Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-11
nv wILHELu MILLER.


CProf. Miller IL known 20 many residents
| OF Omaha by his articles IN County Life
| IN America and the Garden Magazine, Of
which he was editor for many years lie
head Of the division Of landscape extern
sion, which has stimulated q large amount
OF permanent planting by means Of col
trated book called The Illinois Way OF
Beautlfying the Farm" and by an in
genious Australian ballot" which ie
really promise TO DO some permanent
ornamental planting within year These
pledges have been kept In way that lie
most encouraging. the average eNpendi-
ture being surprisingly high)
The one thing that viii make the great
est permanent Improvement in the APP
pcarance OF Omaha in the shortest time
Is foundation planting Put some shrubs
and vines In front OF your house TO hide
the foundations, 20 make q transition be-
tween architecture and nature. and 20
transform your house into a home. Five
or ten dollars viii often buy ali the
shrubs and vines needed for the front Of
the house. In three OF four years shrubs
mature and you will like the effect 30
well that you win want a comprehensive
plan for your home grounds made by a
landscape gardener at an expense you can
afford by cooperating with one or two
neighbofs.
You can locate these shrubs yourself.
Instinctively you win avoid placing bushes
In front OF cellar windows Naturally
you viii avoid bushes that grow high
enough 10 shade the living rooms. AZ
the corners you will thicken the planting
because these hard angles need TO be
rounded or softened. The best wey Is 70
draw a plan TO scale, and put most Of
the shrubs three feet apart. Plant thick,
thin quick IL the rule.
The care OF the shrubs Il more impor-
tant than the kinds. IL often pays 20
spend more on preparation OF the soil
than on the plants. The worst soil in
town n generally around the foundations,
where the contractor has heaped the sub
soil from the cellar excavation. You
can't reform this hopeless clay. Remove
II, with the sticks. mortar and other
building refuse. 20 a depth Of two feet
and q width OF about three feet and
bring IN good soil Fertilize the bed well.
And remember that plants under wide
aaves get little rain. Soak the sor-do
not sprinlSIe--untii the shrubs are estab-
lished. and use water freely through the
first hot summer.
Three Of the best shrubs IN the world
for foundation planting are japanese bar
berry. Van Houtten's spiraea (erroneously
called bridal wreath'D and forsythia or
goldenbeiis Like every good thing they
are grossly overdone, and the hydransea
Is stlii more 20. DO not plant one kind
OF bush clear around your house. Have
variety enough 10 make q good appear
ance the year round Three 10 six Of a
kind commonly make a good group. On
the shady side Of the house plant arrow
wood Cviburnum dentatum) or fragrant
sumae tFshus aromasioa).
Vines viii give your house more and
better Individuality than excessive orna-
mentation or snowy paints. Every house
may have a different combination. One
porch may have Japanese and American
ciematis; tho next rambler and memorial
roses; third wistaria and trumpet
oreeper. Every frame house may have
vines without damage Of any kind by
usins some sort OF treliiB. Get your ar
|chitect 10 design Il and tell you how much
Of your house 60 cover. Or buy strong
poultry wire and hook II above and below.
20 that painters can lay dawn and re-
place the vines without damage.
citisens OF Omaha. I have not yet seen
your wonderful and beautiful city. but I
know some OF its architectural gIories--
the exposition, the new hotel n you