Manual of Gardening Part 4

The place could be improved by planting it somewhat after the manner of Fig. 43.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 42. A meaningless back-yard planting, and an unnecessary drive.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 43. Suggestions for improving Fig. 42.]

A city lot.

A plan of a city lot is given in Fig. 44. The area is fifty by one hundred, and the house occupies the greater part of the width. It is level, but the surrounding land is higher, resulting in a sharp terrace, three or four feet high, on the rear, E D. This terrace vanishes at C on the right, but extends nearly the whole length of the other side, gradually diminishing as it approaches A. There is a terrace two feet high extending from A to B, along the front. Beyond the line E D is the rear of an establishment which it is desired to hide. Since the terraces set definite borders to this little place, it is desirable to plant the boundaries rather heavily. If the adjoining lawns were on the same level, or if the neighbors would allow one area to be merged into the other by pleasant slopes, the three yards might be made into one picture; but the place must remain isolated.

[Ill.u.s.tration: V. A subtropical bed. Center of cannas, with border of _Pennisetum longistylum_ (a gra.s.s) started in late February or early March.]

There are three problems of structural planting in the place: to provide a cover or screen at the rear; to provide lower border ma.s.ses on the side terraces; to plant next the foundations of the house. Aside from these problems, the grower is ent.i.tled to have a certain number of specimen plants, if he has particular liking for given types, but these specimens must be planted in some relation to the structural ma.s.ses, and not in the middle of the lawn.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 44. Present outline of a city back yard, desired to be planted.]

The owner desired a mixed planting, for variety. The following shrubs were actually selected and planted. The place is in central New York:--

_Shrubs for the tall background_

2 Barberry, _Berberis vulgaris_ and var. _purpurea._

1 Cornus Mas.

2 Tall deutzias.

3 Lilacs.

2 Mock oranges, _Philadelphus grandiflorus_ and _P. coronarius._

2 Variegated elders.

2 Eleagnus, _Eloeagnus hortensis_ and _E. longipes._

1 Exochorda.

2 Hibiscuses.

1 Privet.

3 Viburnums.

1 s...o...b..ll.

1 Tartarian honeysuckle.

1 Silver Bell, _Halesia tetraptera._

These were planted on the sloping bank of the terrace, from E to D. The terrace has an incline, or width, of about three feet. Figure 45 shows this terrace after the planting was completed, looking from the point C.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 45. The planting of the terrace in Fig. 44.]

_Shrubs of medium size, suitable for side plantings and groups in the foregoing example_

3 Barberries, _Berberis Thunbergii._

3 Osier dogwoods, variegated.

2 j.a.panese quinces, _Cydonia j.a.ponica_ and _C. Maulei._

4 Tall deutzias.

1 Variegated elder.

7 Weigelas, a.s.sorted colors.

1 Rhodotypos.

9 Spireas of medium growth, a.s.sorted.

1 Rubus odoratus.

1 Lonicera fragrantissima.

Most of these shrubs were planted in a border two feet wide, extending from B to C D, the planting beginning about ten feet back from the street. Some of them were placed on the terrace at the left, extending from E one-fourth of the distance to A. The plants were set about two feet apart. A strong clump was placed at N to screen the back yard. In this back yard a few small fruit trees and a strawberry bed were planted.

_Low informal shrubs for front of porch and banking against house_

3 Deutzia gracilis.

6 Kerrias, green and variegated.

3 Daphne Mezereum.

3 Lonicera Halliana.

3 Rubus phoenicolasius.

3 Symphoricarpus vulgaris.

4 Mahonias.

1 Ribes aureum.

1 Ribes sanguineum.

1 Rubus crataegifolius.

1 Rubus fruticosus var. laciniatus.