The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-29
81. Uouse and the Grounds.

!" the way OF oiiiahioht sA''ii" ucpeHu
D y, owners means. But the idea of
y nv precludes much of orna-
q '@ .a.;oo. because the ordinary farm
nsa t:ss IS a life of steady labor rather
as~ al retired case, elegance and
aM stv.Y Himself and family are
'; ',ssrs with limited means-that is,
fO ans limited to rather narrow num-
oe .. II thousands of dol'ars-and any,
'.:,r elaborate in household decoration
''. .;nost sure to be attended By dis
st,"sart in some other direction, mental
.;s,v. or a neglect of expense in other
I s 'a.,tr:s which would "pay' far better
,bs value of the farm, the cultured
rs;aynent of the owner and his family,
. "A their reputation for that refined
1 ~. -. which gives character to neighbor-
i nod: and communities.
i D The things which cost most in house
h1dng do not relate so much to mere
/ 'miorls and conveniences, or even to
.s.p rs to the decoration-or what is
sspdedtor that. And even then it is
1.-the material as much as the work.
! me moment plainness and simplicity
~ departed from, heavy bill for
sbOr is run up. The corners, and
.'sles and gables, pinnacles and cupo-
!; hooded windows and balconies,
lind, outside and blinds inside, mold
nos and carvings here, there and every
,Sere-these are what run up the bills
ia, alarm the farmer. And generally
asse adornments are not sought be-
ause Of any real appreciation of what
seegant and tasteful, but, instead, an
asa founded probably on the architects
organizations, that such is "the style
a the period" and that the owner will
umis, it, if he does not follow it. But
,rlsssa man is easily able to pay for
u tha. he or his family imagine they
need at such times, with plenty left, he
vii "miss it, most in attempting to
comply.
Better than this architectural frippery
| ia modest dwelling in the midst of
grounds handsomely laid out, and plant
d with trees, flowers, shrubbery and
hedges. Nobody in the wide world -
none at least whose opinions are worth
beeding-will object to that kind of or
,smentation. OF course there will be
different grades Of excellence, and a
hmly undertaking to reform neglected
grounds may not succeed as well as a
hudscape gardener, but every earnest
atempt is commendable, and will re-
cult in good. There will be no failure,
because something is emphatically bet
G than nothing in such work. But if a
rnoa has no very clear idea of what he
wants, or what should be done, he can
EASILY get assistance in the way of sug-
sstioDs. Some good and enterprising
lGighbOr may be able to give valuable
ints, and be delighted to do it. While
unething Of a general plan should be
Aopted at the start, it can be worked
mt BY degrees from year to year. The
int step should be to order such yarie-
is OF nursery stock as may be wanted,
laying only small trees or plants, and
giving them nursery culture at home.
large stock will cost heavily, both at
BE nursery and in freight, and a con-
&erable proportion of it will die the
int year. Small deciduous ornamental
sees, say one or two feet high, will
Eobably not cost one-tenth as much as
lose seven or eight feet high, and when
tansplanted at home with decent care,
Aey are about as sure to live as a cab.
we plant. They will, too, have a mass
Nitrous roots not often seen in nursery
tsss, or at least which live to reach the
aysr. Transplanted at home there
VII be, comparatively, only a slight
Aeck in growth, and one can better
sAcose his time for doing it than if Or
dsing in the spring, when the stock may
kolate in coming that its proper care,
xhmh comes, will seriously interfere
With tie regular farm work.
When 1 is proposed to begin the work
dhyiyout and ornamenting neglected
goo9, the location, or relocation, of
y landings should receive the most
aEoas study. Sometimes-very often,
INDEED there is no choice in the mat
teF, owing to the expense of changes;
vt When there Is p choice it is q mis-
nke 70 choose 3 site as near the high
Ny rs possible. Get away from it,
ither than near it. There is better
aanee then for 3 lawn, trees, drive.
nays, paths, hedges and shrubbery.
Usually no reason can be given for
sQatting house close to the road, ex-
eept 70 better see who travels it, and
~ y not a creditable reason anyway.
TINS hankering to see all who pass, fiat
enlng noses against the windows to
meet It, is always in bad taste. 1t be.
peaks q vacant mind, as much so as the
nud laugh. A house standing so far
sck, or so hidden that its inmates can
- we or nothing of what passes on
ne highway, is an indication that they
lase something on their minds more
sevaang and instructive than merely to
xasch passers.by. Extreme curiosity
wins sort is discreditable, and if the
Eopenslsy exists it would be wise to
.ae It. A location 200 or SOC feet from
1e road is better than 40 or 50 feet,
VINE Il circumstances are favorable,
wee Or three times this distance is bet.
- y snll. Certainly few locations for
- houses of well-to.do farmers are in
.scn charming taste as those which
saa back so far from the highway
~ : broad lawn, or something like a
g. can intervene between the high
md the residence. Such a space,
j apart mainly to grass-culture, spar.
~ ornamented with shade trees, ever.
ssas predominating, commands al.
I ~, universal admiration, and requires
e more than ordinary farm work to
IN order. But when such q site
II admissible, choose one at least 200
a oack from the highway. That
~ 9 much room for ornamental
~ 9sanSe % most farmers will care for,
Y much more, indeed, than the
e.i Then, II the owner and his
l0 advisers will not cramp their