The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-02-12
Money Value of Rural AdOrnments.

THERE is, of course, dividing line
somewhere between the beautiful and
the useful, but it is not at the point
where a good many careless persons
place it. A well-to-do farmer, whose
grounds are unkempt, who thinks it
nonsensical to plant shade trees,
evergreens or hedges because there Is
emo money in Them" is generally very
much mistaken, in spite even of his sue
cess in raising corn and potatoes. The
adornments of place may be neglected,
and yet the farm be made fairly produc-
tive. If the grounds are dismal, forlorn
or seedy, "Who caresP" says the own
er; 81 haven't time to attend to it. 1t
is good enough for me, and nobody else
need worry about it"
Now, that is true in certain narrow
sense only. If man really don't care
how his surroundings look, and wouldn't
enjoy rural embellishments any better
than shabby homestead, while he is to
be pitied, the reasons are at best only
personal. His wife and children might
enjoy their home much better if he
would only lead in or permit some cheap
improvements. Few farmers can tell
till they try how much new interest to
ones home such changes would impart.
When farmer of the neglectful sort
rides along the highway, and in passing
Mr.. Jones's place hears his wife, or son,
or daughter, or altogether, say, "What
pretty place MIR. Jones has; it is al
ways so neat, and the shade trees are
so lovely!" or 81 do think that Mr..
Jones's place is too nice for anything"
he ought to heed such remarks. 1t tells
him that Mr.. Jones has attractions about
his home that are unusual in that neigh
borhood; also thatif Mr.. j. should offer
his place for sale it would, other things
being equal, bring much better price
than his own. That is practical argu-
ment. But if he (the neglectful man)
says, 81 don't intend to sell" or ''That
makes no difference he forgets that
perhaps his place may be sold much
sooner than he expects. He may be do
ing well financially, but he may die sud-
denly; a moderate mortgage may en-
cumber the farm, or, if not, no one
member of the family may be able to
buy it alone, and then it will pass out of
the family. But if the owner during his
lifetime will make it attractive to the
eye, as well as productive, he will give
it an additional money value, and will
benefit heirs when he comes to lay down
his head. These establishment of grassy
lawns, graded walks or driveways,
hedges, shade trees, evergreens and
Towering shrubs cost but a trihe COM
pared with their value in enjoyment and
the cash value they add to the farm
when put up for sale. The necessary
work can generally be done at odd
times, while the cash outlay for trees
and plants is very light indeed, if bought
when small and then homegrown for a
few years in nursery rows. Often, too.
the farm wood-lot will furnish most that
is needed. If it will, it is very foolish
mistake to discard native forest trees,
because they are common" The ma
pie, the beach, the hemlock, the white
pine, or even the familiar red cedar, are
never so common as to lose the quality
of adornment about a country, or even
a city home. ,..r.s.....
Rural grounds, well planted and
cared for, indicate taste and intelligence
and benefit not only the owner and his
family, but the neighborhood. Like 8
popular park or public garden, resi-.
dence near such grounds is always de.
sirabIe. Property is worth more, be,
cause the exhibition of taste and beauty
is free. Besides, examples of this sort
are valuable as educators. Adjacent
owners are shown how they can improve
their own grounds. Attention is called
to the matter again and again, and ev.
cry item of praise incites to go and dc
likewise, and to break in upon and tc
break down the old, time-worn, moss
grown style of cheerless neglect which
so many farmers tolerate from the force
of custom.-N. Y. Observer.
DIR. ALBERT w. MURPHY, live Yam
kee from New Hampshire. has been an