Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-07-31
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"sPxED THE PLow."

Correspondence on practical agricultural tou,r
- soncited. Address all communication q
9noed Tor this department. to HIHIY u
ocras. Paris. Ne. 0A'''1 o'u
improvements Of Farm Home
Grounds.
(R.T. Muller, Instructor in Horticulture. I'm,
versity Of Maine.)
Farm houses may be made beautifn,
by very simple means. There must firsI
OF all be neatness and orderliness: these
combined with q good lawn about the
house and sheltering growth of trees
and shrubs, may be all that is reouired
Snowy ornament has no place about =
farmhouse. The house itself shon,d
have broad spreading lines, wider than
1t is high so as to be in harmony with
the amplitude of the country. The city
house may be tall and narrow as the re-.
suit of high property values but the farm
house should be more of a rambling
type OF architecture. II one thinks he
can afford to ornament bis farmhouse be
might better first apply his means to
substantial construction. His means
might we'll be shown In broader caves
and IN heavier posts on the porches.
A well planned and we'll kept yard
will greatly improve an ugly house,
while pleasing house makes IL far
easier to lay out an attractive yard. In
planning the yard in detail, first it is
necessary to think of the house and the
yard as they appear from points exterior
to them. The view in from the highway
should be kept in mind. The house
should be the center of a picture with
the planting in the yard giving It an at
tractive background. Trees should
overtop the house somewhat from the
rear in order to break up a too severe
roof line. Shrubs should be planted
about the foundation of the house 90 as
to hide the ugliness Of the foundation
and also serve to make the transition
from house to lawn more gradual. Like
wise tree and shrub borders should de-
fine the property lines and tie ir the
yard.
Second the appearances of the yard
must be studied from all the windows of
the house and from doors and porches.
In studying this outlook We have first to
deal with that which is beyond ones
own yard or field and belongs to another,
and second, that which one owns and
can control. II the more distant views
afford pleasing pictures, especially from
convenient points, such as windows and
porches, such outloUks should be left
open in planting and not hidden by trees
or shrubs. On the other hand there are
likely to be unsightly objects in the dis
tant outlook, which should be carefully
screened by paintings. Ones own barn
yard may be made pleasant so that It
will not need to be hidden.
In the immediate view Of the yard the
objects that should first receive stten-
tion arc the necessary features such as
drivsways, walls, barns, large trees, and
lawn space. While these should be
studied separately and individually the
relation of each part to the whole must
not be lost sight of.
Walls and driveways are most notice
able and therefore these should be as
few as possible and should be short and
direct. Naturally driveway should be
we'll constructed, crowned, and graded
that it will not become muddy in wet
weather, and the walks should be 90
paved that they will give dry footing.
The grades of walks and drives must be
easy, not only for progress along them
but also to prevent their washing. Ger
tain fixed points in the lines of roads and
! walks will determine the courses they
must follow. These points are: the
entrances from the highway, the doors
of the house, and the location of barns
and outbuildings. Roads and walks are
very conspicuous and therefore they
should be planned with caution and
made no wider or longer than necessary.
The lawn is of foremost Importance,
and a good lawn Is more beautiful than
auy other single feature. Neither shrubs,
flowers, nor house will look well unless
set of by lawn space.
The ground for lawn should be pre-
pared by the usual method of deep plow-
| ing and narrowing, or on small areas
spading and raking. Where the soil 10
poor, it should be improved. Plow un-
der a heavy turf, grow and plow under
one or more cover crops and work In
BARNARD manure. The cover crops and
the cultivation will eliminate the weeds.
| n the soil is heavy and wet put in tile
drains. Weeds will not trouble Il the
preparation of the soil has been thor
ough and healthy dense turf has been
established. Lime should also be ap-
plied as it corrects q soil deficient In
lime. it hastens decay Of organic matter
and is necessary for the growth OF Ken
tucky Blue Grass which comprises the
bulk of all lawn mixtures. For general
seed mixture combine 8 parts Kentucky
Blue Grass, / part Redtop and l part
Rhode Island Bent. Best to buy the
"extrz cleaned" seed and also TO buy the
various kinds separately and mix them
at home. Sow at the rate of Is TO lOO
lbs. Der acre (from 5 to bushels.) Roll
jiobtlv with a hand roller after seed is
| we'll started. Cut the grass as soon as
IL is high enough, with the blade OF the
lawn mower set high. Leave the clip
| pipgs on the lawn. Mulch lightly over
| winter with we'll rotted COW manure and
sarly in the spring firm the soil with .
roller before regular cutting begins. Tne
best time to SOW ia late summer (iate ID
August) or spring. At these times there
vilI be plenty of moisture in the soil for
termination and the seedlings will not
6s iniured because of hot and dry condi-
tious. Constant care 10 necessary 20
make good lawn.
/ In choosing plant materials. give
preference to native stock rather than
Itry to grow something rare and exotic.
Shrubs are useful for foundation plant
ling for grouping at entrance OF grounds,
along walks and drives and for properly
lined borders. Trees help frame the PIC
ture. give shade and add scale to the de-
sipp. In choosing trees avoid weeoy,
rapid growers like Willows, poplars, etc,
and choose slow growers which improve
with age rather than deteriorate, such a.
lelms, Norway maple, etc. Vines may
be used to cover walls, fences or aroors,
To prevent the washing OF steep BANKS
and to drspe and adorn doorways.
i To improve the farm home grounds
| the following points should be empna-
sized: =, .,s =.
furnished with trees and shrubbery.
The house should be prominent
and have good setting.
8 There must be an open space o'
lawn. v .,.,..
Il cr0nnad At tno