The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1897-10-20
Row TO make FARMS BEAUTIFUL.

Row TO MAKE FARMS BEAUTIFUL.
Many farms and homesteads have
desolate appearance because the odd
J corner and bits of ground are left until
ed and gov up in unsightly weeds in
, summer ar. become dreary and barren
looking in the winter. 1t is too often
the c sc that whatever plots of land are
unsuitable foe cultivation because of
III il smallness or because inconven-
leutly situated are left in this wild con-
dition and mar the effect of an other
wise well kept farm or beautiful home.
In a recent report on Experimental
Farms, issued by the Canadian gov
eminent, w. L. Macoun, foreman Of
forestry, makes many suggestions as to
how these unsightly spots may be made
attractive and productive. Mr.. Macoun
says: mo matter how small the plot OF
ground or how situated, there is no rea-
son why it should be an eyesore. 1t is
this utilization Of every nook, corner
and Granny and the making of two
blades Of grass to grow where weed
grew before that has made rural Eng
land SO beautiful to the eye and so pleas
ing to the aesthetic sense. The agricul-
tural and pastoral landscapes in England,
where the little farms are green to the
very door, have been described as jewel
scenery There seems to no good rea-
son why the rural abstracts of New Jer-
sey, New York and of other states could
not be made equally attractive and
fruitful"
Mr.. Macoun has utilized all of these
waste places about the offices and build
ings of the forestry department at Cen
trail Experimental farm. In his report
lie thus writes of the improvement Of
these odd corners:
The land adjacent to the Office and
other buildings, which has been devoted
to the cultivation of ornamental trees
and shrubs. looked better this year than
ever before. AS the trees increase in
size from year to year the landscape be-
comes more beautiful. The effects also
of the grouping are more apparent and
show pleasing combinations and con-
trasts of color and form. A number of
the species are also beginning to bear
freely their white, yellow, red, scarlet,
purple and black fruits, which still fur
Their heighlens the effect. The flower
from early the summer to late in the
autumn, cannas gladioii and asters be-
ing particularly fine. More hedges have
been planted and some small additional
area-e seeded down. The trees and
shrubs planted during the last two sea-
sons now add very much to the sttrac-
tiveness OF this section of the farm"
The foreman also calls attention to a
large number of trees and shrubs suita-
BILE for hedges and orgamental purposes.
He now has hedges of 70 different species.
Among the ornamental trees Mr.. Ma
coun mentions several beautiful vaLieties
from Japan and China, such as the
syriBga, the katsura taea, the Japanese
ounce and the exquisitely beautiful
maidenhair tree, or gingko biioba.
The director, writing Of the result of
this utilizing Of all small plots, says: 1.-The
number Of specimens which have been
planted along the roads from the entrance
gates to and about the building is 2 ,742,
and the number of species and varieties
among these is about 400. With so
many different types of beauty spread
out Oh every hand the visitor finds Oh
jects of interest to claim his attention al
every point.'
Ia many place on the farm fruit trees
could be used SO that they would be at
once objects of beauty and profit. Even
| in the Smallest plots and corners the
weeds AND stones could be replaced by
flowers, to the aesthetic delight and
mental Improvement VI those WHO pass
their live on the farm New York Times.