The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1921-01-27
A MESSAGE DIRECT TO YOU,
MR.. FARMER
Continued from first page.)

tarreI', plus pals, usually forming a
permanent door yard fixture, all smell
Ing to heaven and looking like -,
well say II mildly and just call ii a
blot upon the landscape" Sir, can
you imagine yourself eating and drink
ing the contents of these barrels with
Zest? But no, It Is customary to feed
this compound mixture of goodness
knows-what. to the swine. first, and
then later on the animal dies" and
YOU and others eat their carcass. Why
not Danish forever this filthy hog-wash
dope which In one respect only, re-
sembles our distinguished Farm Blu
reaus: II being composed of a little
Of everything" Then in its place give
the creatures the clean, pure water
designed by their Creator for them.
Surely. Mr.. Farmer, you would not
wish this door yard picture framed
and hung upon your parlor walls. Yet
il is obvious to the most Indifferent
eye of the passer-by, whereas, for n
to be compelled to live amid such
abused and neglected surroundings is
akin to torture.
The whole thing strikes like a dag
ger at the heart, spelling disgust ana
home sickness of the worst kind to any
sensitive, beauty-loving soul craving
the higher, finer things of life, and
still, Mr.. Man, you wonder why the
wife grows old and faded before her
time, and the Riddles regard the farm
as a hateful place to live, and start
city-ward at the very first opportunity
and incidentally forget to come back
again.
Come, let us reason together: ("
meaning, let us now take up and con
slider the purpose for which this arti-
Gle is being written, viz: To ncour
age and create Garden of Eden" door
yards on every farm in existence. 1t
is up to you, Mr.. Farmer, to take the
lead. You are the builder and maker
thereof of the home more than you
are aware of, and that mooted door
yard question is a family affair, any
way. Then play the game. You're
1T" Everybody help, and let's vie
with each other in this most charming
task of devising a landscape garden,
which if perservered in and faithfully
carried out, is a liberal education in
itself along the lines of Floriculture
and will continue to be, "A thing of
beauty and a joy forever"
Comes first the clearing away of
every unsightly object and bit of rub
bish. This does not lean to owe the
Junk heaps a little further away and
deposit them, but it does mean the
complete and utter humiliation Of ev-
cry worthless thing IN sight, by either
process, burn or bury" Ashes may
be quickly absorbed in some useful
way, but thrown about, they are most
untidy looking. Plow up every inch Of
ground all around the house, allowing
for a large ~capacious yard, with plenty
of walks and convenient driveway.
Fertilize, harrow, pulverize and re-
peat. Keep right at the job until you
have as fine a piece of mellow earth
as you would prepare for your prize
seed crop. Fill up all uneven places
and cause the whole surface to slope
gently away from the building. Sow
literally with the best blue grass or
other seed, or lay the whole with fresh
cut sod. The walks should be quickly
land and used, to preserve the newly
created lawn intact.
The next and most important item
of all is a trim strongly built woven
wire fence enclosing the entire
grounds. Self locking gates set with
patent springs are desirable, to ecu
the premises from invasion of poultry
and other would be-trespassers.
We have now the foundation for our
dooryard well laid, and right here, Mr..
Farmer, unless you possess a trained
eye for the artistic, and car envision
the harmonious grouping Of trees,
lowering plants and shrubbery so as
to blend them into a complete and
perfect whole. then you will do well to
leave the laying out of this work to
one skilled in the art. Too many trees
close to the house are unwholesome
and darken the rooms. But at least
one symmetrical and wide-spreading
tree should be placed not far from the
hack door, with rustic seats about. for
the indoor workers to use at their on
venience. This alone is a big help to
the over-heated housewife and also a
source of comfort to all.
This perfect d%ooryard which we so
strongly advocate is no great hercu-
lean task. but a series of little things
properly done at the right moment and
with the right spirit. not grudging
either time or the slight expense, blu,
doing 1t all in a cheerful whole-hearted
manner.
1T takes a little muscle
And it takes a little grit,
A little true ambition
With a little bit of wit.
It's not the biggest" things that count
And make the biggest" show;
It's the little things that people do,
That makes the old world CO."
AS to the planning of the farm door
yard there are a great variety of pat
terms" to choose from. ami the subject
deserves careful attention. All trees
should be placed where they will give
the most benefit Of shade, shelter and
so forth, and likewise form a pleasing
background for the plants-to-be. A
few favorite nut bearing trees. and one
large, wide-spreading apple tree. II
well cared for. would in a few a
make a most useful and attractive set
ting. Then. by a wise selection of
plants and seeds. a continuous mass OF
rich bloom may be secured. for almost,
tenct tha ovtfro Uroxvfuo ooooou U~..