The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-02-17
ADoBNMENT OF FARMERS HOMES.
AN EssAY BY WINTHROP BRyroGLE AT
FARMERs INSTITUTE ON FRI
DAY JAN. 13, 1888.

DAY JAN. 13, 1888.
This work belongs to Horticulture
and why shonld not Horticulture and
Agriculture go hand in hand. Agri-
culture 10 to us ss foundation is to
mouse while Horticulture is to us as
its decorations. Man was placed in
the Garden OF Eden and to him was
given the earth as bis domain to keep
and make it beautiful. The adornnent
OF our homes is subject that is sadly
neglected by the agricultural class.
The majority of this class of people
are very negligent in the adornment of
their homes and the beautifying OF
their properties. Our homes should be
ornaments to the beautiful hills and
valleys which God has provided so
abundantly with works of nature; but
instead in most agricultural districts
our homes are as sore place in the
face of nature thus obstructing the pro-
gress of horticulture. We should re.
novate these homes and make them
correspond with these beautiful works
of nature. What would be mole
pleasing to the eye, what scenery could
be more grand than a ride through a
beautiful valley in summer and see the
farmers homes adorned and beautified.
1t makes our homes pleasant and cheer
full and not only that if you want to
dispose of your property it will bring q
better price.
1t is true saying that farmer
should be judged by his buildings and
its surroundings, for instance imagine
beautiful dwelling with correspond
ing out buildings while the surround
ing are grown up with tall grass and
weeds, the farm implements lying in
every direction, wagon sheds used for
roosting places, piles of lumber and
rubbish scattered around making il
difficult TO reach the house; now take
these same buildings, clean the yards,
put farm implements 10 sheds to save
unnecessary repairs and have place
for everything and in its place. Com
pare the two Will you not cay at
once the latter is the farmer
Order is heavens first law and let
this be our law. Around the farm as
we'll as in the house. Why should not
horticulture be studied enough to dec.
crate our yards as well as agriculture
in order to make farming a success.
1t is easily understood. 'Tis true it is
work without financial return, but
there is enough beauty in it to pay
you for the time spent Every farmer
or some member OF the family can
spend from four to five hours of each
week for the trimming and cleaning
of his yard and l am sure the result
will be highly appreciated. Since lawn
IN overs have come into existence the
keeping OF our yards and lawns is SO
simple that no farmers home is CON-
plete without one any more than a
farmer could do without reaper.
There is no excuse for allowing grass
to grow tall in our yards any more
than to have cobwebs taking possess
ion of our rooms in our dwellings,. We
occasionally see some queer individ-
uals even now who remembers that bis
grandfather allowed grass to grow tall
for food for his cattle and so he keeps
on in the same old rut thinking it
would almost be wicked to change the
routine while in the house he may have
costly furniture where none but the
family admire Would it not be bet
ter to do without the hay, cut from the
yards, and make the outside correspond
with the inside thereby tempting the
passer by to admire our homes.
1t is gratifying to know that people
are becoming more enlightened in that
direction. There are many ways to
make perfect lawn but l will attempt
to describe the one that takes the least
labor and most inexpensive. We will
take yard where every thing is grown
up with weeds, dock and planting as
farmers yards generally are, also full of
stones, tin cans and hollows. Give it
thorough cleaning, NOW it with a
common grass scythe, fill up the holes
and make the surface level. After this
it should be raked off so that the sur
face will be smooth and all stones re-
moved for the action of the mower.
If it be small yard and where sod can
be obtained it would be best to sod it
but before doing this the ground
should be beaten down particularly
where it has been filed in 80 that there
may be no danger of settling to form
hollow places. The sods should be
cut the same thickness. When laying
place edges neatly together and beat it
down. If it is dry weather at the time
of laying, the new lain sods should be
drenched with water for week or go.
If the yard is too large to be sodded
and too much expense to dig itup give
it good coat of well rotted manure,
SOW it with mixture of lawn grass
seed and white clover twice in the
summer. Now it every week to keep
the weeds from growing and to pro-
tect the grass as it grows. Many peo
pie through ignorance or short sighted
economy use the hay seeds taken from
the hay NOW If from good hay the
seed principally will be timothy and
red clover. All attempts to get a
smooth lawn from such source would
be vain. During the winter a lawn
should be covered with we'll rotted
manure. In the spring rake it off,
role it with roller so that the surface
will be smooth for the mower. II the
ground is rolling terraces could bt
made which would add to the beauty
of the lawn.
Now this yard with its beautiful
carpet Of green is an ornament to {
home without anything else, but thi.
yard can be laid out with flower bed
of different designs according to til,
financial standing of the owner AL
yards should have a direct walk frou
the gate 10 the house. Thi
walk should be kept clean and free iron
grass. The edges should be trimme,
once a month with an edging toe
which will keep the sides of the pat
straight. Walks around the hous
may have curves and angles to sui
the taste of the owner. IT'S not cor
venient for us all to own conservatol
les nor is 1t possible at all times for u