1424 



The Cornell Reading-Courses 



They show off better when seen against a background; this background 

 may be foliage, a building, a rock, or a fence. 



Where to plant flowers is really more important than what to plant. 

 In front of bushes, in the corner by the steps, against the foundation of 

 the residence or outhouse, along a fence or a walk — 'these are places for 

 flowers. A single poppy or petunia plant against a background of foliage 



is worth a dozen 

 similar plants in 

 the center of the 

 lawn. In a cozy 

 back yard the 

 shrubs and trees 

 should be the 

 main features, and 

 bright flowers the 

 incidents. Too 

 many flowers 

 make a place 

 over-gaudy. Too 

 much paint may 

 spoil the effect of 

 a good building. 

 The decoration of 

 a yard, as of a 

 house, should be 

 dainty. 



The open-cen- 

 tered yard may 

 be a picture: the 

 promiscuously 

 planted yard may 

 be a nursery or 

 a forest. A little 



color thrown in here and there puts the finish to the picture. A 

 dash of color gives spirit and character to the brook or pond, to the 

 ledge of rocks, to the old stump, or even to the pile of rubbish. 



But the person may want a flower garden. Very well; that is a different 

 matter. It is not primarily a question of decoration of the yard, but cf 

 growing flowers for flowers' sake. It is not the furnishing of a house, 

 but the collecting of interesting and beautiful furniture. The flower 

 garden, therefore, should be at one side of the residence or at the rear; 

 for it is not allowable to spoil a good lawn even with flowers. The size 



Fig. 40. — Digitalis. A pleasant outlook 



