FARM HOME GROUNDS-THEIR PLANTING 

 AND CARE. 



By S. W. FLETCHER, M. S., Ph. D. 



INTRODUCTION. 



View. 



We are influenced by our environment often more than we 

 know or are willing to admit. Children especially are sensitive 

 to their surroundings. The unattractiveness of their homes has 

 driven more country boys to the cities than the hard work of 

 the farm or its restricted social life. This unattractiveness of 

 his home surroundings and lack of the common comforts and 

 conveniences of life within it has made many a farmer's boy 

 hate the farm and led him to the city as soon as he was of age. 

 The farmer owes to his wife and to himself, but chiefly to his 

 children, the best that he can do toward increasing the attrac- 

 tiveness of his home. This does not necessarily mean a large 

 expenditure of money; in fact, the best results are often 

 secured with no expenditure except a little time, and time 

 given to making the home more attractive is well spent. 



A HOUSE AND A HOME. 



The views which will be shown illustrate some of the im- 

 portant points to be observed in improving the appearance of 

 the farm home. These improvements involve little or no 

 expense in their execution and may be accomplished in the 

 time that the busiest farmer and his family can easily find if 

 they have an appreciation of their importance and a disposi- 

 tion to undertake the work. The heart of the subject is 

 illustrated in the first two slides, which show the external 

 difference between a house and a home. 



This is a picture of a farmhouse on a western prairie. It J 



looks like a new and very comfortable farm " house. " Doubt- 

 less the farm is productive and the family prosperous. But 

 something is lacking; it does not look homelike. You would 

 not care to live there. 



26198 No. 1412 (3) 



