Crawford avalanche., 1891-04-23


handsome and well cared for; neither
will 1t detract from the yards about our
houses to have them neat. Wonderful
improvements have taken place In all
parts of the United States in this respect
during the last ten years, but there are
many places still In need of ''toning up"
The first province OF the art is to ''re-
move nuisances," and this should be the.
keynote OF our work. Better have the
surroundings of our homes neat and
fresh, by such common means as we have
ii In our power to use, than attempt an
elaboration that must fall into neglect.
The elaborate bedding arrangements,
some of our wealthy people delight to
spend their money on, should not be de-
sired by farmers families, but better
things are to be had. A good green turf
and some good trees are better for every
day use than map of the continent done
in plants with colored foliage. Better
green piece of sward about our houses,
even IL we cannot keep it as short and
thick as we wish. 1t is always ready to
respond to our efforts when we have time
to attend to it, and will not suffer from
little neglect as much as exotics do. 1t
is easier to ''clean up and plant new
things than to keep the place in order
to this end. Let us think out what we
want the nlace to be, and have all our
efforts directed to the end In view. we
may not be able at once to get the things
we want, but II we arrange what we have
with reference TO future Improvement we
will be much better satisfied with our
selves and the place when the time for
further Improvement comes. The best
selection of trees and Shrubs that can be
made Is of those kinds that do well with
us; better have some thrifty. fresh speci-
mems OF the commonest trees and shrubs
than rare exotics that will not flourish
in our soil and climate, but only struggle
out a miserable eXistance without beauty
or fruit. BY no means give up trying
new things ii there is an opportunity,
but let us experiment in the garden, or
somewhere else, that Indifferent success
may not always be before us. Let us
plant about the house, where we will see
them every time we go out of doors,
plants that we know how to grow, or
those that do well in similar situations.
In planning our ground, few designs
are more generally satisfactory than an
irregular border running around the
yard with tall shrubs behind and low
growing plants in front, with the middle
itlJ Opcn lOI BOOu spdCc VI grass.
Avoid dotting things about. They will
not do as well and are more difficult to
care for, and so is the grass. This prin-
ciple holds good everywhere, but can be
subjected to endless notifications in de-
tail, and gives great scope for taste in
arrangement and display Of knowledge
of plant growth and characteristics.
The "best soil" is that which we have,
for it Is what we must use. Perhaps it
is too POOR to raise many things, and we
must modify and improve il by the means
in our power, but rarely can we change
its permanent character If our house
is on a rocky hilltop let us choose
shrubby evergreens and things that will
live without constant care. However
much we may desire plants from the
lowlands, it is unwise to attempt their
growth in unfavorable situations. III we
live on sand or bottom land let us plant
accordingly. We can drain and fertiliZe
to a certain extent, and II there is good
supply of water can do wonders with itS
nse, but above all let us plan to suit our
conditions, personal, financial, and those
of soil and climate, and not lay out more
than we can attend to In the future.
Plan to keep the surroundings of the
home neat even II there are no shrubs
but an old lilac bush, or trees but
moss grown apple or pear tree. Walter
Dalton, in american AgTtcutturtst.