Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-04-29

II
secluded estates How distressing il fs to
see fight in among well-kept places, one
or two the dirtiest eyesores il is possi-
BILE to imagine : wagons, machines and
manure, all out in the open and left where
they were last used; the barns and build
ings plastered with cheap and gsudy ad-
vertisements, and altogether most DESC
late and uninviting prospect.
have heard it said that the character
of the inmates can be told by the way the
windows are kept. This is usually said in
a disparaging manner, and the impression
given that houses whose windows have no
embellishments are the abodes of people
considered no good If not downright bad.
Fortunately the reverse of this is often
true. There are many people whose goods,
like their virtues, are Uttered around
everywhere and whose places have gem
eral tske-us-as-y you ind-us air, who are
the best of neighbors, bat need their civic
consciousness aroused.
On the other hand, there are those who
are no credit to a community under any
circumstances, whose whole purpose in
life seems to be to devsstate and desecrate
everything within sight, who lower the
tone of living, cause values to depreciate,
with the inevitable result that cheap
lands mean cheap neighbor
To create home we must have the spirit
OF home. Just as the smallest village may
have its history, it, moral stamp, so the
smallest home may have its soul.
The reason l say we should begin at
home is because the man who gets his liv-
ing from the land is not good at co-opera-
ton, and for this reason, the person who
works his own land for living is usually
a strong indiyidualist. He looks to the
earth, rather than to persons, for bis live
lihood. he does not cater. If, in any
country. he pstronizes, it is because of his
social position, and not because he is a
farmer.
This individualism eonduces to isolation
of ideas. His work is founded on person
al experience; and when he is not able to
analyze his experience or to understand it,
he falls into the routine of the season and
his ideas become crystallized.
The fundamental thing to remember in
it's what the first four degrees of our order
teach us: First, labor; second, culture;
third, harvest; fourth, home. That is, a
good home is as near to Heaven as we can
hope to get here on earth. And conse-
quently in planting the home grounds we
should endeavor to make the home the
centre of a picture and the planting a
natural frame.
/ think trees are necessary both for
shade and as wind breaks, but they should
be so planted as not to hide the house.
Never plant poplars or willows; both are
cheap-looking and sbortli which is
not their worst faults. Plant those things
that will be joy to you as they develop,
and which will improve with age.
had an experience in my home town.
The particular lot on which the house is
built must have been the dumping ground
for the neighbors ever since the French
men settled ON the shores of Frenchman's
bay, aud anyone so inclined could have
done big business in antiques, old stoves,
buggies, bottles, wire and tin cans Of all
descriptions. When I began, it seemed as
if there were more than the usual 'criti-
cisms, and always from those who never
accomplish much but talk. l mention
this to show that although civic improve
ment is not all pleasure, the pleasures and
profits will far out balance anything our
detractors may say or do.
About two years after the planting was
done, one evening in the early summer a
party of four on horse back drew up in
front of the house, and after admiring
things for while, lady asked If she
could rent the place. Secretly, / was
pleased to know my efforts had appealed
to those OF refined tastes. A little while
after, this particular planting was Illus
trated in Country Life in America, the
best magazine of it's kind in this country,
and about two years later had this cata-
logue brought to me by man who asked
if | knew the cover design. It's one you
all know-Larkin's-l have never bought
a CENTS worth from them, yet they were
using an illustration OF my home for the
cover design of their catalogue; the same
piece of planting. L was surprised and
pleased, as these things were done with
out my knowledge or solicitation.
This whole job, outside OF the labor,
cost but so, and we had to buy the loan,
trees and shrubs. Those of you who own
your land and woods can make just as
good a picture with the materials you
have right to your hands.
Another thing that would add to the
beauty of our surroundings and the
general landscape, and cost little to keep
up, is live fences. You have a native
thorn that would make an excellent
hedge rdtedgus crus gall, the common
cockspur thorn, or the common bar
berries culgdrts, and Japanese barberres.
All three are easily raised from seed.
Gather them in the fall when they are