The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1921-01-27
A COMMUNICATION
FROM A READER
A MESSAGE DIRECT TO YOU,
MIR. FARMER

Now that your problems are becom-
ing a matter of State inc National in
~terest, and the public eye is being
focused squarely upon you and your
domains, we are going to present for
your earnest consideration a phase
of the work in which you are engaged
that has hitherto been quite ignored
by most country jewellers.
So, turning our thoughts aside from
the all-absorbing theme of King corn
(plthough golden), and for the nonce
RELOCATING to the background all af-
fairs of swine, together with the un-
numbered other ~engrossing subjects
relating to farm activities, let us now
give our undivided attention to the
subject-matter on this page, the while
we make a careful inventory of the
condition, and take in the sights Of
the dooryard on this most useful farm
of yours. What do you see? And
what do the inmates of the farm
house see as they glance many times
a day out of open door or window,
while they toll and sweat at their ap-
pointed tasks? Dare we describe IL?
Listen! A most barren-looking-God
forsaken-plat of earth, robbed of all
verdure, with every blade of grass
bruised or crushed out of existence,
through the constant trampling of
many feet, or perhaps a much Uttered
weedgrown yard, over run with thist-
les, meets the gaze. Round about, con-
spicuous heaps of junk, consisting of
ashes, refuse, tin cans, rags, stones,
wood, paper, cigar stumps and match
els, frequently cover much OF the sur
face, while almost from the oor step,
and occupying enough gound to fill a
good-sized city block, n may often
rotc a rare CD collection composed
Of various kinds OF farm machin-
cry, wagons and derelict objects block
ing path and roadway, or scattered
about over>the place i'm rank confusion
al! of which is we'll calculated to get
on the NERVES" of any orderly minded
individual. On many farms also, there
is a most displeasing distribution OF
small out-buildings. in a more or less
dilapidated condition, placed without
regard to symmetry or site, and which
Ioften times encroach O the door
yard precincts; while back and forth
at their W sweet will, roam the
denizens of the barn-yard, each adding
to the filth and general disorder of the
surroundings.
We are not now speaking of the
hog palaces" and "cow-mansions"
looming in the near distance and OF
which you are SO Justly proud. They
do not belong to this picture. Take
another long, earnest look around and
size everything up fairly and s%quarely.
Not even the earmarks of a ence
guards the boundary line between the
house yard and barn, shielding the
premises from unwelcome intruders
and showing where the leaves off
and the other begins.
Those marvellous growing things
that men name trees" bless them,
lifting their giant branches majestical-
ly heavenward; fitting emblems OF
might, of high aspiration and lofty
untamed ambition: yet on many a
farm in our big middle west not a
single one fiourishes, How empty and
@forlorn seem the spaces without them
and the rustic Of their countless leaves
stirring in the breeze. which Is music
to the ear attuned to Natures symph-
onies. How is 1t possible for You MIR.
Farmer, to live without them? Their
beauty, usefulness, shade or as a wind
break, are indispensable to comfort.
Yes, / hear you. Some day, you are
going to set out trees" May heaven
speed the day. And, in the meantime,
how will the wife. the children and
even your own furcoated animals pant
ing for breath in the noon day glare,
don't forget them, endure the blist-
ering heat of summer and the biting
blasts of winter. Again, may j ASK
How can you live on year after year,
as you so often do, without treesy
When by taking a little forethought
and time you could plant many a rare
and beautiful specimen about your
spacious grounds.
The spring of 1920 was a great sea-
son for the setting out of trees m
plants of all kinds. The overflow OF
rainfall that year would surely have
carried every transplanted thing right
through ship-shape, IL set with ordin-
ary care. What, no time? Indeed, and
there were many hours available for
ench purposes, as the fields, for days
in succession, were often too wet for
cultivation. zone can always n
time and opportunity for doing the
things, he wants to do" said a wise
teacher to her class.
But / digress. In this dooryard un-
der observation, no vines, with their
loving and lovely tendrils creep silent
ly out over the vacant walls for sup
port, and soften the barren lines of the
cola exterior surfaces Not a living
t thing, of either tree, flower or plant
is anywhere in evidence. About one
farm house we writer visited In late
: August, a heavy banking of manure
still lay. left over from the previous
Y winter, ever forming the door step
Q thus making a prolific breeding place
! for flies and vermin, which pressed
in swarms about the doors seeking en-
L Aranno