IMPKOVE THE SMALL LOT. 231 



cago, who happens to be a good friend of mine once consented to teach 

 a young lady the principles of cultivating? plants. This lady was very 

 anxious to learn — she had been studying at the university of Chicago 

 — but she came to the conclusion that it would be a great help to re- 

 ceive some instructions from a man who actually made a living by raising 

 plants. This lady was preparing to take care of a large country estate, 

 and to this end she wished to qualify. Lessons were given twice a week, 

 and included nearly everything, from preparing the soil and sowing the 

 seed, to potting, transplanting, cultivating and pruning, but when spring 

 arrived and he requested this young lady to come out into the garden and 

 actually prepare a seedbed, he found that all of his lessons had been of 

 little avail, in so far as their practical application was concerned, — so he 

 began all over again — something like this: "This is a spade, it is a tool 

 used to cultivate the ground, you grasp it by the handle with both hands 

 — so fashion — set the blade upon the ground and with one foot you drive 

 it in. Then by drawing the handle towards you, the soil is pried loose 

 and it is easily turned over," etc., etc. All this simply proves how essen- 

 tial the practical lessons are. There are a few general rules to be ob- 

 served, but it is safe to say that nearly all are familiar with these, such 

 as good soil, plenty of sunlight and good cultivation. I might say that 

 cultivation is neglected more than anything else and I would like to sug- 

 gest that this work be done by the children, under the supervision of the 

 parents. The children would be greatly benefited. 



The next question is what to plant. There is no room upon the small 

 lot for trees, — their place is out on the street, — because, while half a 

 dozen trees may grow well enough in your back yard while they are small, 

 as they grow up it becomes necessary to trim off the side limbs, wnth the 

 final result, that you have the effect of a yardful of crooked telephone 

 poles. 



Just plant a few native shrubs, up near the foundation of the house, 

 and possibly a clump in the corner of your lot, or to hide some objection- 

 able view. Keep the lawn open as much as possible, that is, don't dot it 

 all over with plants. If you would add flower beds, place them up against 

 the shrub planting and see what a fine background the shrubs will make. 

 These plants need not be expensive; what would be nicer than a few dog- 

 wood, elderberry or bittersweet, which abound in the woods in this local- 

 ity. All that is needed is the willingness to do a little work. Do not 

 plant for the sole purpose of hiding some old ash pile, but rather clear 

 away the ash heap and plant a few grape vines in its place or any other 

 worthy plant. 



Possibly I should have mentioned the lawn first, because that which is 

 most pleasing and refreshing about the home, is of most value, and this 

 must be credited to a good lawn, well maintained. The following is a sim- 

 ple method of improving the lawn, that may be applied at any time of the 

 year, when the ground is dry, — known as top dressing. This is a method 

 that has been used successfully in Holland, for many years. From the 

 bottom of the many ditches that convey the water to the pumps in Hol- 

 land, they rake out the marl, w'hich accumulates at the bottom, and allow 



