GARDEN PLAN.
The garden, a feature of such importance in the model village, or garden city, should have no less care and attention in the planning than the house itself. The accompanying plan is one frequently adopted at Bournville where the aspect is suitable. The arrangement is modified in the case of the smallest cottages by the reduction or omission of turf. The bedding, with the various trees and shrubs supplied, is indicated on the plan.
With the large garden-space allotted, the paths should be broad and, generally speaking, planned in straight lines, the width being not less than 3 ft.—even 4 ft. not being too wide. At Bournville they are made of 6 ins. of ashes and 3 ins. of gravel. Where there is turf the path should run at one extremity of the garden plot, giving the full width remaining for as spacious a lawn as possible. At the bottom of the lawn it might be turned to the left or right, as the case may be, as far as the centre, and carried down through the kitchen garden so that the fruit trees and vegetables may be easily accessible on either hand. With a south aspect, however, it is advisable to still continue the path down one side, the shadow of the adjacent hedge thus being cast not on the beds but on the path itself. It should be borne in mind that in laying out the beds all peas and beans, raspberry canes, etc., are best planted north and south in order that the whole length of the rows may get the sun. The tendency is for amateur gardeners to favour winding paths, by which space is lost, besides the arrangement being inconvenient. The curved line is rarely in harmony with the setting of the cottage, and curves, if introduced, should be gained rather in the planting of trees or flowers, curves in colour being more pleasing.
The number of trees, etc., provided in each of the Bournville gardens is:—eight apple and pear trees, assorted according to the nature of the soil, which, in addition to bearing fruit, form a desirable screen between houses which are back to back; twelve gooseberry bushes, one Victoria plum, six creepers for the house, including Gloire de Dijon and William Allen Richardson roses, wistaria, honeysuckle, clematis, ivy in a number of varieties, Ampelopsis veitchii, white and yellow jasmine, etc., according to the aspect, as well as one or two forest trees, so placed as to frame the building. Hedges of thorn divide the houses, and form road boundaries. The choice of trees and creepers is determined not only by the suitability of soil or aspect, but also by the general effect gained.
BLOCKS, PAIRS, AND SINGLE COTTAGES.
PLATES XIV. AND XV.
BLOCK OF FOUR COTTAGES.
FRONT ELEVATION
GROUND PLAN