Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-01-17

permanent ana laStlng improvements OH
what they now possess. OF course those
farmers who occupy old farm-houses of
former generation cannot change the situa-
ton, though the backgrounds may often be
enlarged, and the whole premises can be
chan ged when the right spirit is set at work
For instance, if the kitchen garden is close
to the house, as is often the case, take up
all the old board and picket-fence between
the garden aad door-yards, also remove all
the old rail fences near the house, and make
one substantial fence round the outside max
ing but one yard Of the whole. The kitch-
en- garden of course will be removed to a
place outside of the yard-fence, while the
old garden can be used for fuit-trees, flow
ers, shrubs, etc.
The old cow-houses, hog-pens, etc., if
they are pretty near the house, as they often
are, should be removed if they can be, espe-
cially the hog-pe or high board fence
may be put up in front to cut off the view
from the house.
Here we only give some ideas how an
old fashioned farmhouse may be improved
by little labor and taste. And when the
farmer once commences an improvement of
this character, he will find that as he goes
forward with his improvements new ideas
constantly turn up which will show him the
value of such embellishments. All that is
wanted by the farmer is a little exertion on
his part to 90 forward and enter into this
business OF course where new grounds
are to be laid out, different plan will be
carried out In this case, the farmer can
select his own grounds and make all the ar
rangements to his liking. An acre of land
two are better, and three or four better
stilD for a court yard Or ''lawn," with the
house standing on the highest point of land,
the ut-buildings little below this level
and in the rear, country place can be
made to make good appearance. What
ever is the size of the yard, allow no cross
sections of the fences, but have one good
substantial outside fence of wood, wire, or
iron, as the case may be. Where the yard
is composed of five orisix acres, the kitchen
r and flower gardens may be placed in the
rear of the buildings with suitable enclo-
sures It is also well to select the site for
your house and out-building in or near
group of natural forest trees, for shade
and protection, if they are at hand. Apple
trees and cherry tress may be used for this
4 purpose. Should neither of these be with
in reach, as will often be the case, then it
will be time and money well spent to trans
plant some large forest trees of six, eight
and ten inches in diameter at the trunk, to
shelter your house and out-buildings from
the suns rays and storms. This may be-
done by the s'frozen ball method" which
we have often named before, which most
, northern cultivators understand. The plan
is just before cold weather sets in, to 60 to
the forest and select your trees for removal,
then dig about them cutting off all the branch
ing roots at the bottom uncut. In this way the
tree must stand till the earth about the roots
is frozen to ball. In the meantime the
holes for the reception eff these trees must
be dug, and all prepared before Geld wealth.
er sets in. They should be dug some two
feet larger than the ball of roots, and the
space filled in with yard soil, so as to give
: the rootlets start in the spring. IF there
is slight snow On the ground the trees
may be renewed on an 'sox-sled" or two
drags fastened together. The trees must
be raised from their beds by means of long
levers, pulleys, etc. and placed on the sled.
It will require great number of hands and
strong team, according to the size of the
, trees to be moved. In most situations the
e trees will require bracing during the first
e winter they are set to guard against winds
and storms When the work is we'll done
0 they will continue to grow without check
the next season, and ordinarily none of the
5 top need be cut off, Some cultivators have
i done we'll by removing large trees in the
: spring. 1t will be seen that the peculiar
!. advantage of this system of tree planting is,
that you have fine shade trees to begin with
S on a new place, instead of having to wait
e ten or fifteen years for small trees to grow
=, up for shade This is quite an item of econ
: omy in time.
G In giving description Of what a farmers
e country house should be, we can only name
q the outlines, as the other points may be fill
e ed by the farmer himself. One thing we
: will name. Generally, now, where farm
er wishes to build house, he goes and con-
e suits the ''builder,' commonly house-car-
Y penter mechanic. Of course he finds out
. what the lowest '.job" price for house may
be-. Then if he concludes to build, the plan
and "architecture" of the house is left to the
, ''builder'' to determine which in most cases
, will be mere ''copy" after some dozen
) others. Now the farmer should know some-
thing of style and architecture himself. -
| Then he should consult the best works on
that subject, and not depend on the house.
carpenter for this service. The farmer will
find that it will cost him no more to build
| his house in tasteful style, than to build
5 it in violation of all the laws of good taste
and of tho rnlas of architantnro pIo, N