HOW TO BEAUTIFY THE FARM YARD. 449 



grass, and that with walks will add much to the comfort of the 

 family and the attractiveness of the place. 



A clump of evergreens or a few comruon, hardy, easily grown 

 shrubs will add more to the appearance of the place, and when once 

 properly planted and cared for a short time will then take care 

 of themselves and go on growing in beauty from year to year. 



I would wish to have a farm house at least one hundred feet 

 from the highway, with grass in front and on either side and at the 

 back, if possible. To keep the grass in order will require some care. 

 To use a lawn mower to advantage will require the ground to be 

 smoother than you will find it in ordinary farm yards and take more 

 time than most farmers wish to devote to their grass plots. But, 

 the grass can be kept to look very well indeed and insure cleanli- 

 ness around the house by mowing it with a scythe at intervals. Blue 

 grass I consider the best for grass plots. It makes the best per- 

 manent sward and if mown with a scythe every time before the seed 

 ripens can be kept within bounds ; otherwise it will take possession 

 of the surrounding territory. For lawns where lawn mowers are 

 used, it is the very best. 



Having the grass plot, just give your wife a little money with 

 which to buy a few hardy shrubs for her yard and a few evergreens 

 of the dwarf kinds to gladden the eye in winter. Plant these shrubs 

 and evergreens promiscuously, in no set form, but preferably at the 

 sides of the yard. Lilacs, both purple and white, spirea, syringa and 

 snowball are hardy, spring-flowering shruDS and make a good var- 

 iety for an ordinary sized yard. In one corner I would have a 

 clump of, say, three, set at least six feet apart, hardy hydrangea 

 paniculata— or one on the sunny side of the house. They are as 

 hardy as a lilac and very beautiful blooming in the fall, when other 

 shrubs are out of bloom. They are not expensive, are sure to grow 

 and do well ; but to have them do better you should dig a large, deep 

 hole and fill in with rich earth and manure when planting at first ; 

 the next spring, and every spring after, cut back every branch fully 

 one-half and cut out all weak branches so that the bush looks as 

 though nearly ruined; then fork m around it all the manure your 

 conscience will allow, and then a little more, and then mulch quite 

 heavily with some coarse manure. It will use it all. If near the 

 house, perhaps the wife will turn part of the wash water on it each 

 week through the summer ; if so, in August it will surprise you with 

 size and beauty of its blossoms. It is a good shrub to have in the 

 back yard in a sunny place, where it is ever ready to appropriate 

 all the slops and refuse water it can get. 



