The Surroundings of the Farm Home 



J053 



country-like simplicity of the older dwellings, are tricked out with jig- 

 saw patterns and gingerbread fretwork, frequently made worse by the 

 use of many garish colors of paint. Often the old house, seeming scarce 

 worthy of a porch, or even of paint, gathers unto itself a complement of 

 old shrubs and vines, harmonizing with its weather-beaten grays, and 

 looks far better. 



Good white lead was the best paint for the farm and village home in 

 bygone days and is the best to-day for both appearances and wear. If the 

 blinds of a white house are painted 

 green, there will be sufhcient relief 

 and contrast, and this white and 

 green may well be the entire color 

 scheme for all that needs paint. 

 A house that has too much "trim" 

 about it will be vastly improved, 

 and the jig-saw work made in- 

 conspicuous, if it is all painted 

 one color, preferably white. 



Mistakes are also made in the 

 selection and the planting of trees 

 and shrubs. With the best of 

 intentions, purchases of shrubs are 

 made under the guidance of the 

 showy illustrations of the nursery- 

 man's catalog, and a collection of 

 novelties is bought rather than 

 trees and shrubs known to be 

 especially fitting and useful. With- 

 out a definite plan — for there can 

 be no plan to suit all these plants 

 — they are aimlessly scattered 

 usually on the lawn. Its smooth 

 turf is broken up, and what might 

 have been a good lawn becomes 

 neither lawn nor garden. Such 

 areas, dotted over with individual shrubs, may be well tended; the 

 whole place may show care; there may be a profusion of foliage and 

 flower; but there is absent the quiet, restful effect of simple charm and 

 completeness of scene, which is characteristic of the ideal cottage home. 



THE PURPOSE OF THE FARM HOME 



A farm home is both a residence and a place of business. As the farm 

 business is but a means to the home life, it is of first importance that the 



Fig. 208. SIMPLICITY is best 



The interested hand of the owner counts for more 

 than a wealth of materials 



