122 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FARM 



giving it life and interest. With these one may do much to 

 alter the setting of his labors. 



Besides furnishing the farmer with all the materials used 

 in her landscape compositions, nature surrounds him with 

 good models, from the study of which he may learn their use. 

 If he looks to the wildwood about him he will be able to find 

 scenes that disclose the elements of landscape beauty. He 

 will find sheltering nooks that invite him to come and rest in 

 their seclusion; sinuous streams and curving paths whose 

 gracefully sweeping lines invite his imagination to wander; 

 broad levels, whereon his eye rests with pleasure, bordered by 

 cumulous masses of shrubbery; tree-covered slopes, with the 

 leafage climbing to the summits, here advancing, there 

 retreating, everywhere varied with infinite tuftings, full of 

 lights and shadows; irregular skylines, punctuated by not 

 too many nor too prominent forms of individuality; and all 

 organized and unified and harmonizing as component parts 

 of the border of the valley of some stream or lake. 



Now the farm is not a natural unit of this larger landscape, 

 but only a small section arbitrarily marked out by the sur- 

 veyor. With the larger landscape the best one can do is to 

 locate, if he may, where the prospect is good. Moreover, the 

 curving lines of nature's pictures and the merging masses of 

 her plantings, are not practically applicable to the growing of 

 crops. The beauty of the fields must be that of an exhibit, 

 the beauty of things isolated, and well grown. 



The unity of the farm plan should center about the place 

 where the farmer dwells and where others come and go. It 

 will be better for him if the outlook from his window is 

 pleasing; it will be better for his community if the inlook 

 toward his door from the public road is pleasing. 



About the house the suggestions from nature's models may 

 be freely applied. The lawn may furnish the broad, restful, 

 level stretch of green verdure ; over its recesses shapely trees 



