Ae age, A PARK FOR THE NATIONAL CAPITAL mainly by the Botanical Garden, the Mall, the Smithsonian Institution, the Agricultural grounds, and the territory around Washington Monument, already belongs to the nation, and it is proposed to condemn by law and secure a triangle of land running from Pennsylvania Avenue on the north, B Street North, on the south, and 15th Street on the west. I would suggest that in addition to this land, in order to secure the ideal park, another parcel be acquired, bounded by Maryland Avenue on the south, B Street on the north, and 15th Street on the west; a range which would be won- derfully effective as seen from the base of the Capitol. There the view would widen over a great perspective that would include in its very heart the celebrated vista over almost level ground through grand old trees to the Washington Monument, which would be the very kernel and innermost jewel or shrine of the landscape. No arrangement could be more fortunate than this. Its steadily widening reach and its unsur- passed vista would make as it were a foreground and park for the Capitol, emphasizing the fact that, owing to the special growth of the city to the west, this side has gained paramount importance. The management of the streets is a difficult problem, if we adhere to the vital principle of isolating the park from the city, and recognize the fact that the grades of the streets can not be materially changed, owing to the proximity of the subjacent water. But the difficulty may be [39 ] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES overcome by retaining only cross streets for traffic, and turning them into transverse roads of ample width, screened by embankments of earth surmounted by trees on each side, and con- nected, at the center of the park and in the exact line of the vista, by bridges arching twenty feet above the present roadbed. In this scheme most of the pleasure movement would cross the park by slightly curved but toler- ably direct drives located close to the transverse roads, and nearly parallel with them, thus carry- ing out more completely the generally elliptical scheme of the park. This plan, whenever it can be used conveniently, has special artistic value, particularly when, as in this case, a blending veil of shade trees can be made to diversify the slightly formal appearance of the oft-repeated ovals. This arrangement of drives and masked ,trans- verse roads, and bridges kept in close relations with the vistas, it will be readily seen, will naturally force the main scheme of park development into a series of ovals, commencing at the Capitol and extending to the White House, where the same idea is repeated in the already constructed ellipses of the White Lot and the adjacent public territory. It is a fortunate circumstance that the positions of the transverse roads cause the ovals steadily to diminish in size, dropping progressively to lower and lower grades as they approach the Washington Monument. Thus in the widening spread of territory they impart to the landscape a finished and consistent perspective, a harmonious cadence [ 40 ] A PARK FOR THE NATIONAL CAPITAL and rhythm of effect, and a finely lengthened appearance of distance. Outside the ovals, the simplicity and effective- ness of the symmetry of which constitutes the keynote of the park, we find the drives seeking the points of interest and convenience by long curving lines, which are so arranged as to mass together as much as possible wide stretches of lawn, and in that way increase the large and dignifred quality of the design. Owing to the concentration of the most dis- tinguished park effects about the main vista and ovals, and owing to the proper demand that walks, bridle path, and drives shall be close to one another so as to afford easy human intercourse and to avoid the great inconvenience of losing one’s way—a risk that accompanies a more wander- ing, loosely constructed system—I have placed the roads near the lines of the ellipses. I am convinced a greater variety of effective views can be secured in this way than in any other. The treatment of lawns is simple. It is planned to leave hollows, meadows, and wide expanses of greensward, excepting on each side of the pathways and roads; there the shade of trees is encouraged, and, fortunately, easily attained. Extended masses of foliage already exist, portions of which, when displaced by the construction of the transverse roads, can be transplanted, after proper root pruning, to assist in emphasizing and extending the effects of the main vista to the Monument. [41] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES Concerning the parkway from Washington Mon- ument to the Potomac and the Zoological parks, it should be said that, as far as the beginning of the precipitous portion of the banks of Rock Creek, a formal arrangement of footpaths, drives, and bridle roads is secured, whereby the house lots are reached by two roads, one on each side of the parkway. The space of eight hundred feet in the middle is occupied by a park drive, by footpaths, and a bridle road, each of which takes a direct course parallel with the adjacent houses, as shown in the accompanying detail plan. When the parkway reaches the steep hillside of Rock Creek, it is allowed to seek the easiest grades. It occupies a large portion of the pictur- esque slopes with the winding curves of its drives and bridle paths, ending at the boundaries of the Zoological Park at the junction of Cathedral Avenue and Connecticut Avenue, where it com- pletes its course in an entrance so enlarged as to include all three avenues. [ 42] XI A MOUNTAIN ROAD ON THE HUDSON Au. roads have a character of their own which affords some interest to the passer-by; but now and then a road is met that has a striking individuality, as is the case with one climbing Storm King Mountain. ‘This road is replete with features peculiar to itself, rugged beauty, grandeur of outlook, and quaint woodland charm. ‘Though some beautiful roads have been evolved in a hap- hazard way this is no chance road. A quarter of a mile from the highway, in a nook blasted out of the rocky hillside, the house was built. After long study and much weary tramping a line of road leading to the house was devised, creeping along the difficult contours and crossing them at times so as to double twice on itself in a length less than a mile. It passed through thick woods; across deep ravines; plowed through necks of land, forcing its way upward to the house, its final destination. Much of the road was dynamited from the solid rock and the hollows were filled with the blasted fragments. Thus a solid rock foundation existed every- where either by nature or by filling. Rocky walls towered at places and at others steep declivities dropped abruptly away to unseen depths. At certain points drainage streams, flowing out of [ 43 J LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES the sides of the hills, crossed the drive and forced the construction of small bridges. For a large part of the way the presence of thick deciduous woods—oak, birch, beech, dogwood, and other native trees—mellows the sunlight which sifts through their leaves. Along the sides of the hill and slopes vines, such as Virginia creepers, bitter- sweet, woodbine, and other native climbers, relieve the torn surfaces. ‘The great attraction, however, of this road are the vistas cut through the woods at various points, especially at the turns. From these outlooks wide-reaching views are obtained to the east and north over a broad stretch of the Hudson River for ten or fifteen miles. Across the river one sees to the southeast rugged moun- tains repeating on a smaller scale the effect of Storm King itself. The grade of this road is necessarily steep, ten per cent in many places. As we climb around its sharp curves we suddenly come out on an open, comparatively level field with a lovely outlook toward the west and north of hill and valley dotted by human habitations at rare intervals. Above in its nook stands the homestead of Mr. Pagenstecher. From this rugged shelf on one side of the house extends the opening into the forest, which has been cut away. Here through a narrow vista in the woodland the eye obtains another and wider view of the Hudson. Above the house rises ledge on ledge of rock clothed with trees, six hundred feet to the top of Storm King. [ 44] 2 au ¥ bese eww Lf A MOUNTAIN ROAD ON THE HUDSON The wild fastnesses of this mountain road with its woods and flowers and utter seclusion, and glimpses of river and highland, have a wondrous charm in autumn. Then it is that the dogwoods, oaks, maples, and liquidambars turn crimson and gold with the shortening days of approaching winter. Not less beautiful are these woodland aisles clothed with snow when the autumn glories have passed. ‘Through the bare branches we get glimpses of the Hudson, often ice-bound, but always grand and impressive. Always this mountain road with its woodland beauty and its various distant views reveals con- tinual charm throughout the changing seasons. [ 45 ] XII AN AUTUMNAL HILLSIDE Out in the wild, rugged, broken territory of New York not far from Tuxedo is a steep hillside. All around are mountains, valleys, and lakes that suggest the wilderness of the Adirondacks. At its base is a wide-spreading mass of forest trees, where Nature placed them—chestnuts, oaks, and quantities of dogwoods. On top of this hill, two hundred feet high, a spot was found for a vine- clad arbor from which could be seen an extended view—-homestead, meadows, lake, farms, forest- clad mountains, and valleys. On one side, the forest trees extend part way up the hill and include within their borders great masses of lichen- stained and weather-beaten rocks. Clustering among these rocks have been planted ferns, wild native azaleas, various wild flowers suited to shady places, sweet fern, Comptonia asplenifolia and hosts of small woodland plants. Passing along the base of the hill by the edge of the forest a road has been carried from the more cultivated part of the place. Here a turn for the carriage encloses a group of tangled wild Michigan roses, six or eight feet high, which bear abundant clusters of small, single, pinkish-white flowers in late June, and from among them rise several fine [ 46 ] Py gg eit i et «ee eS ntl Sek A ABER fo PY OS BS hk oS oie TON God «vig SD Prate Oors ST ae eee ee ees ee AN AUTUMNAL HILLSIDE specimens of the Andromeda arborea, (Oxydendron arboreum), or sourwood. This charming and little-known tree is from the region of Kentucky. It has large, deep green, velvety leaves and bears in mid-summer tassels or plumes of milk-white flowers, rising high above the mass of its foliage. ‘This plant is used here to the number of many hundreds, extending right and left to the very crest. In autumn the richness of its color is unsurpassed. At certain hours of the day when the sunlight falls on these leaves its fire seems to have transfused itself into the texture of the leaf, so vivid is the color. Another plant on this hillside that is equally rich in color but quite different is Euonymus alatus or Japanese burning bush. ‘The color of its leaf is pure crimson of a peculiar shade. With the Andromedas are mingled large quantities of white flowering dogwood so well known throughout the country for its autumn color. Sumac springs up here and there, sweet gum, or liquidambar, and Viburnum prunifolium or nannyberry. Down through the center from the arbor at the top of the hill extends a narrow open stretch. Here, in order to give a vista and sense of variety, were planted a lot of low shrubs red in autumn, Itea virginica. Along winding grassy paths skirt- ing the place are planted quantities of native azaleas and hybrid azaleas of similar shades, their autumnal foliage rivaling the beauty of their spring flowers. Throughout this plantation are not only such [47] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES trees as the liquidambars and red maples planted for autumn effect, but white birches and graceful ash trees to lend variety to the scene and enhance the typical woodland effect. Many smaller forms of woodland flowers and foliage are dispersed among the rocks, and on the banks are honeysuckles, saxifrages, sedums, and some wild grape vines. Standing at the base of this hill or in the vine- clad arbor at the top and looking over its steep slopes, the masses of rich color embraced by the eye form the ideal of an American autumn landscape. [ 48 ] XIII THE COLONIAL GARDEN In Van Cortlandt Park, near the railroad station and the skating-pond, was until a few years ago a marshy depression lying four-square between high banks. To the north of it stood the colonial mansion of the Van Cortlandts. In the course of time the Colonial Dames leased this mansion for a long term of years and filled it with all kinds of revolutionary and colonial . treasures. Coincident with the development of this colonial treasure house the idea of a sunken garden was conceived. As it progressed in development, it took on naturally the term colonial by virtue of its association with the colonial mansion and because its character suggested the formality of the gardens of those days. Circumstances which very properly govern the design of gardens led to the use of canals on three sides. Owing to the fact that a rapid stream ran out of Van Cortlandt Lake a few hundred feet away, these canals were employed to curb the irregularities of the stream and give a definite boundary to a greater part of the garden. ‘The presence of these canals has sug- gested the name Dutch Garden which it is some- times called, but in reality the Dutch character [ 49 ] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES ends with the canals themselves. Nearly every- thing else recalls American scenery conventional- ized. The garden is arranged in squares and planted formally for the purpose of conveniently exhibiting its tree-and-flower effect to those using its paths. The banks surrounding it have no formal lines in their treatment, being left as Nature made them, except that their natural charms are en- hanced by plantations of native shrubs, rhodo- dendrons, laurels, dogwoods, etc. In the center of the group of squares is a circular fountain basin with water-lilies. The spray from this is reduced to such a degree that the aquatic plants are not injured by the spatter of the water. On the outer edge of the open space around the fountain are seats. Behind these again are large specimens of the beautiful American shade tree, the bronzed leaf ash, which naturally assumes formal and compact shapes. ‘These trees stand also on the extreme outer boundaries on the corners of the tract and form the most striking feature in the garden. Lower, more refined and delicate, and less positive in tone are the pairs of weeping birches set on each side at the entrances to the bridges which cross the canal and lead to the central fountain. A scheme of pairs of specimen evergreens on each side of the walk, and opposite each other, is established throughout the place. Every one of these specimens, which consist of junipers, spruces, arbor vite, pines, yews, hemlocks, and [50] MUVd LONVILHYOO NVA NI NACGUVD IVINOTOO JO NvwiId THE COLONIAL GARDEN other erect-growing trees and shrubs, is carefully arranged in relation to its neighbor to secure the most agreeable gradation of color from golden green to the almost black tone of the yews. A touch of golden color is allowed here and there, but is kept thoroughly in abeyance; for yellow is suggestive of abnormal and unhealthy eonditions—decay. A large part of these squares is left open and free to encourage a rich velvety turf intended to lend breadth and dignity to the picture. In front of the evergreens along the borders of the paths comes the floral or perennial plant effect in narrow beds. ‘These beds are about eight feet wide and all parts are easily reached from the path or greensward without trampling the plants. The height of these plants is kept comparatively low by selecting lower-growing species in order to retain the breadth and simplicity of the place. Plants from six inches to three feet high are used, and consist of certain kinds of irises, hardy tulips, narcissi, anemones, columbines, pinks of various sorts, sedums, saxifrages, coreopsis, daffodils, lark- spurs, fox-gloves, hollyhocks, hyacinths, the more dwarf forms of lilies, lilies of the valley, peonies, phloxes, salvias, snowdrops. Beyond the canals at the west, as far as the bank, is arranged a rose garden with the climbing sorts on the outer borders covering the bank or trained on trellises. Within the area are the free- blooming sorts that flower from June to October. It should be explained that, in order to secure [51] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES a well-drained and fertile soil for this garden, it was found necessary to raise the level with many thousands of cubic yards of ordinary earth to overcome the ill effects of the underlying marsh land on which the garden is built. Sufficient agricultural tile drainage was used to prevent the undue accumulation of water from any source. Over this tile drainage was spread a layer, about one foot and a half thick, of rich garden mold containing well-balanced amounts of the necessary constituents of fertile soil, sand, clay, lime, and humus. The lawns were sown, not sodded. ‘The bor- ders of the walks were sodded at least a foot wide and the walks themselves were made with rubble foundations and trap-rock screenings. Instead of balustrades or rails, the borders of the entrances to the bridges and the steps of this garden are guarded by means of rock-work contrived to re- semble nature, the rocks peering out here and there from the earth, with vines and low shrubs and birches intermingled. MuUVd LONVILYOO NVA NI NAGUVOD TIVINOIOO HO MAIA WZAILOXdSUad LDALIHOAUY EdvOSINyv] Wuvd LGINYTILYOD NVA NaGudyD WINOTO)D u M1 5] AvNv> x INYO - x ; H T = 19 wt I v al 1 3 aWNYv> aaddod asou @ AaAduod SNOADWHAFH v Q3Ava7 1nd ONIGIaM HODAIA IT Qanva7 3zNowR GW OX ~nracnos vauny WLOID +2 SIva\HWEAd S1N¥INI0290 WAHL €2 UAIOMAIS WONSL 22 Vivuldy> vivassn? GOXWL 12 yIO4IAING vAvaISN> GOXWL OZ vavaqeuwn SALIdOdVIDS 6T sbywe ysoiso YHOMSINILAY Bt WHINOWO Wa5Id 21 INNYWTS9NA Wald ot WLIlOd WadId st WNVIADODTV WaADId #1 SIVAN DBO WadId €1 vonviD vwoineva ~=SANId 21 VWuaaNaAD SMNId IT (L40Has vNVNIONIA CQUAGINAL OV WazZii4e CNY AdINNL 6 ypinooyM> SQUAdGINNL 8 NONWIOWNYINIORIA COUMAdINOL 4 WDIOINS SINNHHOD SNMAdINAL 9 ¥i2vaHOD 118801 VINAWOLdAND S SNawiAwadNaIs SOXNd + vaissunvoara WIOIG © ~ yoromno>) «=o ogiav Z aAvNYv> XIV TWO COUNTRY-PLACES A COUNTRY-PLACE like the one we shall now consider at Carlisle in the rich farming land of lower Pennsylvania, has many advantages. ‘The country is gently rolling and the soil is a sandy loam free from stone and naturally fertile. The place is situated between two roads and ends at their junction. It is in wedge form and about fifteen acres in extent. The house was an old-fashioned one and has been given the modern colonial touch in the way of columns and other classical suggestions. A number of fine old trees, maples, elms, chestnuts, etc., exist in the neighborhood of the house. Otherwise the area of the grounds had been given up chiefly to meadow and pasture lands. When the recent improvements were undertaken the ground was found covered with a dense growth of alfalfa, and though by nature beautifully rolling with gentle swells, the entire territory had to be broken up and graded ‘in order to manage the drainage properly and to soften all contour lines. For the purpose of securing the most effective approach to the house and of giving opportunity for effective grouping of trees and shrubs with long vistas, the main road was brought in near [53 | LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES the extreme apex of the place. After passing thirty or forty feet into the grounds this road turns with a short sweep to the middle of the property and then follows its course on long gently curving lines which gradually approach the rear of the house situated on a plateau, thus affording a fine view of the most attractive side of the building. Just after the road passes the house it divides, going in one direction to the garage and out- buildings, and in the other to a turn in front of the main entrance to the house and then off to the extreme corner of the place to the highway. Two short walks lead to an entrance to the house from the main road. ‘The endeavor has evidently been to give long graceful lines of roads and walks and so divide the territory as to set apart at least three large lawns with a long vista reach- ing across at least two of them. The planting on this place is especially worthy of attention because on a very favorable piece of land it illustrates well how open lawns and attract- ive approaches can be greatly improved by a carefully devised scheme of planting. At the entrance gate near the apex of the prop- erty are planted two Norway maples, one on each side. Around them are Forsythia viridissima with their yellow flowers and vigorous growth. Smaller in growth and size of leaf, but picturesque and compact, are the Regel’s privet planted on the turn of the road on each side. At the apex and farthest point of the place, about three hundred feet away, are planted a mass [ 54] VINVATASNNGd ‘AISITUVO ‘SAGNNOUD S.UaATISOd SSIN JO NVW1Id eK may OME WIwer ue Spm iy 900240 > 02 Psvesiay janwog OF-1 ATVOS ‘Vd ‘SATSITYuvo aS1SOg 7 NaTgH SSIW HO SANNOXD JO LNSAWSSNVaduv Jo NV'1d sunuayyvoehiyD €/4/ sowosey Seay TBMVOUR OTHEVEZOQe wD See z Z z ‘S{U2/gf Sn0a2DgG/ay N “I et onwag TWO COUNTRY-PLACES of hemlocks. ‘The theory of the planting of ever- greens is to shut in the coldest exposure of the place and give it greenness of color the season through and the sense of warmth in winter. Following the most approved practice, almost all the evergreens on this place are in one great mass or series of groups blending one into the other. It might be well to point out that in this partic- ular situation some considerable length of factory buildings thrusts its ugliness into the. view of nearly the entire area of the landscape treated. ‘To shut out this objectionable feature as quickly as possible a number of white willows were planted, and mingled with them were a few of the red-stemmed kind. These willows were intended to grow rapidly to a great height and then to be removed when the evergreens had grown to sufficient size to screen the place satisfactorily. The majority of the evergreens used were white pines, Douglas spruce, Colorado or blue spruce, the Oriental spruce, and Alcock’s spruce, all of which are hardy, compact, and in the course of years attain great size. Extending all along the fence bordering the highway clear to the house are irregular groups of shrubbery disposed in bays and points of foliage so as to give a park-like effect. ‘These shrubs are dwarf barberries, white flowering dogwoods, forsythias, hydrangeas, bush honey- suckles, snowballs, and here and there dotted among them several specimens of the beautiful Chinese and Japanese magnolias. [ 55 | LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES The drive itself is shaded with maples, elms, and ashes planted at irregular distances from the edge of the road and occasionally running out into the lawn so as to take away the effect of a mere open field. At intervals on the turns of the road groups of large-sized shrubbery are thrown boldly and effectively on each side so as to give a sense of variety and surprise to persons driving to the house. As the road sweeps up to the house it finds masses of deciduous shrubbery and trees, shutting out the kitchen and laundry end. At the point where it reaches the front door and the large open porch a liberal turn has been devised, and here in the oval are planted two fine groups of Japanese maples and on both sides of the porch are arranged large groups of beautiful evergreen Japanese azalea amoena. A short path leads to the side of the house where is another door and two paths diverge a short distance to the street. | Massed on both sides of these foot entrances, and extending one hundred feet both ways along the front fence to where the deciduous shrubs begin, are masses of hybrid rhododendrons of the finest and richest-colored varieties backed up in the center by hardy native rhododendron maxi- mums, while hybrid rhododendrons of smaller size and greatest beauty of flower are kept generally in the foreground. The outline of the bed and the contour of the masses change continually in graceful curves and billows of foliage. A drive leads away from the main entrance of [56 ] TWO COUNTRY-PLACES the house around the turn and out to the highway. Around this entrance large masses of white pines are grouped. From them, leading across the place to the evergreens which cluster around the garage, are masses of deciduous shrubs forming an irregular hedge with a number of large shade trees, existing and planted, rising from their midst. The road from the house to the garage is shaded by occasional maples, and where it joins the main drive a considerable mass of trees and shrubs is gathered together. From openings in this road one can get a long view through a shallow valley unimpeded by trees or shrubs which wander out but do not obstruct it. There are several other open lawns and vistas of a similar kind on the place, and the art of the planting is made to increase their value and effectiveness. An Alabama country-place shows quite similar treatment in respect to contriving vistas and to planting on both sides of the entrance gate and at the sharp curves of the drive. The hillside is extremely steep and, it will be seen, the road had to be contrived so as to run as much as possible on the contours of the property with considerable cut and fill at different points. The main open part is kept in front of the house so as to give a sense of breadth to the view from the principal entrance. ‘The steepness of the road has been necessarily allowed to take the heavy [57] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES grade of ten per cent which is considered in most cases beyond the limit of comfort. Much of this hillside was sodded on account of its abrupt- ness, and other portions of it were planted with Bermuda grass which thrives well in this climate and although brown in winter gives a beautiful green surface in summer. In some places this winter condition has been overcome by sowing perennial rye-grass which comes up quickly and gives a bright greensward during the winter months. The peculiarity of the climate of Alabama is that, in spite of its being hot and more or less dry, a large proportion of the deciduous trees and shrubs of the North will grow there. On the other hand, many beautiful evergreens that thrive throughout Europe and do not thrive in the North will also erow there, such as the beautiful Cedrus deodara or Indian cypress, the southern Magnolia grandi- flora, and others. It is a little too far south for rhododendrons to thrive well, but the shining leaves of the laurel seen in Great Britain by the million do well here, though in the Northern States they are almost always cut down by the frost. Large numbers were used on this plan at the points marked 15. Their growth is very rapid in this climate. It might be said that this remark applies to all trees and shrubs growing so far south, probably on account of the compara- tively long seasons and the warm stimulating climate. It may be noted that here, as was the case in [58 ] VNVAVIV ‘NVHDNINUIG ‘SGNN0UD ‘scue ‘NOSTHN ‘a ao NV Id “umn> beta ed eee m0 fee eer ge Je rasnny aterseury 8D © Seerseg jenwos 500y veasb047 SIA Hou twZffyyyy fy, Wet aavos YTY WYHONIAN ula OS4 Yl NOSTAN MNVHS dO SGNNOXS 30 NV¥1d SNILNY 1d TWO COUNTRY-PLACES the other country-place in Pennsylvania and as should be the case in all country-places, the ever- green trees are massed together in a territory by themselves, diversified only now and then by an outlying birch or other graceful deciduous tree. A group of the fine blue spruce of the seed- ling type, finer in color and shape than the deep blue of the grafted form, stands by itself in the middle of the lawn next to the street on a steep slope. Nearer the house are the beautiful blue concolor spruces with an English yew and a Lawson cypress not far away. The mass of the evergreen plantation is made up of the Douglas spruce, Colorado blue spruce, hemlock, noble silver fir, and nearer the house the finer forms of the Indian cypress and pinsapo fir with a mingling of Retinospora obtusa and the green form of our northern red cedar. Near the garage are Douglas spruces, junipers, and ret- inosporas. In front of the house on the turn are more junipers and yews and near by are the laurel eroves. ‘These evergreens are located so as to shut out regions and buildings which need screening and to give a warm, solid background to the home territory throughout the year. In front of the house alongside the road and alk are masses of deciduous trees and shrabs so disposed as to open unexpected vistas and shade the place. ‘The trees are the ordinary ones of the North, elms, lindens, plane-trees, and the quaint and hardy gingko or maiden-hair tree. Adjoining the house in beds around the bay- [59 ] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES windows and corners and alongside the entrance are Azalea amoena and one or two other forms of the beautiful flowering Japanese azaleas, and bush honeysuckles. The autumn colors of this place are illustrated by masses of white flowering dogwoods and the native Andromeda arborea or sour-wood. [ 60 ] XV A JAPANESE TEA-GARDEN UNDER the unfavorable circumstances for locat- ing a Japanese tea-garden, a landscape-gardening project at Southampton to which we shall now give attention, the best that could be done was to hide it in a corner, where large trees screened its sides and rear with the help of an adjoining carriage-house and garage. In front, a softly rolling lawn extended one hundred yards to Mrs. Thompson’s cottage and a little to the south more than twice the distance to the shores of a lake. The building erected by Japanese carpenters was, for a tea-house, somewhat lofty, but pictur- esque and characteristic. It was impossible to give the full Japanese spirit to the surroundings on account of conditions; therefore, it was thought best to avoid the introduction of many common features of Japanese gardens such as artificial pools, iris borders, miniature winding streams crossed by diminutive bridges, and in addition numerous dwarfed oaks, pines, etc., a foot high and perhaps fifty years old. All this seemed too strained and artificial, in short, entirely unsuited to the place. The trees and shrubs used were simply Japanese, the growth of some of which in time would be [ 61 | LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES twenty feet or more and tend to shut in and isolate from the rest of the place the Oriental air of the building. These trees consisted of cryptomerias and the following : Juniperus Chinensis, Arg. Var. Juniperus Japonica aurea Juniperus Japonica pfitzeriana Juniperus squamata Retinospora obtusa gracilis Retinospora obtusa — gracilis nana Retinospora obtusa pygmea Retinospora obtusa nana aurea Retinospora obtusa lycopodi- oides Retinospora obtusa tetragona aurea Taxus cuspidata brevifolia Tsuga Sieboldii Cryptomeria Lobbi compacta Pseudolarix, Kaempferi Pinus Massoniana Sciadopitys verticilata It may be possible in such a situation to make something that represents in a fashion a Japanese garden, though it is doubtful whether in America good taste in landscape gardening can afford to admit its presence, so alien is it to our modes of thought and action. Under the best conditions, wherever visible in our landscape, any Japanese garden will be almost certain to strike a note of discord. The best that can be done with it, outside of an art museum, may be illustrated by a description of the way it was used on a small estate seen by the writer on the outskirts of Paris. Here a territory of three or four acres was treated in a thoroughly scenic and academic way. Qn one side of the French windows and open veranda of the villa were the vegetable garden and the outhouses. At the [ 62 ] SNOILVINVId NAGUVD ASHNVdVE WK MW OL/G SIMWOEP 15 5/224 WP4p ALOISpuo7 POA EE a etl saplolodo2A7 OSIYGOD BIOAEOWi {Igy =P ‘euopLlapopoy yy oY Dainty DUO,/ 987490 ps0dsoufjeh/ myofli244A shy /dopo/rG Oo puop/ 2S7{90 DI0dsSouYIL{ "D pany YLy 47 a, Duofy SY//I0I SIO BLOTSOUYEL/ = S ysafdwaoy X/IQOPNasy 1a) ‘SYI204D PS74AIO orodsounayy F pj20dWoD 1797 aitausofaAs9) N pyowon bs srsa0lunfy WP/ OGD HaG obrs W cdop) 14aZ lf snsaaiunp 5) 2yof 474g OfOplasagD Satay iF oar b2UV0dep snsamurpy pany evoboya OSYgGQ 240TS0UY7y =H wy bly s/suaUly9D snsadiunp isp ? oe hy Ce a SAK pies Br diye) ©) - ; ~ aoe BO ae Mie OL) OGD. Sy)! (GQ 2) 7 BONG . Ne Oo: ‘ Be VY) Deon ecg CLOCOLTO RIGO oe Ga () AD A>; A\ SE HOG su OT Ones oO CIO Caos ) See Dy JRITIRAT AOI DO CO NOOO. OS O10. O SD. Ge TUK FOIA I TAT MAA ION DIDELAINL LINING mingiois LORIN PAXOAI COSCO IOI os oF oc ot or ° s or SA TYOS ‘NOLLYLNY 1d NHdCdvo ASANVdvi A JAPANESE TEA-GARDEN front extended a bit of turf like a rich, green velvet carpet, bordering which bulked a thick mass of native trees, beeches, maples, elms, horse-chest- nuts, etc. From the end of this plantation appeared a winding stream or brook, planted with wild flowers and spanned by rustic bridges, with groups of trees and shrubs used in a natural style, which contrived to help the perspective scheme and lent the effect of distance. This apparently completed the place, making Nature quaint, dainty, neat, polished, and highly civilized. Passing down a walk bordering the main group of trees the tour de force of the place suddenly appears from unexpected spaces: a Japanese tea- garden and a perfect one. ‘The brook is bordered by Japanese flowers and Japanese maples and cherries, both dwarf and large-growing. ‘To com- plete it all, there appeared an actual Japanese _home in the shape of a little cottage occupied by the gardener and his wife. The place was small, but the labor and genius applied to it were in their way astonishing. You were in another world when you reached it, and before you reached it you did not dream of its existence. All this is very admirable and it is characteristic of the way the French do much of their landscape gardening. In America we want things different; hedge-rows full of bright-berried bushes and varied autumn colors; meadows full of pepperidges, liquidambars, and thorns growing in irregular groups along flowing brooks; wide-spreading grass lands backed by woods generations old; hillsides [ 63 ] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES | of sumac and dogwood. On lines like these we should work out our landscape art in America, holding Nature as we find her, with only such changes as our daily needs demand in the way of comforts and conveniences and those horticultural enrichments which do not violate the native spirit of the scene. [ 64] XVI THE SAGE SAG HARBOR HOME Mrs. SaGeE selected a home in Sag Harbor because she had many relatives and associations there. The old homestead she had lived in as a child, and the entire town, recalled memories of her youth. The house she finally bought had been, fifty years ago, the domicile of an old whaling merchant, and had the simplicity and dignity of the best houses of that period. High Colonial columns set off the front, extending two stories, as one often sees in New England. Such a place, it was thought, should be kept with as little change as possible, so much only as was essential to fit the necessities and comforts of modern days. A fence made of round, white pickets, quaint and in keeping with the buildings, enclosed about three acres of ground. The lawn in front of the house was dignified by the presence of three or four great arching elms, with trunks three feet in diameter and about sixty feet high. Along the side of the house was a border of box and a little terrace across reaching a lower level. Old- fashioned flowers peeped up in corners and nooks. The entire grounds had a distinctly old-time air. It was not easy to suggest a landscape treat- [ 65 ] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES ment of this place because anything of the garden- esque, picturesque, or other typical landscape ~ method would certainly mar its spirit. It was felt necessary to sacrifice nearly all ambitious attempts of this kind. Straight walks bordering the house and extending back to the stable and vegetable garden were made; not because they were, in the ordinary sense, beautiful, but because they were fitting. The grounds in front of the house were developed in conventional landscape style by means of a curving road coming in at one gate and passing the house-front to the other gate, following more or less the arc of a circle. The same landscape treatment for the front was completed by arrang- ing, in irregular beds along the borders of the fence and curving in and out, great masses of hybrid rhododendrons of the richest and most hardy kinds—crimson, purple, pink, and white. The plants on the remainder of the place con- sisted almost entirely of roses and old-fashioned flowers like larkspur; while shrubs and trees com- pleted what was not accomplished by the rhodo- dendrons, various kinds of dogwoods, snowballs, bush honeysuckles, and some silver maples and ash trees. ‘The old-fashioned flowers were planted on the borders along the edges of the paths. The principal landscape effect of this place, after all, is the lawn. Here it was possible to secure a long sweep of turf extending from the front to the rear of the grounds with bordering plantations on each side. It should be said that [ 66 ] GNVISI DNOI ‘NOdUVH DVS LV ANOH S.ADVS TIESsoy ‘SUN THE SAGE SAG HARBOR HOME this scheme of treatment has been amplified from time to time by extending it over such additional ground to the west as has been bought by Mrs. Sage to enlarge the surroundings of the house. The construction of this place was somewhat difficult. The soil was poor and sandy. The dry climate made it peculiarly difficult to grow grass or trees and shrubs. In order to overcome the difficulties presented in the character of the soil, quantities of clay loam were brought from several miles away. It is a scarce article in that region. ‘This material was spread over the ground to the depth of six inches and on its surface was spread and well incorporated three inches of thoroughly decomposed humus, without which the clay loam would not have been a perfect soil. The shaping and grading of the lawn with this soil were very carefully done. Wherever the planting was located, there elevated areas a few inches above the general level were made. ‘The remaining surface of the lawn was kept on easy- flowing lines, just varying enough from the original to give it a certain touch of elegance and artistic effect. The border of the drive and the edges of the shrub and flower beds were carefully sodded with strips about one foot wide. The roadbed itself was made of an asphaltic earth which had been found elastic and enduring, agreeable to the tread, and not open to the objections of ordinary asphalt. The character of the rhododendron plantations was made irregular in appearance, [ 67 | LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES up and down just as Nature under favorable conditions would do it, but with just a touch of art. These beds, moreover, consist of masses of single kinds of rhododendrons, a large group of red here, a mass of purple there, the whites carefully kept where they would blend well from purple into red. Some beds, again, were laid out all of one kind, Altogether there may be fifteen or twenty varieties. It should be said that the climatic conditions at Sag Harbor are favor- able to rhododendrons. Some of these groups surround the elms, and the eye is led in and out among them in a way that tends to magnify the area of the grounds. The large size of the house made it necessary to give the grounds as extended an effect as possible. The lawns were sown with Kentucky blue- grass and have now developed into fine turf without further fertilization than the harrowing into the sandy soil of a liberal ae of thor- oughly decayed humus. In a corner of the place in the rear, to one side, and shut off by the lattice work of a clothes- drying ground, is a vegetable garden containing asparagus and strawberry beds, raspberries, black- berries, and the usual vegetables for the daily use of the house. Across the extreme rear of the place is a road arranged for service purposes in connection with the garden, outbuildings, and kitchen. [ 68 ] 7 8 Rad 0” a ab CONTOUR MAP SCALE I-40 ORIGINAL CONTOURS \ OF PIERSON 6 ae a ae Division St Farrer St HIGH SCHOOL GROUNDS XVII PIERSON HIGH SCHOOL THE situation of this school is on a high knoll with hummocky rolling land all around. Coarse, gravelly sand constitutes the soil of the entire property, sterile in the extreme. The location of the building evidently had to be on the apex or highest point of this territory; but the space was so narrow that the entire crown of the hill was cut down two to three feet in order to give a sufficient space in front of the structure to allow a vehicle to turn conveniently and give the build- ing a sense of fitness to its surroundings. The grading of the rest of the place was com- plicated and difficult. Irregularities had to be removed and hollows filled up to secure long sweeping lines and graceful contours. Wherever the planting-spaces came, slightly raised contours were made to give prominence to the effect of the trees and shrubs set there: larkspurs, hollyhocks, irises, bleeding heart, and the like. At least twelve thousand cubic feet of soil were moved from one place to another before this work was completed. This scheme was carried out from calculations in accordance with sections made from a contour map with elevations of one foot shown at the intersections of squares of fifty feet. 3 [ 69 ] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES The enclosure of this territory was accomplished by a wire fence made of netting and iron posts anchored in the ground. A short drive with an open plaza in front of the main door of the school-building was laid out, and two winding walks lead from the two corners of the property adjacent to the most important road bounding it. The scheme of the planting was suitable to that of most small places, an irregular border of trees and shrubs around the outskirts with the entrance and corners emphasized with larger groups of trees and shrubs. The theory of the treatment of the grove of oaks, in the rear, was to keep it open and encourage grass. Appropriately placed are seats, swings, and other devices for outdoor amusements. Owing to the somewhat bleak and dreary character of the scenery and the fact that the climate of Sag Harbor is softened by the misty sea air and favorable to the growth of evergreens, a considerable plantation of Douglas firs and white pines was used around both foot entrances in order to give the place a cozy and comfortable appearance in winter. These are among the best evergreens for such a climate and soil. On both sides of the walks, about forty or fifty feet apart, and along the borders of the prop- erty as far back as the school-house, were planted Norway maples which do well in comparatively poor soil, attain considerable size, and retain their health and beauty for many years. On each [70] eat SGNNOUS TOOHOS HOIH NOSHHId AO DNIGVUD UOA SUNOLNOO aasodoOUd O-l :adivos S ad iOwNoOo Gdisedoudd a st = 3 | ZL] : Ve > ie ; TI > VY YY PIERSON HIGH SCHOOL side of some steps, constructed on one of the paths to overcome a steep grade, are planted several Norway maples and between them a large mass of the beautiful Regel’s privet which keeps picturesque and comparatively dwarf for many years. On the other side of the building, at the junction of the path and the drive, a con- siderable group of native hawthorn is placed, and at the entrance of the drive are grouped large masses of snowballs, known as the highbush cranberry, and Regel’s privet. In front of the building no trees are planted, so that an open vista may be left directly across the longest way to the main street. Throughout the entire borders among the Norway maples are planted hydrangeas, bush honeysuckles, forsythias, Japanese raspberries, snowballs, Spirzea opulifolia or ninebark, and other shrubs. ‘These kinds are selected for their various bloom throughout the season and their vigorous nature adaptable to all kinds of soil. Al newly planted trees were carefully staked to prevent blowing over. The wire fence surrounding the place was planted with Japanese honeysuckles which in a year or two will make a complete hedge effect _ of almost evergreen foliage. In reference to walks and concrete steps which in this instance were used to overcome an especially difficult grade, it should be mentioned that where, as in this case, the arrangement is feasible, steps should be clustered together with frequent land- [71] LANDSCAPE GARDENING STUDIES ings and always at the steepest part of the terri- tory traversed. The risers of the steps should never be more than six inches high, and even an inch less is better. ‘The tread should be eleven or twelve inches. A low curb on the side will protect the bordering bank from injury by those afoot. The banks on each side should be heaped up and on them trees and shrubs so planted as to keep the steps out of view. No rock-work was used in connection with the steps of these school-grounds as the country there is sandy and free from anything suggesting the use of rocks. The improvement and preparation of the poor gravelly soil for the purpose of making the lawn were brought about by carting clay loam from a place three miles distant and spreading it about six inches thick and then mixing with it two inches of well-decomposed humus to supply the necessary organic matter. The borders of the walks had to be made with strips of sod, but the main lawn was sown with Kentucky blue-grass as a base, mixed with Rhode Island bent, creeping bent, and redtop. This seed was raked in thoroughly and then rolled with a heavy iron hand-roller without further treatment except to supply moisture from hydrants which were set every two hundred feet throughout the grounds. ‘These hydrants were rendered neces- sary because of the sandy soil and infrequent rain which characterize the climate of Sag Harbor. Were it not for the humid air from the near-by [72] ‘ f = = . I YOIstA‘G ee oo oe Soe eas os we 1 a GRE ‘ BAe) Oreck Sh i eens ae Ke : ny PRET ERY De whee 4 & n * ' —— ko i : ’ ‘ ‘ ' ' ' ‘ ' ‘ ‘ ’ ' ' ' ’ ' ! ' H ' ' ' i ' ' ' { i H 1 | J a sl O. | * OF i us| ipt A oe | Q zD