The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-03-13


riching of the soil may seem waste i'll
view of the carriage drive and walks yet
to be laid out, but this will Rot prove
true. 1t should be remembered that
while certain parts Of the place are to | C
kept bare of surface vegetation, they
nevertheless will form portion of Il g
root pastulage Of the shade and fruit
trees. The land also can be more evenly
and deeply plowed before distractions
are placed upon It, and roots, pestiferous
weeds, and stones removed with greatest
economy. Moreover, the good initial
euriching is capital, boarded in the soil,
to start with. Ga many new places |
have seen trees and plants beginning a
feeble and uncertain life barely existing
rather than growing, because their root S
found the soil like a table with dishes
but without food If the fertilizer is
| ploughed under in the autumn, aga in
mixed with the soil by a second plough
ing in the spring, it will be decomposed
and ready for immediate use by every
rootlet in contact with it. Now, as FAM
ers say, the Gland is in good heart" and
it will cheer its owners heart to see the
| growth promptly made by whatever is
properly planted. Instead of losing time
he has gained years. Suppose the acre
to have been bought in September, ard
treated as have indicated, it is ready
for generous reception of plants ard
trees the following spring.
Possibly at the time Of purchase tie
acre may be covered with coarse gross,
weeds, or underground of some kind.
In this case, after the initial ploughiug,
the cultivation for season Of some such
crop as corn Or potatoes may be of great
advantage in clearing the land, and tie
proceeds Of the crop would partially meet
expenses. If the aim is merely to subdre
and clean the land as quickly as possible,
nothing is better than buckwheat, sown
thickly, and ploughed under Just as it
comes into blossom. 1t is the Nature Of
this rampant-grown grain to kill out
everything else and leave the soil light
and mellow. If the ground is encumber-
ed with many stones and recks, the ques-
ton of clearing it is more complicated.
They can be used, aud often sold to adj
vantage, for building purposes. In some
instances have seen laboring men clear
the most unpromising plots of ground ly
burying all rocks and stones deeply To-
meath the 3urface-men, too, who had no
other time for the task except the brief
hours before and after their daily toll.
shall give no distinct plan for layirg
ont the ground. The taste Of the owner,
or more probably that of his wife, will
now come into play. Their ideals also
will be modified by many local cream
stances, as, for instance, the uudulatiors
of the land, if there are any, proximity to
neighbours etc. If little besides shade and
lawn is desired, this fact Will have cor
trolling influence; if, on the other hand,
the proprietor wishes to make his acre as
productive as possible the house will be
built nearer the street, wider open space
will be left for the garden, and fruit trees
will predominant over those grown mere
ly for shade and beauty. There are few
who would care to follow plan which
many others had adopted. Indeed, it
would be the natural wish of persons CT
taste to impart something OF their own il
dvidualty to their rural home, and the
effort to DO this would afford much agree
able occupation. Plates giving the ele-
vation and arrangement of country homes
can be studied 10y the evening Lamp,
visits to places noted for their beauty,
simplicity, and coed taste will afford nc
tives for many breezy drive, while use
fui suggestions from what had been ac-
oomplished by others may repay for an
extended journey. Such observations
and study will cost little more than an
agreeable expenditure of time, and surely
home is worth careful thought. 1t then
truly becomes Honr home; something
that you have evolved with loving effort.
We will suppose that it is early spring,
that the ground has received its second
ploughing, and that the carriage drive
and the main walks have been marked
out on paper, or better STILL on care
fully considered map. There is now so
much to do that one is almost bewildered,
and the old saying, Rome was not built
in day." is good thing to remember.
An ordinary succession of labor will bring
beauty and comfort in good time, espe
'ally if essential or foundation laborS
are first well performed. Few things will
prove mote satisfactory than dry, hard,
smooth carriage roads and walks. These,
With their curves, can be carefully staked
but the surface earth between the stakes
to tie depth of foul or liyes inches carted
to the rear Of the place near the stable,
" the place where the stable is to be. Of
he value of this surface soil we wi |
peak presently, and will remark IN pass
ing that it is amply worth the trouble OF
saving. Its removal leaves the beds of
the driveway and walks depressed several
inches below the surrounding surface.
Fill these shallow excavations with little
stones, the larger in the bottom, the
mtIer on top, and cover all with gravel.
You now have roads and walks that will
be dry and hard even in oozy March, and
You can stroll about your place the mo-
m9nt the Ii .aviest shower is over The
greater first cost will be more than good
by the fact that scarcely weed can start
or grow on pathways thus treated. All
they will need is an occasional rounding
up AMI smoothing with a rake.
While this labor is going on you can
begin the planting of trees. To this task
would earnestly ask careful attention
Your house can be built in summer, but
it requires a good part Of a century to
build the best trees into anything like
perfection. The usual tendency is to
plant much too closely. Observe well de-
9eloped trees, and see how wide a space
they require. There is naturally an eager
wish for shade as soon as possible, and
desire to Danish from surroundings an
aspect of baroness. These purposes can,
t is true, often be accomplished by set
ting out more trees at first than could
mature and by taking out one and an
other from time to time when they be-
Gin to interfere with each others growth.
One symmetrical, noble tree, however,