STATE HORTICUI/rURAL SOCIETY. 175 



It may be thought that all ])lanning, to a person just beginning a 

 phice, ])cihaps poor and unable to pay for even the tenth part of the 

 suggested improvements, would be looking too far ahead, and foolishly 

 trying for something beyond his means. 



Was any one ever known to achieve any great success in life without 

 some settled purpose? ])o not good Inisiness men study any new pro- 

 ject carefully, in all its aspects, before investing their money in it.' Why 

 then should not we be as careful in laying out our places and improving 

 them to the best advantage .' 



By starting out with some definite plan for the future, to improve 

 and beautify our homes, we are much more likely to attain what we de- 

 sire in the end than if we start with no plan at all. Very likely we may 

 modify or almost entirely change our original plan ; but if we do it, it 

 will be for some good reason, based on a- knowledge only to be derived 

 from a careful study of the subject. Really there is more need of care- 

 ful study when the amount to be invested is small, and such cases call for 

 a much greater display of skill and talent, than when everything wanted 

 is at command. 



And here let me say, do nr)t attempt too much, or anything that is 

 out of character with the rest of the place, or can not be fully cnrried 

 out. Any attempts to make artificial lakes where the result will be 

 nothing but a puddle of stagnant water, or to build the little piles of 

 stones that are so often dignified with the name of rock-work, are mani- 

 fest absirdities ; though rock-work and lakes, when really beautiful, are 

 invaluable in adding to the attractions of a place. 



Tree-planting should be attended to as soon as possible after com^ 

 pletingour plans. We may make almost all our improvements in a short 

 time, but we must wait for nature to furnish our trees after we have made 

 a beginning. If we can find trees already grown, so much the better; 

 (only taking care to make our other arrangements in reference to them) 

 as large, well grown trees, even of inferior kinds, are much to be pre- 

 ferred to any we can supply their places with. How often do we see 

 places where a few grand old trees or beautiful groves have added a 

 charm that newly planted trees would not give in a lifetime. 



.Vvoid crowding. F*"ew seem to think that a tree a few feet high when 

 planted may in a score of years grow to fifty feet. Our grounds may 

 look bare for a while if we plant with reference to the future growth of 

 the trees, but we had better endure it for a few years than at the end of 

 that time find ourselves surrounded by a wilderness of starved, ill look- 

 ing trees. Some advocate planting and thinning out as it becomes ne- 

 cessary. This plan may do in some cases, but very few have the nerve 

 to cut a fine tree to keep it from interfering with others, and besides, 

 the finest trees will often be those that are in the wrong place. A good 

 plan, where the grounds are small and a considerable variety is desired, 

 is to plant mostly of those kinds that never attain any great size, using 

 also a good proportion of shrubs. 



