Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-06-12
MODEL HOMESTEAD
SUGGESTIONS FOR MAKING LAWN
AND GARDEN.
GOVERNMENT INTERESTED
Place to be Erected Near Washington
as an Object-Lesson 70 the People
Hints on Tree Planting and
Other Features of Home Max
ing.


as an object-lesson in landscape gar
dening for people of moderate means,
says Washington correspondent OF
the Boston Herald, is a unique enter
prise just conceived by Uncle Sam.
Six acres of the government reserva-
ton at Arlington, across the Potomac,
have been reserved for this novel
purpose. Upon it will Immediately
be erected a 10-room frame cottage
to cost $4,000.
The primary object of this ingen-
ious experiment will be to teach, at
glance, ideal methods of grading,
planting, cutting and watering lawns;
of locating and adjoining flower beds,
paths and drives; of identifying the
porch; of screening out Objectionable
views; of locating trees; Of covering
outbuildings with vines; of doing all
manner of things to make the exterior
Of the home beautiful.
Through Arlington penetrates one
of the most beautiful drives of Ameri-
ca-one freQuented by the president
and the elite of the capital. The work
of laying out this model homestead
site thereupon has been intrusted to
Prof. l.. c.. Corbett, horticulturist OF
the Department of Agricultural
master in the fine art of landscape
gardening.
Taking his new enterprise as text
this servant laid down,in a few words,
what he considers the fine points to be
observed by all city people and coun-
try folk who are ambitious to beautify
their lawns, their back yards and the
exteriors Of their buildings with the
flowers, shrubs and trees which God
has given.
1--WE will begin by laying out the
| lawn" said Professor Corbett ITO be
effective it should always rise from
the street to the house-should rise at
least Is inches in each 100 feet of
depth. A lawn should always be full
in the center, never hollow, and
should grade off gently to the level of
the public walk in front not ending
there in an abrupt bank.
eff the soil be of clay it is an easy
matter to get a full bluegrass lawn,
but if the soil be sandy white clover,
Italian rye grass or redtop must suf-
fee.
Most people either cut their grass
too close or let it go to seed between
mowings. A lawn mower should be
set high enough to leave one and a
half or two inches of each blade of
grass uncut; otherwise there will not
be left sufficient leaf area for proper
nourishment.
Early in the summer lawns must
be moved often, with less frequency
toward the during autumn. The rule
for this depends, Of course, upon the
season, whether it be wet or dry. In
the fall as soon as the ground freezes
every lawn should be spread with de-
March.
eff allowed to go to seed once grass
will eXpend practically all of it's
energy. Such neglect, therefore, will
be fatal to a pretty lawn. Redtop
and bluegrass will go to seed in the
latter part of June or in July if not
kept moved White clover will con-
tinue to go to seed all through sum-
mer.
Few people know when to water
their lawns. The hose should never
under any circumstances be applied
during full sunshine. Evaporation is
then rapid, and each drop of water
acts as little lens or burning glass,
focusing the suns rays and actually
scorching the grass blades. Commence
to water your lawn toward sunset or
during the night. Make this a rule,
and your grass will look refreshed.
ron a small city or town lawn the
walk extending from the street to the
front door should ordinarily be per-
fectly straight. Only in estates where
there is at least an acre in front of
the house are curved walks permits
sibNe. In the latter case the curve
should be deep enough to allow the
planting of shrubs, tall grasses or
flowers in the bay, inside of bend, to
obscure distant objects and afford
novelty Of landscape at each turn. And
in these clumps of bushes, or what
not, so placed, variety should be
striven for. We see too much uni
formity of species in these clumps so
placed IN our parks and pretentious
lawns.