Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-08-25
laudscape Gardening for Farmers.
rpos AZ ESSAY By u. W. ADAMS, SECRETARY OF
rur IOWA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.


THE IOWA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
10 the most of farmers the thought
of landscape gardening seems hish-
flown, and entirely above their reach
and appreciation; yet nothing is
further from the truth when propely
modified to suit his particular wants
Landscape gardening for a man OF
unlimited means, and for one OF
very small means, is a very different
thing. Especially fer the farmer
whose time is merely occupied In the
pursuits of his business, 1t should be
simple in detail, and not OF nature
to require constant and expensive
Attentions to keep it in repair. and at
the same time combine beauty and
utility. A liberal amount of lawn
any farmer can have ut small cost,
and nothing can be more beautiful.
Five to ten acres can easily he en-
closed in "a belt of trees.
Too many are satisfied with SIM
gle row of Lombardies enclosing
half acre. giving the whole home-
stead dreadful, poor, pinchea, stin-
gy appearance. Be liberal in your
views, The land enclosed is not lost.
It is the most valuable on your farm.
Make few, or none at all, of gravel
walks or drives, for they are costly to
make, and more costly to keep; and
one badly kept is an nomination.
Re sure and do something to beautify
your home. AS man, and as
financier, you cannot afford to do
otherwise.
OF all people in the world, there Is
no c.ass that pays so little regard TO
the surroundings of home as the
farmer. and there is no one who has
such unbounded facilities for the dis
MAY of a little taste as he. He has
large choice i'm the selection OF
sight for his dwelling, and abund'
anre of land on which to operate, yet
how rarely are the opportunities i'm
proved. Almost without exception
tbe beautiful homes of America, are |
those of the manufacturer, merchant,
or professional men. Is it any won
der then that we vainly regret the
loss of all our best young men to
ether eallings? When they contrast
our mode of living with that of other
branches of business, can we blame
them?
The wonder is not that most OF our
Young men desert the farm, bu: that
any young man of spirit. taste, and
energy, will consent to spend his life
I'm the monotonous drudgery of the
farm. as usually managed. Lbs
There is implanted within him an
innate but indefinitely formed idea
of the beautiful, and the enjoyable.
His dream of life in some form en-
bodies these, and it must be gratified.
The world is broad, and il we persist
in making farming the most dlsa-
greeahle and laborious, and monot-
enous, and boorish, of NIL branches
of business. and farmers homes the
most unhomelike, We must expect
our young men to forsake il at the
first opportunity. 1T is high time
that lawyers, and doctors, who adj
dress our agricultural meetings, quit
preaching of the honor of hard horny
hands, and homespun clothes, and
cease associating eternal hard work,
homely coats, cowhide boots, and
ugly comfOrtless homes with farming.
You can never make farming attrac.
tive to men of sense and taste, AMI
worth, till you place it in its true
light. This talk about its being hon
orable, the honest yeomanry, and all
that stuff is tile veriest twaddle, and
simply disgusting. Farming is no
more h onorable than any other hon.
est employment, and it shows sense
Of weakness on our part thus to keep
bolstering it up. 1t is entitled to re-
spect only as we make 1t respectable.
If farming makes men stupid, and
sloyenly, and makes them satisfied
with barbarous surroundings, and
contented with ignorance and want,
then it is just disgrace to any man
to be farmer, aud cruel wrong to
inveigle a young man into adopting
it rs his vocation in life.
Ii never can and never ought to
take its place among the desirable
pursuits until we, as tillers of the
soil, make 1t in progress and results
truly attractive. -sa. .#..
Look over our State, and how |
many farmers have such homes as
men of taste ard education, with an
Intelligent family, would like to oc~
cupy for life? They are sorrowfuliy
few. How many farms are there
that might not, by better exercise
of thought and taste, be made invit-
ing and lovely? just imagine our
State with every faIm house, even
though made of logs, surrounded
with tasteful grounds and beautiful
trees A grassy lawn, a little or
chard, a prolific garden, abundant
shade trees, all costing but trifle.-
In such State, would all young
men flee to the city to get away from
home? Would all girls long to mar
lry city dandies to avoid living in a
barnyard?
Farmers, beautify your homes
The cost is a mere song; the reward
is great. You owe to yourselves, you
owe it to your family, you owe 1t to
the credit of the farmers life.
Make our occupation, our homes,
our mode of living attractive as it
may be made, and the best men-the
men of talent, men of taste. men of
enQrgy-will flock to ii as affording
an opportunity to live a life where
the higher attributes of our nature
can find employment and gratifica-
ton. We want good and true, and
strong and intelligent men and wo>
men on our farms. There is but one
way to get them. and that Is to show
by our example, and not by preach
Ing, that farmer is not necessarily |
q boorish slave, with no thought of
the comforts of life above homespun
and hominy, and no appreciation of
the beautiful beyond well cured