178 Spring Work — The Boor Yard and Lawn. [x\pril, 



■uniformly spread over the surface and rolled with a heavy roller. The 

 proprietor should aim to make a yearly enlargement of his collection of 

 shrubbery, flowers, and fruit trees, being careful, of course, not to crowd 

 his grounds by a surplus of shrubbery. 



As for the greenhouse and pit, where the tender plants are kept, and 

 their growth forwarded, it is to be observed that plenty of fresh air should 

 be admitted, and a bountiful supply of water administered to the plants. 

 By following the above suggestions, the proprietor will find that the 

 pleasing appearance of his grounds and garden will be greatly enhanced. 



There is, however, another class of rural homes, if homes they can 

 be called, which present a most forbidding aspect to all beholders. For, 

 notwithst:mding all that has been said and written in favor of ornamental 

 grounds, of the exalted motives which ought to prompt every one to 

 beautify his home, and of the innumerable pleasures connected with a 

 lovely garden spot, still many a wealthy man's door-yard and garden 

 yet remains in a state of dirt and disorder, filled with mud in winter, 

 and overgrown with vile weeds in summer ; where nothing has been done 

 to surround the family homestead with those lovely neighbors, trees, 

 shrubs, and flowers. To such places, a snowy winter, like the one just 

 past, has proved a material blessing. Nature, for many weeks, has 

 kindly spread a pure and unsullied covering over all those dreary and 

 desolate scenes, and for once at least, renders them clean and comely. 

 But fcince this concealing agency has disappeared, what a sight is re- 

 vealed to the spectator's gaze ! and this question is prompted — are 

 weeds, rubbish, dirt, and disorder, to be permitted to reign around the 

 mansion and over the grounds of a civilized family, till another winter 

 shall bring its snowy winding sheet, wherein to enshroud these chastly 

 remains, and bury them out of public sight? Let every farmer and 

 gardener, for himself, answer this question ; and let him consider that 

 * now is the accepted time ' for putting all this in order, so that through- 

 out the summer he may enjoy ifs beauty and its harmony. It is no 

 prodigious trouble to scatter the accumulating ash-heaps to the four 

 winds, as a manure ; to remove all weeds, litter, chips, etc., to the dis- 

 tant and hidden manure pile, and with mattock and shovel to bury in 

 the ground all minor nuisances ' a fathom deep,' if need be. This done, 

 then plough, or spade, and harrow, or rake, and make mellow the soil ; then 

 sow blue-grass seed upon it. And in a short time the dwelling will be 

 surrounded with a verdant carpet of turf, requiring neither labor nor 

 expense to keep it clean and beautiful. 



From the gate to the house, a solid and well-constructed walk or drive 

 e^uld be made, which will be found to add materially to the comfort and 



