18 ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. 



cent of the sum and invest it in improving the surround- 

 ings, it may be made to yield far better returns in the 

 years to come, than if nearly all had been spent on the 

 house, and a mere pittance allowed for the grounds. 



Will it pay to plant trees on the average farm? A view, 

 such as may be sometimes had, of two farms, of the same 

 size and general situation, but presenting strong con- 

 trasts in the presence and absence of trees and shrubs 

 respectively, may throw light on the question. One of the 

 farms may have half a dozen large shade trees about the 

 yard, some climbers over the piazzas and buildings ; 

 dense clumps of evergreens, both for beauty and to serve 

 as wind-breaks. It may also have a number of broad 

 shade trees in the barn-yard, along the lanes, the boun- 

 daries, creeks, and in other places where nothing else can 

 be profitably grown, yielding grateful shade and shelter. 

 The other has not a sign of sylvan beauty, with every 

 part without shelter by trees from the summer's sun or 

 the winter's gales. The trees on the first farm may 

 have cost one hundred dollars for stock, setting, etc., 

 while any disinterested person would estimate the value 

 they add to the place, at ten-fold greater than their cost. 



No other method can be devised for rendering farming 

 a pleasant occupation to the young, than the judif.'ious 

 use of trees and garden beauty about the grounds. Our 

 attachments to trees becomes almost as strong as to per- 

 sons, and if there are fine ones growing about the home, 

 and with them some good shrubs, climbers, flow^crs, etc., 

 they will add new strength to the chain which binds 

 the heart of youth to the hearthstone, and to the rural 

 pursuits among which they have been reared. 



The view of this subject, which relates to gains far 

 above those that can be computed in dollars, is an im- 

 portant one. It has been said tliat " the hope of America 

 is the homes of America," whatever adorns one's home 

 be that in the town or country — and ennobles hi^ domes- 



