WINTER MEETING AT LEBANON. 249 



COUNTRY LAWNS. 



A fashionable country lawn is not always a thing of beauty. Un- 

 fortunately they too often combine characteristics that are more remark- 

 able for uniqueness than for beauty, yet there is a greater similarity in 

 them than in city lawns. 



For instance, there is a greater uniformity in the styles of grasses 

 and plants used in them, being often composed of such plants as are 

 better known for their medicinal virtues than for their beauty. Here 

 we frequently find the vigorous stramonium or Jamestown weed; many 

 colors and shades of the family of convolvuli, and the ambrosia, arte- 

 misifolia, known by the less euphonious name of rag-weed or hog- 

 weed. 



Most farmers also seem to be impressed with the idea that to be in 

 fashion certain articles of doubtful ornamentation, such as ancient salt 

 barrels, bits of rusty stove-pipe, infirm or three-legged chairs, one- 

 legged wheel-barrows and parts of earthen jars, are essential to a pro- 

 per effect in a fashionable lawn. If trees are planted they will not be 

 tolerated unless they belong to the class known as fruit-bearers, and 

 they will not be allowed space unless they enter into a broken or dying 

 condition as soon as possible. To this condition of unsightliness we 

 find some agreeable exceptions, but I believe that in all these excep- 

 tions you will find that the owner or occupant is an educated mem- 

 ber of some horticultural society in good standing. 



Had I ability and experience sufficient to entitle me to a position 

 of adviser as to the proper construction, laying off and arrangement 

 of a lawn, comprising the greatest number of essentials for adornment 

 and attraction, I would make such a complete description that every 

 one desirous of beautifying a home would be at no loss as to a plan. 



In the absence of such experience, however, allow me to suggest that 

 it is in our province to warn any who will heed our advice to avoid 

 too close planting of shrubs in the front portions of our lawns, for the 

 important reason that the added yearly growth of apparently small 

 shrubs and trees so soon destroys the effect first intended. 



A charming solid green, with an occasional clump of small grow- 

 ing or closely trimmed evergreen, with now and then a perpetual rose, 

 a bed of mixed tulips, to be followed by a covering of mixed verbenas 

 would suggest some of my ideas as to a lawn that might contain ele- 

 ments of beauty, to be improved upon or arranged according to the 

 tastes of the owner. 



Truly the lines have fallen in pleasant places to all who have the 

 privilege of uniting with our local horticultural societies, but more 



