ORNAMENTATION ABOUT THE FARM HOME. 233 



With no large trees to rob the lawn of its moisture and plant food, 

 the ornamental shrubs, flowers, etc., will thrive and appear in all 

 their gorgeous glory. Dwarf hedges about the drives and walks, 

 made of juniper savin, arbor vitae or similar things would add to 

 beauty and utility if kept sheared and in order. A row of sweet 

 peas supported with a wire trellis would make a pretty boundary 

 line between the family garden and the lawn. A row of everbloom- 

 ing roses would answer the same purpose and require less time 

 to keep them in a thrifty and decorative condition. A fringe of 

 asters, dahlias, etc., between the house and walls makes a desirable 

 addition to the general appearance of the home grounds. 



The flowering shrubs should be planted in bunches in depres- 

 sions rather than scattered about singly on mounds or even slight 

 elevations, which shed water so effectively in the blue grass sod 

 of our lawns. The bulbs and annuals which should be found 

 blooming in great profusion about every farm home, should be 

 grown in beds, each in a home of its own. Rustic arbors add won- 

 derfully to the homelike appearance of the farm lawn. These can 

 be constructed in a few hours by almost any enterprising, ingenious 

 boy with a load of poles from the groves. An assortment of 

 climbers, such as roses, ivies, etc., will add to their beauty and 

 utility and should be trained there as well as over the porch and, 

 perhaps, some of the windows in the house. 



The rural school house, the church and the cemetery are so 

 closely associated with the farm home that I cannot refrain from 

 entering a strong protest against the manner in which they are 

 kept in most instances. The usual and about the only decorations 

 found on or about school grounds is a barb wire fence in the rear 

 and two or three hitching posts in front of the building. The 

 church grounds have the addition of a row of rickety old horse 

 sheds. The cemeteries have the barb wire fence, to mark boundary 

 lines, and the row of tie posts, but are usually a mass of weeds and 

 brambles — all of which are a disgrace to our American civilization. 

 These places, made sacred by their associations, should have the 

 same care and treatment that I have prescribed for the farm home 

 grounds. The school houses especially should be protected with a 

 grove of seedling trees, plants, ornamentals, etc., that should cover 

 five acres of land. These would serve as standing object lessons in 

 practical forestry to the pupils of our state. 



Every well kept home and public ground that is tastily planted 

 to trees and flowers is accepted as evidence of refinement and in- 

 telligence. Our state horticultural and forestry associations, with 

 their large membership, should feel, individually and collectively, 



