Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-08-16
Improvement Of Rural Homes.

corning some simple methods en-
ployed to improve the appearance of
country homes:
1. Having large stock of tulip
bulbs few years ago, and not know
ing what to do with them, / pushed
one down at the roots of each straw
berry plant in a bed OF four rods long
by three wide. The result was a
magnificent flower bed, and the flow
ers and flower stalks out of the
way before strawberry time. The
bulbs down three or four inches were
quite out of the way; and as the stalk
! is slim and leaves upright no harm
full shading had been down. The
bulbs multiplied fast, and for three
years gave such show as one might
be glad to walk ten miles to see.
When the strawberry bed was e1-
hausted and a new one set we repeat
ed the experiment with equal satisfac-
ton. 1t is possible, also. to make q
raspberry garden or vineyard superbly
ornamental with bulbs of lilies and
hyacinths. But this is not all; if a
farmer really cares to have his place
charming he can.
2. Plant about his barn grapes to
grow on the walls, and shrubs in the
place of the piles of trash and rub
bish. / have just outside my barn
ward fence lilac bushes and RIDES and
syringas. Other shrubs would do as
well but the lilac is easily obtained
and you will enjoy them, my friend,
more than you will those on the
lawns. Once begin to fix up about
the barnyard and you will discover
| that there is no reason in the world
why it should be mere manure hole
and sinking pen. 1t may be made
not only clean, but sweet and whole
some. Cows and horses, and even
hogs, like pleasant surroundings, and
the character is modified by treat
ment of that sort as well as kindness.
One thing more; your hired men will
be improved and made neater. The
milking will surely be more decently
done and come to the house free OF
foul odors. Possibly the owner will
find he has himself been a gamer; he
will learn to abhor dirt, will have
higher thoughts suggested, and be
sweeter tempered.
3. Make your vegetable garden also
ornamental. In this respect we are
behind our fathers; for the old-fash-
Toned garden was gay with saffron
and nasturtiums, and very likely
with grass pinks and marigolds;
while in the corners stood huge bush
es of cinnamon roses and sweet brier.
But we have given up the old plan,
and carried off our flowers to special
garden or lawn, leaving our vegetables
to themselves. Handsome growing
vegetables are in themelves fine
sight, and as we cultivate with the
pillow and horse there is no chance for
flower beds; but q row of double
English hollyhocks or of roses will
do no harm, and will not rob you of
any ground they do not make com
pensation for.
f. Native vines are of great use in
improving the looks of a place. The
wild grapevine and the clematis, as
well as Virginia creeper, can always
be secured These, if planted to COW
er rocks, old trees, stumps, rail fences
walls of stone, stone fences, barn
walls will convert them into delight
full masses of green in summer and
scarlet leaves or fruit in autumn.
Better yet, instead of the wild grapes
plant Worden or Concord or any
thoroughly hardy sort, and get both
fruit and beauty; although the fruit
of the wild grape is excellent for
jelly.
5. | do not recommend planting
hedges as rule, for our country is
Scared all over with the most detest-
able abortions of hedges They are
left untrimmed, and are broken and
jagged. Use for this purpose the
same quality of fruit that you fill the
balance of the packing with.
A twenty-five or fifty pound box of
fruit, if manipulated as described
above, will be compact and will re-
tain sufficient moisture to keep it soft
and pliable for months, the pieces of
fruit will closely adhere to one an
other and the packages will become
so solid that to very large degree it
will prevent the eggs that may be on
the fruit from Matching out, and
also prevents the worms from work
ing in the fruit to any great extent.
The dipping process has been found
entirely unnecessary for any purpose
whatsoever except for that of running
tons of fruit, annually, principally
apricots and peaches. These two
varieties of fruit, if dipped after dry
ing and before packing, should be
sold and consumed at once. The evil
effects of dipping fruit in hot water
and dampening it for the purpose
of making it pliable and soft so that
it will pack, and adding weight to the
fruit, is not apparent until two or
three months hence, when it becomes
soft, black, and almost entirely unfit
for use. Better by far let the worms
hatch out and devour small portion