POSSIBILITIES OF COUNTRY HOME GROUNDS. I7I 



till I can go on ?" We would answer : Do the first thing now and 

 do later things by and by. Put in your shelter belts and plant trees 

 where you know you will want them, and study well this outline. 

 Plan for forestry, orchard, berry patch, garden and lawn. Take 

 a long look ahead. Plan as largely as consistent, for you will grow 

 as the years go by. Study perspective and the science of landscape 

 making, and year by year your home will grow into a thing of 

 beauty. Do not shut in the house from the sunlight, but make it 

 the center of attraction, — a thing of beauty in itself, if possible. 

 Study the artistic in building. It is something to be thought of 

 most surely, and so are order, neatness of appearance and cleanli- 

 ness. Consider well the drainage of your house and lands. 



In laying a garden be generous, but do not attempt too much. 

 Do not overload with too great a variety of things in a small space, 

 but rather give good opportunity for growth and easy cultivation. 



Just here I will give a prescription which a doctor once gave 

 to a country patient who asked what would be the best disinfectant 

 to provide for hot weather. The doctor promised a prescription 

 if he would get it filled and use it. This agreed to, it was written 

 out as: "Rake, i; shovel, 1; wheelbarrow, I. Directions: Use 

 vigorously every twenty-four hours until relieved. This prescrip- 

 tion always works well." 



We have said but little of the flowers, the flowers that beautify 

 and bless. Let us have them in abundance, from springing grass 

 to winter frosts, and let us learn to put them where they will do 

 their best for us. Let us have a few rows in the kitchen garden for 

 home decoration and to give away, so as not to rob the beauty of the 

 parterre if we have one. 



Plant them, attend them, love them well ; 

 There shall be wrought a magic spell 

 If you them safely guard. 

 Who works and waits and watches may 

 A glorious harvest see some day. 



And this harvest will be not only the wealth of beauty which we 

 will gather but the good they will do ourselves and others, for 

 flowers have still, small voices, and they teach many a lesson. 



Let us also think of the highway for a while. Should it not be 

 kept in good order, free from weeds, at least, and well sodded if 

 possible. It is a delight to drive on a road thus cared for. 



Let us think, learn, act ! Life is short ! Let it be well improved ! 



