292 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



property for several generations, find the same line of gardening has been 

 handed down from father to son, maliing an already beautiful garden and 

 lawn more beautiful. 



Our own Indiana has not yet been a membei' of the Union a hundred 

 years, yet we find beauty and culture coming on with gi-eat rapidity. 



Our forefathers had to come to this wilderness, fell the forests, ditch 

 the land, drive the wells, ma lie the roads, and malce a living for their 

 families. But little time or opportunity did these hrst settlers have to 

 dwell upon the ornamental side of the question. But at that time na- 

 ture's beauty was at its height. 



We have n.ow reached the age when we can adorn our homes, both 

 inside and out. The express trains and rural mail delivery are bringing 

 to our doors the seeds, cuttings and rooted plants, so we can begin to 

 lay out ornamental grounds, providing the little wideawake pig and the 

 old hen have a fence around them, one that will keep them in bounds. 



If I was to lay out a home ground, I w^ould have no trees or shrub- 

 bery to obstruct my view of the street, nor would I have anything of 

 medium height between the house and driveway. On the opposite side 

 of the front lawn from the driveway I would have some flowering shrub- 

 bery, and in the back yard or garden I would have my flowers. Unless I 

 had plenty of help to pull weeds, cut gi'ass and water plants, I Avould 

 place mo.st of my plants in pots for the house and porch and the remain 

 der in a bed in the garden. For the front yard I like gi'ass, trees for 

 shade and some shrubbery at one side. I would like some of the shade 

 trees to bloom. For this purpose I would choose the following: A linden 

 or basswood, a catalpa, a poplar or tulip tree, a locust. One locust I 

 would have grafted with the pink flowering locust. I would have my 

 shrubs have several stalks or in clumps. For shrubbery I like the purple 

 and white lilac, the sweet-scented syringa, bridal wreath, a trumpet vine. 

 Cut this vine back until at the base of the stalk it is as thick as your 

 wrist; let it grow in height aljout seven or eight feet. Some elderberry 

 bushes, not only for the sweet flowers, but a few pies as well. Were I 

 fortunate enough to know the right variety, I would have the hardy 

 hydrangea. For blooming vines I think the crimson rambler, the Queen 

 of the Prairie and the Seven Sisters are most beautiful and hardy with 

 us. Next to these three roses comes the purple wistaria. I would like 

 the clematis very much, both purple and white, if I could have success 

 growing them. 



I think it best to place a good share of one's time and money in get- 

 ting started a number of perennial plants. First, if these are neglected 

 from sickness or some other cause, and if a drought or wet weather af- 

 fects them, the next year there will be some chance of redemption, by a 

 little extra work and fertilizing all is well. I like the columbine, bleed- 

 ing heart, blanket flower, iris, the lily of the valley, oriental poppy, giant 

 daisy, the yucca or Adam's needle, spiri3ea, golden glow, and the perennial 

 pea. I find the white and red varieties quite hardy. 



