The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1912-05-30
.BEAUT|FY|NG FARM HOME
GOCU LANDSCAPE GARDENING
POSSIBLE AT SMALL EXPENSE.
J. c. Written, Professor OF HortlcuL
ture, College Of Agriculture, Uni
versity Of Missouri!

pOSSeSSeS TIE GREATEST opportunity lO1
beautiful effects in ornamental plant
ing. AS rule this fact is not suf-
ficiently appreciated. In many cases
practically no attention whatever is
given to planting about the home.
One reason for this frequent neglect
is that the owner is under the impress
sion that good landscape gardening
about his place cannot be effected
without elaborate plan and large ex-
pense. This is mistake, for as a
matter Of fact, it very frequently hap.
pens that nature herself has given to
the country home all the main essen
tials of landscape beauty.
Practically any farmer could make
the grounds about his home thing of
beauty with no greater expense than
a little effort now and then on the
| part of the family. The results SO
obtained in a few years would grow
an effect which would make the farm
not only better place to live, but
worth more on the market.
The first essential is to make use Of
the natural beauty which the place al
ready possesses. The country home
IS usually surrounded by broad natur-
al landscape across which there are
beautiful natural views. In many
cases almost no planting at all is
necessary.
1t frequently happens that the main
problem lies in opening up vistas so
| &L~ Il ;,,<,
landscape.
In wooded country a beautiful
view may be opened up by cuttin govt
a few trees in order to allow the eye
tc range across the adjacent valleys
or the distant hills. Net infrequent
fence-row continuously overgrown
with trees and bushes may obstruct
some beautiful distant scene. An
opening cleared in such an obstruc-
ton may give vista through so as
to bring into view from the house,
hills, valleys or gree pastures which
make up the surrounding landscape
Occasionally the low-growing limbs
of a few shade or forest trees may
obstrGct view of cultivated Fields
or green pastures, In such case j.
may be desirable to prune off some of
these lower limbs in order to open up
an attractive scene.
Land which is used for pasture
when cleared, should have occasional
groups of shade trees left here and
there. This not only gives grateful
shade to livestock in the heat of
summer day, OF shelter from the wind
in bleak places, but it makes the sur
rounding country more beautiful. In
~ret ting trees to be left standing,
valuable species should be considered.
Often nut trees are cut down, which,
If allowed to stand, would supply nuts
for the family or even for market |
Species like the oak, hickory, or black
walnut, which contain valuable tim
Der, may be allowed to grow and the |.
older specimens harvested for timber |
when they have reached full maturity.
In one pasture known to the writer,
more than 500 worth of such timber
was taken out in a single year by re-
moving only such mature trees as
the shade or the landscape effect
If brushy pastures are moved once
or twice a year with a moving ma
chine, their unsishtly weeds may be
removed and green blue grass cover
encouraged in place of the unsightly
brush. This has an economic value as
well, for frequently enough gross can
be secured to more than pay for the
In addition to thus securing views
of the broad surrounding landscape.
some individual planting may be done
Immediately about the buildings. The
first thing to do is to clean up the
place. This may consist in placins
the woodpile in some inconspicuous
place in the rear: gather together
scattered machinery and getting it
under protection: defining the drive
so the traffic will be confined to a
given entrance-way rather than driv-
addition to this, inexpensive planting
will help to screen away Certain I'M
slightly objects. especially in the rear.
A back fence behind the place may {
,e covered with vines; the woodpile
,r chicken house may be sheltered 6
rom direct view from the road by t
nassing shrnbbery in front of it. The c
eeding lot or chicken yard may be
creened off by a planting of grape c
ines which in addition to their cover c
s screen, may furnish fruit for the t
amiiy. d
A main essential. is to secure y
reen grass lawn before the house. &
IeXt to securing good sod, it is es- p
entail that the lawn should have an a
pen center. 1t should never be Il
roken up by scattering and pro- c.
liscuous flower beds or isolated y
hrubs. A green. open. sunlit lawn n
lggests restfulness and quiet, while r.
catered shrubs or flower beds pro- ii
lce an idea of fidget and distraction.
In placing shade trees it is desir- "
Bile to use row of them along the CT