52 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



could set in siieh herbaceous and ornamental j^lauts as I desired. The 

 informal i)erennial border is an exceedingly desiiable adjunct to the 

 lawn. It can be used as a screen alone: the bouudaiv with excellent 

 results. Plants may be tucked in wiienever the tlionglit occurs to the 

 planter, or whenever the plant is secured. They may be set informally, 

 and in this border if a weed does appear, it is not strikingly in evidence. 

 Then, as a general plan, we should frame our lot with trees and shrubs. 

 I would usually keep the center open. Let us have a piece of good 

 greensward upon which to rest the eye and where the children may" 



Fig. 4.— A Border Framing the Lawn. 



play, if they feel so disposed. Good greensward in my estimation, is 

 much to be preferred over geranium or canna beds, although I am a 

 great friend of the canna and think that for a border it is one of the 

 most valuable of the somewhat recent acquisitions. 



THE CIVIC IMPROVEMENT SIDE. 



I would like to say a few words with special reference to the home in 

 the village or town. It is a remarkable thing that in America where we 

 have such marvelous opportunities for making beautiful homes, where we 

 have such wealth of natural decorative material, where we have rainfall 

 and sunshine to bring things to perfection, that there is so little desire 

 displayed for beautifying our lawns and home surroundings in the town. 

 Here and there in every town we find men and women who set shining 

 examples in this regard, but unless there is some cooperation among city 



