Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-20
FARM AND GARDEN.
A rev simple Directions ia land
-espe Gardening.

rev simple Directions ia Land.
~eape Gardening.
At this season Of the year, when those
who live in the country have leisure to
study the improvement or ornamentation
Of their homesleads, a few practical sug-
gestiona in regard TO the best method of
planting ont trees and shrubs for the deco
ration of the larger OF smaller plot OF
ground surrounding the dwelling may not
be thought inoppurtune. 1t is sometimes
a matter Of reproach to us that orr farm
houses and country homes as q general
thing are 30 carelessIy constructed and
present about them 80 little Of embellish-
ment. Who does not know what a grace
and beauty are given to the humblest OF
rural dwellings by draping them with vines
and running roses? A sheltered porch;
few flowers we'll selected and of varieties
that come into bloom in succession, from
early spring throughout the summer, add
beauty to any lawn or grass plot, and har~
morizing as they do with the yerdure of
the grass, add a new glory TO a common
scene On these matters, however, we
do not at this time propose to dwell. What
we desire to do for the purpose of meeting
what we arprehend to be general want,
says the Maryland Farmer, is TO offer few
brief practical suggestions in regard to the
best mode of laying out the grounds about
the homestead, whether those grounds ems
brace but half an acre or are oflarger area.
The first consideration, whether in laying
ont the grounds about house newly con-
structed, or in improving those in the midst
of which the dwelling has long been es-
tablished, is to take into consideration the
position of the house in regard TO its ac-
cess. both to the public road and to the
farm stealing. IL may be if the house
stands within its own enclosure, and the
barn and stables have a separate approach,
the road to the latter will Of couse be left
out of the question. But in many in
stances it is desirable that both these roads
should be laid off within the grounds. 10
such case their location is the first thing
10 be considered In a new place the taste
and Judgment Of the proprietor has ample
scope for development. In an old one he
must adopt whatever changes he makes so
as not 10 interfere with the trees already
growing there. With shrubbeTy he may
nroceed if IL be necessary, more boldly, for
the greater part of the shrubs can be safely
removed and transplanted il they stand in
the way of the proposed changes. Let any
one now, as preliminary TO what
he proposes 10 do take sheet OF
plain writing or drawing paper and on it
mark with pencil first of all the situation
of the dwelling next the course of the
public road and finally, the position occu-
pied by the barn and out-buildings. With
this rude skeleton map before him, pre-
missing that the relative distances of each
of the points indicated are well preserved,
he can next proceed TO indicate by dotted
lines the approaches to the house, the barn
and the out-buildings. When these roads
are laid down, the paths, both in front and
rear. should be traced in the same manner,
taking care not to interfere with any valu-
able trees, OF any important shrubbery that
may be already growing within the limits
of the grounds Thus far then, we assume
that the ground work for the proposed i'm
proyement has been thoughtfully sketched
out II would be we'll now TO take a new
survey of the grounds with the skeleton
map in hand, so as to ascertain that no
modification of the rude outlines are re-
quired When this is satisfactorily settled,
the next thing to do is to indicate by dots
the places where deciduous trees and shrubs,
either singly OF in groups, are to be plant,
ed. The starting point should be the house,
where the heaviest groups and masses of
trees and shrubs should be placed, the
densest mass being 30 situated as TO afford
protection to the dwelling from the north
west winds. Having thus located the
groups and masses at the rear and sides of
the house, and so disposed as not to inter-
oept the finest views from the windows, the
position Of the minor groups and masses are
next 20 be studied out each dot in
group or mass representing a tree or shrub,
and all the groups or masses should be dis
posed irregularly, as we find them in ma
ture, and each should be connected with
the other by small groups and single trees.
When shrubs are used, and they should be
employed almost exclusively in small pla-
ces, the larger groups and masses should
be about the dwelling, interpreted with
few deciduous trees, and thinning of
gradually along the line Of approach from
the public road. In all cases the finest
effects in our climate are produced by
eyerrreens. of which the shrubbery should
be largely composed. Their dark green
leaves in summer contrast well with the
lighter and fresher foliage Of decidUous
trees aud shrubs, and in the case Of flower.
ing shrubs bring out the beauty of the bios
SONS more wildly. With the working
drawing thus made IL is an easy matter 10
stake off the roads and walks, and the 20.
sition OF all the groups, masses and single
trees aud shrubs that are TO be planted.
The stalking of, however, requires care.
Where there are curves in the line of APP
proach 10 the house, or a circle or pear
shaped ellipse in front of il, line should
be used in conjunction with the stakes, so
as 70 preserve accuracy. The stakes em~
ployed may be sawed lsths, whitewashed
and pointed, and not road should be cut
or a tree OF shrub sci until the entire plan
is indicated by these stakes for il is
quite possible that many changes Of the
stakes will be required before the eye is
satisfied that the arrangements are perfect
Nor should the improYer be content with
examining his grouad plan az staked out
from one or two points Of view only. lie
should particularly observe and calculate
In his mind the effect from different VIM
dows Of the mouse, and from the various
turns in the roads and walks, and should be
careful aboye all 20 consider what the gen
eral result will be, not so much when the
trees are planted, but when they are grown 81
goodly size. The great error that nearly
all unprofessionAl improvers commit is IN
planting too closely. They do not reflect
upon the extent 10 which trees and shrubs
expand their branches, and therefore do