18 THE FAT OF THE LAND 



nearly correct. This left 180 trees in fair health; 

 and in spite of the tight sod which covered their 

 roots and a lamentable lack of pruning, they 

 were well covered with young fruit. They had 

 been headed high in the old-fashioned way, 

 which made them look more like forest trees 

 than a modern orchard. They had done well 

 without a husbandman ; what could not others 

 do with one? 



The group of farm buildings on the north forty 

 consisted of a one-story cottage containing six 

 rooms sitting room, dining room, kitchen, and 

 a bedroom opening off each with a lean-to shed 

 in the rear, and some woe-begone barns, sheds, 

 and out-buildings that gave the impression of not 

 caring how they looked. The second group was 

 better. It was south of the orchard on the home 

 forty, and quite near the road. 



Why does the universal farm-house hang its 

 gable over the public road, without tree or shrub 

 to cover its boldness ? It would look much 

 better, and give greater comfort to its inmates, 

 if it were more remote. A lawn leading up to 

 a house, even though not beautiful or well kept, 

 adds dignity and character to a place out of all 

 proportion to its waste or expense. I know of 

 nothing that would add so much to the beautifi- 

 cation of the country-side as a building line pro- 

 hibiting houses and barns within a hundred yards 

 of a public road. A staring, glaring farm-house, 

 flanked by a red barn and a pigsty, all crowding 



