Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-01-15
Tho House and the Grounds.

WIN SOhliOi OdDlC. w UdJ III sAOlllu nave
In the way of ornament should depend
on the owners means. But the idea of
atdrm-house precludes much of orna-
mentation, because the ordinary farm
er's life is life of steady labor rather
than of retired ease, elegance and
society Himself and family are
workers with limited means-that is,
means limited to rather a narrow num-
Der of thousands of dollars-and any
thing elaborate in household decoration
is almost sure to be attended by dis
comfort in some other direction, mental
anxiety. or neglect of expense in other
matters which would "pay" far better
in the value of the farm, the cultured
enjoyment of the owner and his family,
and their reputation for that refined
taste which gives character to neighbor-
hoods and communities.
The things which cost most in house
building do not relate so much to mere
comforts and conveniences, or even to
space, as to the decoration-or what is
intended for that. And even then it is
not the material as much as the work.
The moment plainness and simplicity
are departed from, heavy bill for
labor is run up. The corners, and
angles and gables, pinnacles and cupo-
las, hooded windows and balconies,
blinds outside and blinds inside, mold
ings and carvings here, there and every
where-these are what run up the bills
that alarm the farmer. And generally
these adornments are not sought be-
cause of any real appreciation of what
is elegant and tasteful, but, instead, an
idea founded probably on the architects
representations, that such is "the style
of the PERIOD and that the owner will
"miss it, if he does not follow it. But
unless man is easily able to pay for
all that he or his family imagine they
need atsuch times, with plenty left, he
will "miss it" most in attempting to
comply.
Better than this architectural frippery
is modest dwelling in the midst of
grounds handsomely laid out, and plant
ed with trees, flowers, shrubbery and
hedges. Nobody in the wide world -
none at least whose opinions are worth
heeding-will object to that kind of or
namentation. OF course there will be
different grades of excellence, and a
family undertaking to reform neglected
grounds may not succeed as well as a
landscape gardener, but every earnest
attempt is commendable, and will re-
suit in good. There will be no failure,
because something is emphatically bet
ter than nothing in such work. But if a
PERSONALS no very clear idea of what he
wants, or what should be done, he can
easily get assistance in the way of sug-
gestions. Some good and enterprising
neighbor may be able to give valuable
hints, and be delighted TO do it. While
something of general plan should be
adopted at the start, it can be worked
out by degrees from year to year. The
first step should be to order such varie-
ties of nursery stock as may be wanted,
buying only small trees or plants, and
giving them nursery culture at home
Large stock will cost heavily, both al
the nursery and in freight, and con-
siderable proportion of it will die the
first year. Small deciduous ornamental
trees, say one or two feet high, will
probably not cost one-tenth as much as
those seven or eight feet high, and wher
transplanted at home with decent care
they are about as sure to live as a cab
bage plant. They will, too, have a mass
of fibrouS roots not often seen in nursery
trees, or at least which live to reach the
buyer. Transplanted at home there
will be, comparatively, only a Sigh
check in growth, and one can better
choose his time for doing it than if or
dering in the spring, when the stock may
be so late in coming that its proper care
when it comes, will seriously interior,
with the regular farm work.
When it is proposed to begin the worl
of laying out and ornamenting neglected
grounds, the location, or relocation, o
the buildings should receive the mos
serious study. Sometimes-very often
indeed-there is no choice in the mat
ter, owing to The expense of changes
but when there is choice it is a mis-
take to choose site as near the high
way as possible. Get away from it
rather than near it. There is bette
chance then for lawn, trees, drive
ways, paths, hedges and shrubbery
Usually no reason can be given 70
squatting a house close to the road, eS
cept to better see who travels it, an,
that is not creditable reason anyway
This hankering to see all who pass, fiat
tening noses against the windows t
effect it, is always in bad taste. 1t be
speaks vacant mind, as much so as tn
loud laugh. A house standing so ia
back, or so hidden that its inmates ca
see little or nothing of what passes o
the highway, is an indication that the
have something on their minds NOR
eleyating and instructive than merely
watch passers-by. Extreme curiosit
of this sort is discreditable, and if tn
propensity exists it would be wise t
hide it. A location 200 or 800 feet froI
the road is better than 40 or 90 fee
while, if circumstances are favorable
twice or three times this distance is be-
ter still. Certainly few locations &c
the houses of well-tO-do farmers are j
such charming taste as those whic
stand back so far from the highwa
that broad lawn, or something like
park, can intervene between the higl
way and the residence. Such space
set apart mainly to grass-culture, spa
ingly ornamented with shade trees, eve
greens predominating, commands a
most universal admiration, and require
little more than ordinary farm work
keep it in order. But when such a si
is inadmissible, choose one at least q
feet back from the highway. TIL;
gives as much room for ornaments
grounds as most farmers will care 70