The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1900-03-09
LANDSCAPE LESSONS
suggestions on Improvement Of
the Home and Grounds.
article Written by Practical Land
scape Gardener and Havina Re-
Qara 20 Conditions Here.

Editor THE INDRx
The many inquiries which have re-
oaived regarding the method to pursue
IN improving the appearance Of the
rrodnds Ground the homes Of our people
leads me 70 present through the columns
Of yoar paper the following method.
Those inquiries are very commendable
for they reveal the fact that the people
desire more attractive and valuable
homos. The great supply Of water and |
the mild climate unite 10 making our
valleys very favored spot in which 70
carry on,tbese operations, hence their
oSecution win result very pro6tablY 10 I
shase Who intend to take advantage Of
thoss facts.
n the home is already established
tAsn sn that can be done is the grading,
planting Of trees and shrubs and the
saving Of lawn grass seed. 1t is always
best TO permit the water to flow on to
the lawn from the rear. This will avoid
making the uneightly bitches which
must be made il the water is procured
from the front. A curved walk from the
gate to the residence is usually more de-
6irable than a straight one for 1t admits
more Of an artistic arrangement OF trees
and shrubs upon the lawn. Either ele-
vate the WALK sufficiently to keep the
water OF or make ridge on each side OF
the walk to conine the water 70 the
lawn. 1t often occurs that plats OF
different elevations must be made to
irrigate .he lawn. Each plat may con-
sist OF hundreds Of square feet or even
thousands, providing it is perfectly level.
zach one Of these plats must be sur
rounded by ridge from four to 9E
inches In height to hold the water untlA
the whole plat is covered. IL is a good
plan TO turn the water onto the lawn
before the seed is sown to ascertain the
elevations. You can not devote too much
time to this part Of the work, for lawn
not graded perfectly ever afterwards
causes difficulty in irrigating 1t. Well
decomposed manure absolutely free OF
all weed seed should be applied in
abundance and either spaded or Guilt
vated into the soil. The trees and shrubs
should now be planted and werd here
regarding the arrangement OF them Will
be IN order.
The natural or graceful style is now
AQlnllNHA Dy aAA PuO1Ap VI EocNA tN1NS ~
be the ideal system Of arranging tees
ana shrubs. By this is meant to follow
natures system which consists Of group
ing in irregular outlines all trees, shrubs
and flower beds. This system OF plant
ing will admit the suns rays to TALL upon
the lawn at intervals during the day /,
which is absolutely necessary it a good
lawn is desired. The part IN the rear Of
the residence should be planted thicklY
to low growing and pyramidal trees. This
will give that cozy, peaceful look 80
much desired by every one. DO not
plant the LOmbardy poplars directly 10
tho rear of the residence but little to
one side. In fact, these Lombardys
should be planted on the highest eleva
tions and always in groups. The Caro-
lima Poplar is now a very popular tree all
over the country and is really the fastest
grower of any Of the desirable kinds.
Plant this tree quite thickly in the rear,
also a very few on the front lawn. The
White Ash. Silver Maple and Elm are all
beautiful trees and are worthy Of general
planting. The Wisconsin and Babylon
ian willows are the strongest growers, OF
their kind, and are indeed beautiful
trees. However, like the poplars, they
should be planted only in certain loca
tiOns The one is indicative OF life aud
activity, the others of rest. Among
shrubs, the SNOWFALL, Lilac, Althoa
Wegelia and Almond are all very desir.
able and deserve to be generally planted.
OF the rose family l prefer the hybrid
tea class. These bloom freely during
every month Of the growing season and
are classed among the most beautiful
and fragrant of roses La France,
Duchess Of Albany, Augustine GuinO-
seau, Meteor, Souvenir OF WOoten, are
the leading varieties. mulching Of
leaves or straw is all that is necessary to
keep them from severe freezing. a rose
Or shrub bed should receive a large
amount Of rotted manure thoroughly
uaiHed with the soil. Never place manure
u Direct contact with the roots OF any
tree or plant.
4 suitable place for a shrub or rose
k,ed is un int laNa LOlderiug On The
eurve Of the walk. This will give the
walk a natural appearance, Tor curved
walk with 20 apparent cause would
seem ridiculous. Throw up a little
aound OF earth around all trees and
ahruba. This is done to protect the
steuls from the water. Rake OF or break
all Jumps OF earth that still remain on
the surface OF the lawn.
have experimeuted with all varieties
Of lawn grass ssed and have discarded
an save the English Rye GraFs This is
one Of Europes lavorite lawn grasses
and although interior to the Kentucky
Blue Grass 10 ito rich green color, YET
owing to ita heavy weight and great ger
minating power Is Far superior to any
other kind where irrigation must be re-
sorted TO. One pound to 100 square feet
Is sufficient. The thicker the seed is
soWn the sooner a good sod will be oh
tanned Step backwards towaras the
wind and SOW a space about three feet
vide very carefully. Rake tho seed ID
thoroughly with hand harrow made
by driving spikes into two pieces of 2X4
each piece about three feet Ia length
and held ~ feet apart By two pieces Of
narrow boards 70 this attach a rope
bv which il eau be dragged over the
lawn. You can not harrow the seed too
much. The more it is narrowed the
better will the seed be covered. A good
rolling with a hand roller is also very
desirable for it prevents the seed from
being washed about the lawn. Water
every other evening for the first three OI
fonr weeks. thereafter once or tWits 4
0erk will 10 sufficient The surface
must be kept moist until ;he grass ap-
pears. II watered at midday il 10 liable
% acal1 the young plants. II is alse
vary Important to NOV the lawn quite
frequently--at least ence 10 ton days
This will thicken the lawn and before
midsummer II viii present a very thicl
matted turf aud with q yearly applica-
tom nf manure viii remain 10 3 health!
ar0uing condition for an indehnitl
Qou0d.
Stock aud fowls must be kept on th