The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-06-10
JnraI 3sgarfmsnf.
FARMERS ASSOCIATION MEETING.

rhhoLho hOOOClhllON MEEllNO'
The second annual meeting of this asso-
citation was held at the home of Henry Ran
dolph, June I'd; nearly the full membership
were present. The discussion of the topic,
"Esthetics for Farmers was led by
L. r. HARRIsoN.
Esthetics is the philosophy of taste. 1t is
also applicable to the fine arts. No person
can have good taste, who has not the picture
or ideal in his mind-a mental conception of
what he wishes to form. Before you adorn
your farms and homes, get correct conceptions
of what is most appropriate. AS people
emerge from savage life, they want buildings
suited to their tastes and needs. Uneducated
taste is often seen in unfinished buildings,
marring the original design. All the parts
should correspond with the other parts so as
to constitute harmony. A good house is
often spoiled by bad fence in front. There
is discordance which no covering of paint
can hide. The speaker did not approve of
white paint for a house, il was too glaring.
Nature paints in different colors-in brown,
in gray, and in green. Nature studies har-
monies, proportions and colors, we break up
these laws. When you can find white grass
or white tree, then there is an excuse for
white house. There are no white clouds, no
white stars, no white sun-beams: all are tinted
He had seen fine house with stone wall
-, II
when good grade could have been made
None of US do as we would if circumstances
surrounding Us were different but what we
do attempt do it well. Often piles of stones
will be placed in the front yard, painted
white, as if nature did not know what colors
were best suited for stones. He preferred a
nice green barn with no stone quarries.-
There is no place in it for flowers; they
should be at some side entrance or window.
In planting trees we have an eye more for
utility than for beauty. We are not talking
about utility: nature does not plant trees in
straight line, no more than she plants
stars in rows and circles they are in irreg-
ular groups and circles. We often sacrifse
taste to utility.
We should study adaptability. The naples
in the vicinity of Paw Paw, are proverbially
fine. Elms will not flourish as finely as in
New Haven, Conn. Our taste is often edu-
Gated to like things that are not appropriate.
lombardy poplar, for instance, is an excres-
cence in the face of Misunderstanding like o
tallow dip against the sky.
If you have but a thousand dollars to put
into new house, make that house tasteful ;
add your mite to the general harmony
Arrange the walks where you would naturally
travel, not always in straight lines, but in
easy curves, and avoid right angles. Nature
always diversifes Nature should be our
teacher.
PMS. BALE.
The surroundings of our friend are an inspir-
alton to his remarks. A green lawn with
a nice white house, diversifes the picture
and makes pleasing contrast The endeavor
of the farmer should be to cultivate the best
taste-to have an eye for harmonies in the
improvements surrounding our homes.
Mr.. Searls thinks that for six months of
the year, there is usually not much color to
| the landscape except white.