ORNAMENTAL PLANTING. 473 
ORNAMENTAL PLANTING. 
GEO. W. STRAND, TAYLOR’S FALLS. 
Did you ever pass by a place and remark, or hear strangers speak, about 
the beauties of a certain vicinity? The traveling public particularly, and all 
persons in general, when brought into such a position prove the truth that 
there are few who do not appreciate the beauties of nature in their surround- 
ings. Toa great extent we measure the prosperity and height of civilization 
of a country or community by the homes of its people. 
Although means may do much towards beautifying a place, it is lack of 
something else that leaves it barren and uninviting. 
It is a general failing among the majority of people, to fall into a rut 
and not make any great effort to get out, or even seriously think that there 
are better or higher things to strive for. In rural districts, next after ob- 
taining an existence the home receives the attention, and following closely 
or directly with this comes the above problem. 
Experience is the best teacher, but we can learn much of value, if we 
choose, by observation and from that of others. 
After planting the windbreak or grove, as we near the inner side come 
the opportunities for more judgment in arrangement and taste, and then in 
the decorating of interior grounds. The endeavor on this hand is to break 
up that harsh or set appearance by using smaller and more graceful species; 
for as the grove grows taller, they hide the bare trunks of the tree, make it 
more impenetrable and also liven up the landscape. Such trees and shrubs 
as white birch, golden willow, wild plum, buffalo berry, highbush cranberry, 
choke cherry, etc., will all work in to advantage here. They should be 
planted quite thickly, some one of the varieties predominating in each place 
—not using too many different varieties in a place. 
Closer to the buildings we can use flowering shrubs, such as lilacs, 
hydrangeas, spireas, barberries, snowballs and many other such hardy 
species. Clumps should be made of these also, using the taller growing ones 
in the center, where height is not objectionable. 
Have the Garden Near the House.—I find that having the garden 
handy is a very convenient arrangement. Heretofore such gardening as I 
attempted was carried on at a distance of about 80 rods, and I know of 
others doing the same. The time lost in going back and forth would go a 
long way toward cultivating if the garden were close by. And when vege- 
tables could have been had they were often gone without rather than make 
the trip after them. 
Cold Frames.—The principal point to be observed in the management 
of cold frames, whether for wintering vegetable or flowering plants, is to 
keep the plants dormant, not growing. Beginners are very apt to keep 
them too warm. Cold frames should be examined very frequently during 
winter and opened even when the outside temperature is below freezing. 
This ventilation is best given by sliding down the sashes from the back, 
_and when the temperature rises above the freezing point they should be 
taken off altogether. There is far more danger in keeping cold frames 
too warm than too cold. 
