Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-05-16
Planning the 8
Home Grounds
By A. T.Erwin
Associate Professor Depart
ment of Horticulture and
Forestry. Iowa State College

two trees located at the southwest
side of the house will add shade and
comfort. If possible a few trees
should also be planted to the rear Of
the house to serve as background.
as the effect is much better in this case
than where the buildings stand out
against the bare sky line. 1t Is mis-
take to plant many evergreens on a
small lawn. as they are broad ut the
base and narrow upward; hence they
naturally obstruct the view. The
beauty Of an evergreen lies In its SYM
metry. and every branch. from the
one next to the grass to the youngest
Mt the top. should be In place. The
oldest and largest branches are those
nearest the ground. and the pruning
off OF the lower branches. which is
frequently done to open up the view.
seriously mars the specimen. In the
majority of such cases the mistake
was made in selecting an evergreen
for this location. Some deciduous
tree which is rather open beneath.
such as the white elm. should have
been planted instead.
The location Of the walk is also an
important feature Of the landscape.
Walks are to be considered purely as
a matter Of necessity and convenience.
They do not in any way add to the
attractiveness Of the landscape. Since
they exist for the convenience Of the
public they should lead primarily in
the direction that people wish to trav-
ell. If the house Is less than fifty feet
from the street 1t is generally best to
run the walk straight out from the
building as any curve introduced In
this short distance is apt to appear
forced and unnatural. On the other
hand, If the house Is set farther back
a more satisfactory effect can often be
secured by introducing curve and
leading the walk in more along one
side. This also has the effect Of keep
ing the front lawn in one piece, where
as a walk through the center bisects
It. making it appear smaller than 1t
would otherwise. If curve is intro
duced the inside Of the curve Is a
very logical place for clump Of low
growing shrubbery or for flower bed
BY grouping the shrubbery along the
border there is provided an excellent
background for flower border. This
Is strip two and one-half or three
feet in width along the front of the
shrubbery. Here may be located early
spring Towering tulips. with gera-
NUNS and scarlet sage. In fact. this
is very appropriate place for all
kinds of bedding plants.
The philosophy Of the spring flower
ing bulb is that of making hay while
the sun Shines" The preceding year
the new flower is formed. and for its
nourishment there is stored up lib
eral supply of food: consequently with
the first warm days Of spring the BIOS
SONS are ready to expand to their full
grandeur and beauty.
This fact also conveys suggestion
to the planter. The time to prepare for
spring bulbs is in the fall. The latter
half Of October is a good time for the
planting. the idea being to get them
in sufficiently early to secure root de-
velopment before winter sets in.
The next step is that Of mulching.
The essential idea of a mulch is not to
keep plants warm. but rather to keep
them cold. Frequent variations In
temperature are destructive to plant
life. The cover is applied after the