THE "ILLINOIS WAY" OF BEAUTIFYING THE FARM 



17. A Common Way of Approaching the Farm 



To reach this farmhouse you must drive past a pigsty, corn-crib, henhouse, manure- 

 pile, and clutter of farm tools. A bad approach gives a bad impression of the farmer. 

 Would you enjoy dealing with this man? If you want a better approach, or system 

 of drives, send us a sketch drawn to scale, and we will make suggestions without 

 charge. 



Consequently, the houses look dark, damp, and gloomy in win- 

 ter, while in summer they look hot and stuffy. (See Fig. 19.) 

 The best thing is to cut out enough of the old trees to give some 

 light and air, and frame a view of the house from the road. 

 (See Fig. 20.) 



It is natural that we should like to have near us the trees 

 we love best, but nearly all the most popular trees are unfit 

 for framing a view of the home. Take, for instance, those 

 that have showy flowers, like the horse-chestnut, the locust, 

 and the empress tree, or paulownia; they are forever making 

 a litter and should be at a distance from the house. So, 

 too, with the quick-growers, like the box elder, the silver 

 maple, and the Carolina or Lombardy poplar; they go to 

 wreck in storms and their branches fall on the house. Per- 

 haps the most inappropriate is the Norway spruce. Many a 

 house has suffered a depreciation of hundreds of dollars owing 

 to dismal Norway spruces, for they often hasten the decay of 

 a roof by giving too much shade and moisture, to say 

 nothing of making a home look melancholy, instead of joyous. 



18. The "Illinois Way" of Approaching a Farmhouse 



The approach to William Ritchie's farm at Warrensburg, 111., is a double row of black 

 walnut trees, half a century old, lining a drive an eighth of a mile long. The seeds cost 

 nothing and the trees have not required more than one day's work a year for one man. 

 Considering merely their value as timber, these trees would probably show a profit of 

 1,000 per cent. Have a simple, dignified, permanent approach! 



The sugar and Norway maples are fine trees, but, like all 

 round-headed trees, they tend to hide the view of a house 

 more quickly than is commonly realized. 



The ideal tree for framing the view of your house is one 

 that will give enough sunlight and enough shade, enough 

 shelter and enough cooling breeze, to keep a family healthy. 

 The only tree that does all these things to perfection is the 

 American elm not the European. (See Fig. 24.) Moreover, 

 a pair of elms will make a pointed or Gothic arch, suggesting 

 high-roofed cathedrals and God's first temples. Unfortunately, 

 the enemies of the elm are multiplying, and if you plant elms 

 you must be willing to stand the expense of yearly spraying 

 when the time comes. Be sure to specify vase-formed elms. 

 They are the only ones that make the Gothic arch, and are 

 more valuable than the other types or straggling kinds. 



A pair of oaks (see Fig. 23) will last longer than elms and 

 cost less to maintain. The oaks excel all other trees in nestling 

 close to a house and making it look snug and comfortable. 

 The common idea that oaks are slow-growers and hard to trans- 



19. A Poor View from the Road 



Many farmhouses are hidden by trees, especially soft maples 

 and Norway spruces. The pioneers used to plant forest trees 

 in straight lines around a house for windbreak or shade. Now 

 these tall trees make a house look smaller than it really is; 

 they shade the house too much; they shut out the summer 

 breezes; they make a place damp in winter. 



2O. A Good View from the Road 



This home picture is framed by trees. It will be greatly improved by foundation planting, which will remove the 

 bare look at the base. But just as it is, it gives a favorable first impression to thousands of passers-by. Imagine it 

 surrounded and hidden by maples! Any real-estate dealer will tell you that a good view from the road makes a 

 property more valuable. (Farmhouse near Griggsville, Ijlinois. Photograph by Prof. B. S. Pickett.) Give every 

 passer-by a glimpse of your house not the whole thing, just a glimpse. If your house is hidden, cut out enough 

 trees to frame a view ol the home. 



