<p>Today comfortable living out-of-doors has become essential to the American way of life. Every property (large or small, in the country or in the city) requires some private area--a patio or terrace, deck or roof gar- den-partly shaded, protected from the wind but not cut off from summer breezes, at- tractively planted and suitably furnished. In this book Mrs. Smith, a landscape architect with some twenty years of practical experi- ence in various parts of the country, covers the subject completely. In Part I she tells how to select the best site for a patio in relation to various property layouts, the architecture of the house, and the needs of the family. Her ex- cellent drawings offer many imaginative de- signs for flat or sloping grounds, with or without trees, beside a pool, or in the con- fines of a city plot. She stresses the fact that patios are not necessarily best placed at the back of a house. Sometimes a terrace in front or at the side, perhaps a site at a distance, is ~ better so as to take advantage of the shade of a great tree or a far-away view. Many photographs show the various types of ter- ~,~aces as well as various placements. From these you are bound to&quot;find one that will Suit your property, look right with your house, and please your family--for meals outdoors and parties large or small, in day- light or even in the evening, for garden lighting is also discussed and illustrated.</p>