Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/882

 714: The Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal. [May, When the proprietor fully apprehends the nature of the design, although he majr not be able to prejudge all the effects to be produced, }<et he will have a knowledge of them, sufficient to ena- ble him to understand the purposes of preliminary operations, which, other- wise, he might deem extravagant or un- necessary. It is, moreover, a source of gratification to him, when he can appre- ciate the gradual development of a plan, for he will then take a greater degree of interest in completing it, as well as in maintaining it intact in the future. He will soon learn to criticize, and take at their proper value, all after sugges- tions ; can decide understanding^, about future additions or alterations, and will have no hesitation in removing, when the time arrives, such plants as have been only temporarily introduced, for purposes of shelter or the production of more massive effects. The utility of plans depends upon their minuteness and accuracy of details. I have seen very fine, and artistically executed designs, that were of no value whatever, as working plans. Neither is it advisable for landscape gardeners, to furnish imperfect sketches, or allow any such to escape their possession, upon any pretence whatever ; for these, even if asked for, and given, simply as a friendly assistance, may prove very injurious to their professional reputa- tions. In transferring designs, or plans, to the ground, the most correct and speedy method is to divide the plan into squares, by lines drawn on it in both directions, the side of the square being of any convenient length, that will sub- serve the purposes of accuracy. Squares of sixty feet, for the sides, will be found a convenient length, in ordinary cases. AVhere there is great intricacy of parts, such as in elaborate designs for flower gardens, squares of thirty or even twenty feet may be necessary. The ground is to be divided in squares of the same size ; and a stout stake set firmly at each point of intersection of the lines, numbered to correspond with numbers on the plan. A more distinc- tive method, where numbered stakes are set for other purposes, is to use num- bers for one of the lines and letters for the other : each stake will then be marked both by a letter and a number. When the plan and ground are thus prepared, the placing of a tree, a line of road, or any other object, is executed with the greatest facility, there is no possible excuse for making mistakes. It also enables the work to be com- menced at any point. Slight practice will enable any one, by looking at the position of a tree, in the square on the plan, to place it in its relative position, in the square on the ground, without the necessity of having recourse to measure- ments. A plan carefully prepared, with refer- ences, may, in this way, be transferred to the ground by any person capable of reading letters and figures. When the grounds have much irregu- larity of surface, furnished with trees or buildings, or any other reasons exist for minute memoranda whence a plan is to be constructed, it will be found of great utility, first to lay off the entire surface in squares, copying the same on the out- line map. Notes can then be taken relative to the condition of the grounds, in each square, as exact and precise as may be necessary. However complete the plan or design may be made, its execution, on the ground, should, if possible, be under the occasional supervision of the author. It is not to be expected, that exigencies are provided for ; and, indeed, it is almost impracticable to embody, in any plan of this kind, the numerous details and contingencies, that may arise during its execution, which no one except the author can properly explain or control. William Saunders. Washington, D. G