754 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



opportunities for detailed developmeut, equally so does llie llower 

 garden. There may be bowers, turf walks and rustic seats; trellises, 

 vine-covered archways and what not. Utility need not be dismissed 

 entirely, for some of the handsomest llower gardens are merely gen- 

 erous borders to vegetable patches. Or where the owner is con- 

 cerned in marketing, cut-tiowers oh'er opportunities for quite a neat 

 recompense for labor and expenditure. Would not this idea also 

 add to the various proll'ered solutions of the farm question: How 

 shall we keep the boys on the farm? 



Having determined to beautify our home grounds, to have a tine 

 lawn well-planted, a llower garden and handsome shade and or- 

 namental trees, what is the best course to pursue in securing them? 



Kight here let me say that unless the ideas are well thought out 

 and right plans laid, it would be most unsatisfactory to do anything 

 unusual. To plan ground for ornamental effect and permancy re- 

 quires just as much and more care and intelligent judgment as to 

 plan out a large fruit orchard or piece of farm land. A good knowl- 

 edge of plants and their characters must be had. The effect they 

 will produce in position both at the start and in the future must be 

 recognized. 



The smallest place should have a plan made for it, put roughly on* 

 paper, or kept well in the head if not intricate; the former method is 

 much the most satisfactory. Make this plan just as complete as 

 possible. Allow for every little embellishment, though the minor 

 details may be subject to change when the ^s•ork is taken up. The 

 economy of a plan is in its perfection. Mistakes are not so likely 

 to occur, and everything is located in "harmony. 



Above -all, such a plan can be carried out one part at a time with- 

 out the danger of having something interfere with some idea that 

 might otherwise have presented itself at a future time. The lawn 

 could be started the first year, and a few trees planted as desired 

 about the house and at the driveway entrance, with i)erhaps suffi- 

 cient properly grouped in intermediate positions to relieve any bare- 

 ness that might exist. The next season shrubbery borders and 

 groups might be planted with additional trees on the lawn for orna- 

 mental purposes. The flower garden need not follow till later. 

 Meanwhile, the pleasure accompanying development would be going 

 on with always some little, thing to look forward to. 



If you have the time to study all these things out properly it will 

 be a source of satisfaction and pleasure, and you have but to show 

 the completed scheme to some one competent to criticise it; if you 

 have not that time, it will be to j^our profit to spend a few dollars 

 on expert advice. 



Plant trees and shrubs that have permanent value and not too 

 ordinary. Avoid the cheap, quick-growing ti-ees which are invaria- 



