Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-04-10
Farmers Dwellings and Grounds.

NEARLY every farmer has more or less
regard to the appearance Of his premises.
He does not like to live in dwelling of
shabby exterior, or to have weeds briers,
and broken-doWn fences for his surround
ings. There are very few who would not
| like TO have neat door-yards, if they could
be had without much labor and expense.
Now, we propose to point out simply and
briefly to farmers of moderate means, who
may have land of their own, the mode by
which they may enjoy a small extent of
ornamental ground at very little cost. The
size of these grounds will depend on cir
cumstances and preferences of the owner,
, and will vary from One-fOurth of an acre
10 four or five acres. Very few should
hesitate, however, 10 devote at least an acre
| to this purpose, when they remember that
this acre will unquestionably be the most
profitable Of the hundred or two Of the
farm, by way Of making at all times a
pleasant and attractive home TO the young
er as we'll as other members of the family
1t is not necessary to devote the labor
| and incur the expenses required for keep
ing the costly and finished grounds of the
rich, with broad velvet lawn, polished
| walks and marble statues ard vases or
even to attempt TO initiate them in a
cheaper way. The small farmer may have
| perfection OF his own, by taste without
expenditure He may adopt the motto,
"Profuse of genius not profuse with gold"
and carry it out without very great
| trouble
He has the advantage of ample land
room about him. After his trees are
planted and fairly under way Gfhe has not
been 50 successful as to preserve natural
grove for thinning OUT, he may adopt two
| Of IN ic d. To-
order-one Of these with moderate expense
and the other with almost no expense at all
But whatever mode is adopted, one thing
| he should MT do-he should never allow
| the grass to grow up like a meadow till
| full having time, and then cut it for cattle
| fodder. A dwelling set in tall grass is lit
| tie better than prison. On the contrary,
the grass must be kept short, and there are
| two ways of doing it-cutting by scythe
or lawn-mower and grazing with animals
| If by the first mode, the grounds should
be of moderate extent, and the surface made
| perfectly smooth and even. The owner
should not propose to himself to keep his
| lawn in order by the use OF hand-scythe,
| for be will not do it. Grass, if cut at all,
should be cut at farthest as often as once
| week; but if the scythe is to be relied on,
1t will sometimes be neglected for two or
three weeks; the dense, matty character Of
the turf will disappear, the grass will run
| up tail, and when cut closely, Will leave
yellow patches A good lawn mower will
enable man to NOW about four times as
| much as he would NOV with a lawn-scythe,
or on smooth. clear ground he will go
over two acres daily. An acre lawn may
therefore be kept like green velvet by the
use Of the best hand-mower through the
| entire season. for about twenty dollars in
| labor. This is not half of what some
| farmers pay for cigars and which is worth
| the most-the beautiful acre lawn, or the
| fumes of the weed:
When the owner is willing TO take the
| trouble and incur the expense Of smoothly
| shaver grounds, he can also have the adj
vantage Of masses Of low shrubbery. and
| even OF flower beds cut in the turf wher-
| ever these may make pleasing appear
ance. y place of this kind, the house of
| quite moderate pretensions, but embowered
with the rounded masses of the foliage of
| trees and shrubs. has an effect infinitely
better than that of the stateliest mansion
| surrounded with badness and desolation.
In planting such place. at first the own
| er must be sparing of his trees, or they
viii grow up and crowd each other. and
never become developed into the round.
full form. which is ALWAYS a pleasing and
characteristic feature in any tree.
But there are many farmers who really
| cannot afford TO give the labor required to
keep such q place in good order These
may adopt much cheaper way of accom-
piishing the desired result, especially if
they can devote little more ground TO
ornamental planting The trees may have
bare trunks for "a few feet, SO az 10 OMEN