214 Missitisijj^i Valley Horticultural Society. 



ORNAMENTAL PLANTING. 



BY PROF. \V. J. DEAL, OF MICHIGAN. 



Begin by j^Iacing the dwelling house eight or ten rods from the highway, 

 with [hv harn still further back, and a little to one side rather than acrass the 

 road in front of the parlor window.-*. The vegetable and fruit gardens should 

 be in ihc rear of the house and near the kitchen and barn. If you can not 

 alTord to devote much time or money at first to ornamental planting, be care- 

 ful U) stiirt right and make no mistakes. Every stroke should count, and 

 without experience and good advice your labor will be half wasted. About 

 one-tcnlh of the cost of buildings should be set down for improving the 

 grounds. It would be better to employ a person of skill to aid you, but if 

 this is impossible, read the works of Downing and Frank Scott and begin to 

 study trees at all seasons of the year. 



HAVE A PLACE, 



Once for all, in your head at least, or, better, on paper, and work to it persist- 

 ently. Do little grading. Downing says: "We see all ignorant persons who 

 set about embellishing pleasure grounds, commence leveling the surface. 

 This is a fearful fallacy to eye and purse." Better emphasize inequalities by 

 planting tall trees on the higher portions of large grounds, leaving the hol- 

 lows unplanted. Provide for no more paths or drives than are needed for 

 daily use. Guard against attempting too much in any direction. Too many 

 trees, too much shrubbery, too many flower-beds, walks and roads— this is 

 the common error. 



A GOOD LAWN 



Is the essential element about which the other graces cluster. For this rich 

 soil, moisture and fme grass are needed. Do not divide or clutter up the 

 lawn with too many trees, shrubs or flowers. Be sure to leave in planting 

 several open spaces through the entire extent, so that from the porch or win- 

 dows, as well as from points without, there will be an unobstructed view over 

 the turf. This will give an ai)i)earauce of spaciousness which can not other- 

 wise be attained. Plant, according to the size of the ground, small trees and 

 shrubs in small i>laces. One Norway .spruce or large cherry tree is often the 

 ruin of a small yard. .Vs a general rule, plant the large trees on the outside 

 lines, with the smaller trees or .shrubs nearer the house, or the lawn's center. 

 Plant no large trees within from forty to sixty feet of the house. Such trees 

 .•^hut out the plojusant siudight, scatter leaves on the roof, rot the shingles, 

 rtpoil tlie wat^r in the cistern, kill the gnuss, keep the walls and paths damj) 

 and sliut r)ut plciwing prospects. They may not be out of place when small, 

 but after they have grown the owner has become attached to them and hesitates 

 to tJike lliem out. 



TRKKS I.S TMKIR PROPER PLACE. 



Shelter the dwelling and barns from piercing winds; they add comfort and 

 joy to man and bciist; they economize the food of animals and save fuel in the 



