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HOW TO ADORN HOME GROUNDS. 279 
HOW TO ADORN HOME GROUNDS. 
kK. H. NUTTER, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, MINNEAPOLIS. 
On this occasion, to introduce what I may have to say in regard to 
the improvement and ornamentation of the grounds immediately 
surrounding our homes by any extended argument as to the desira- 
bility of such a course of action, would be entirely uncalled for; still, 
there are many in our state who go to make up the field through 
which the influences of this society must be felt e’er it has accom- 
plished its full mission, who do not yet appreciate the need of any 
such a work; and who, however much they may complain as to the 
dreariness of their surroundings and deplore the haste with which 
the children when they come of age leave the old home for the 
crowded cities or the fondly hoped-for land of promise in the farther 
West, still do not dream that there is anything that they can do to 
mitigate, if not to entirely undo, the evil. 
The time has now passed in which “Uncle Sam is rich enough to 
give us alla farm,” and so a check will be given e’er long to the 
drifting mania which has so distinguished our land, and the mass 
of population will become more fixed in their habitations and modes 
of living. The old homestead will then become a more important 
factor in family life, and the owners will work more zealously with 
the thought-of future generations before them, unless, indeed, by 
that time some of our enthusiastic reformers have so arranged 
things that nobody can own anything. 
Scorching summer winds and blinding winter blizzards soon con- 
vince the pioneer that the broad prairies, which under the smiling 
sun of May or June appeal so strongly to the poetic imaginations, 
have their drawbacks, and it is easy to persuade him of the utility 
of windbreaks of growing trees, but when this, the initial task of the 
adornment of his home is accomplished, how many seem to think 
that all has been done that could be expected. To be sure there are 
many tasks awaiting the home builder, and the strictly ornamental 
work may well be asked to wait a while, but we would urge the fact 
that a little forethought and careful planning may so arrange the 
necessary details of farm life that the useful and the ornamental 
may both be achieved at the same time. If the house or the other 
buildings are still to be located, that may and should be done with 
due thought of its results from an artistic standpoint and, also, as 
utility is a prime factor in the application of all true art, in such a 
manner as not to interfere needlessly with the covenient perform- 
ance of the daily duties of the home. 
The question of health should be one of the first to be considered, 
and in our scheme of home ornamentation all necessary measures 
should be taken to secure ample supplies of fresh air (which is very 
easily done in this country), of sunlight and, of still greater impor- 
tance though often sadly neglected, plenty of pure water and a sys- 
tem of drainage that shall preserve the water supply and all the 
vicinity of the dwelling from the slightest contamination by sewer- 
age and other household wastes. Too often has the ‘mysterious 
Providence” which has desolated some happy home, only been the 
outcome of man’s carelessnes and ignorance. 
