232 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



comfort about the home grounds. In many instances, we find 

 the space between the house and the public highway so filled with 

 large evergreens or deciduous trees that they entirely hide the 

 building and obstruct every point of view. Again we find hedges 

 of willows or shelter belts of evergreens planted so close to the 

 buildings and barnyards that they cause the snow to lodge in great 

 quantities just where it will do the most damage and be a source 

 of great annoyance to all concerned. Another will surround his 

 farm with a single row of trees so closely set that they will be 

 the means of forming huge snow drifts in the highways and on his 

 fields, robbing the soil of moisture and fertility for rods on either 

 side. I might refer to many other mistakes the tree planters of the 

 northwest are making in the arrangement of their plantings on and 

 about the home grounds, but we should educate rather than criticise. 



In my opinion every farm home should be protected and made 

 more homelike with generous planting of trees and ornamentals. 

 At least five acres — ten would be better — should be dedicated to 

 that purpose on every farm of one hundred and sixty acres. A 

 "picket line" of willow cuttings should be planted on the west, 

 south and north, which will make an excellent snow break — but they 

 must be ten to twenty rods from the buildings. Inside of these, 

 rows of quick growing seedling should be alternated with those of 

 a slower growth and of a more permanent character, such as oak, 

 hickory,' walnut, etc. Under protection of these a large assort- 

 ment of evergreens and fruits can be successfully grown on any of 

 our prairie soils. 



The home buildings, barnyards, stock yards, orchard, gar- 

 dens, etc., will have ample protection if five or ten acres of trees 

 are planted in a block about them, and, at the same time, forest con- 

 ditions will be established and maintained in the plantings soon 

 after the work is commenced. 



The lawn should contain no large deciduous trees or ever- 

 greens. Let them hide unsightly objects in the back yard, where 

 they will furnish ample shade for the children with their swings, 

 hammocks and other sources of rest and amusement, that should 

 not be located on the lawn. In these shady places the men and 

 boys can spend an hour, as they should each day after dinner, dur- 

 ing the long hot days in summer. The lawn should be roomy and 

 systematically arranged. Windbreaks and shelter belts should be 

 located beyond the drives or public highways, with openings that 

 may not obstruct the view of points of special interest, such as a 

 lake, attractive landscape or beautiful woodlands in the distance. 



