Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-19
THE AGRICULTURALISTS.
MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE TO
THE FARMERS.
The Farm House Yard--Pure Air,
Pure Milk --killing Canada
Thlstles--Shyers and
Kickers--A Seed
Bed.
The farmhouse Yard.

will utilize it will enable him to make
his home attractive beyond anything |
that they can accomplish. He has
plenty OF land around his dwelling.
Too often farmers make little use OF
this advantage The business OF the
farm Is allowed to engross so much |
attention that the Improvement OF
the house yard is almost entirely
neglected, or it is used in ways that
disfigure instead OF adjoining IL. The
grass is allowed to grow rankly, so as
TO secure little addition to the hay
crop, or the yard is made dumping
ground for all sorts OF litter-old
wagons, decayed farm implements,
woodpiles, etc, interspersed with
riotous growths OF burdock and other
weeds.
Ii such neglect or misuse is really
necessary there is no more 10 be said.
But we are inclined to think that ii
the matter were carefully considered
it would be discovered, in the vast
majority OF cases, that it was not at
all necessary, but that on the con-
trary the farmer might, with no great
amount OF time or trouble, bring the
surroundings OF his home into a con
dition OF charming attractiyeness and
\ beauty.
To secure this result it is not neces-
sary that the buildings should be
costly or the plants in the yard rare
/ cxotics. A very plain house may be
made delightfully."- picturesque by very
simple means. 4 nicely graded and
well-kept lawn OF generous size-no
little, pinched.up village lot, but wide
and long-wlth native trees and
| shrubs planted in effective groups,
and perhaps-though this is not es.
sential-one or two beds OF Towering
plants to add bright color and vari.
ETY. TO the picture, will exalt the char.
acter OF the whole place.
Let roses, honeysuckles and other
Towering vines Chamber over the
porch or lift themselves on poles or
frames near the house. They will
make handsomer ornamentationt than
the product oil the carpenters lathe,
and afford lar greater enjoyment.
Many valuable works have been
written on landscape gardening, and
those who have the means to carry
out their extensive plans are happy
indeed. But it il not necessary to uu-
dertake any OF these costly schemes
to make the farm home absolutely
beautiful.
1t is well to study, ii possible, the
underlying principles OF landscape
gardening but in any case act on the
good old rule, "Do the best you can
with what you have" and good
Mother Nature will help wonderfully
to give effect to your good intentions.
1t is not at all needful to exclude
from the house yard useful trees and
plants. There should be a variety OF
ornamental growths but with these
may be fruit trees that are useful ms
well as ornamental.
The writer rejoces in the possession
OF two crab apple trees, survivors OF
q former orchard, in the house yard,
and they arc source OF great delight
the season through. In the spring
when the blossoms are out-pink on
one and pure white on the other-they
are marvel OF beauty. During the
summer the green heads, thick and
shapely, are as ornamental as any
shade tree" And when the harvest
season draws on apace and the waxer
balls, with crimson cheek, hangin clus
tiers all over the one and the pale
q cen fruit peeps through thefoliage Oh
the other these lovely trees are q
source OF constant pleasure-not at
all diminished by the promise they
, hold out OF delicious Jelly and preserv
, es in the approaching winter.
Other fruit trees-pears, cherries
mulberries, etc.,-may be utilized tc
, adorn the house yard. Only the pur
, pose OF the yard must be kept in view
, 1t should be made an orchard, but bt
, maintained as q lawn with smooth
, well-shayen turf and the trees anC
plants simply as accessories.
"Butit takes time and labor TO dc
all this" To be sure it does-every
thing that is worth having in this
) world requires effort and time. But
it will add to the pleasure Of living
, and--a lower consideration--to TIN
, money value OF the farm, to max,
; the surroundings OF the home attr6c
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