42 



in planting trees around the farm- 

 stead. This use of trees in farmstead 

 development is so important that it 

 justifies the preparation of a separate 

 site map to show the proposed tree 

 locations. After the general features, 

 such as roads, buildings, orchard, gar- 

 den, lawns, and service yard, have been 

 blocked in to scale, the map is ready 

 for the trees and shrubs. 



First, consideration should be given 

 to attractiveness and ornamental ef- 

 fects. A house becomes a picture when 

 framed by appropriate trees. Next 

 comes planting for shade, protection, 

 border, and background. Impatience 

 at this stage may be costly. It is a simple 

 matter to move a tree from one place 

 to another on the map. Once a tree is 

 planted and allowed to grow for a few 

 years, however, it is a chore to move it. 

 When the matter is called to your at- 

 tention, you will be surprised how fast 

 trees can grow. Take time to consult a 

 landscape architect if one is available, 

 or seek the advice of a reliable nursery- 

 man. Make sure that they understand 

 that you want the simplicity and in- 

 formality appropriate for landscaping 

 a farm home. Observe other farm- 

 steads and adopt those features that 

 are pleasing or otherwise desirable. 



Also, look for things not to do. It is 

 sad but true that most of our farm- 

 steads show no evidence whatever of 

 planning. Try not to make similar mis- 

 takes. Consult the available literature 

 on the subject articles in the farm 

 journals or other magazines. All such 

 preliminary study is worth your while. 



The kind of trees to plant is closely 

 related to the conditions of the place 

 in which the trees are to be planted 

 and the care and attention to be given 

 them after planting. 



Lists of trees that are adapted to dif- 

 ferent parts of the country are given 

 elsewhere in this book. Weigh the 

 merits and handicaps of each variety 

 recommended and select those which 

 fit your personal preference, as well as 

 your particular needs and conditions. 



The location and size of the trees 

 and shrubs when they are full-grown 



Yearboo^ of Agriculture 1949 



should now be sketched in on your 

 map, to scale. Rigidly resist the urge to 

 plant too many trees or to interplant 

 with temporary specimens. You be- 

 come attached to these and their re- 

 moval at the right time or ever is 

 just out of the question. 



Look out for the telephone lines. 

 Trees and telephone, light, or power 

 lines each has its place, but they are 

 not the same place.Try to avoid com- 

 petition. If a conflict does occur and 

 must be resolved in favor of the light 

 or power lines, the outright removal 

 of the trees is frequently more desir- 

 able than the mutilations often seen 

 in such cases. Such problems may well 

 be kept in mind in drawing up the 

 original plans. 



WITH THE PLAN COMPLETED, you are 

 ready to begin planting. This does not 

 mean that the plan cannot be revised. 



Obvious changes can and should be 

 made, but with discretion and confined 

 mostly to the unplanted part of the 

 plan. Keep in mind your ultimate ob- 

 jective and make only those revisions 

 that will keep the development headed 

 toward that objective. It should always 

 be emphasized that a little extra care in 

 planting may mean the difference be- 

 tween the loss of a favorite specimen 

 tree or its survival and growth. 



Just as soon as possible you should 

 learn to know your trees as individ- 

 uals. That includes recognition of the 

 general characteristics that indicate 

 their names without reference to a 

 technical key. 



One of the principal sources of satis- 

 faction in really knowing trees is this 

 flash recognition. It marks a stage in 

 the friendship with trees that corre- 

 sponds to the comfortable stage of 

 friendship between people when they 

 call each other by their first names. 



W. H. LARRIMER is a forester in the 

 Branch of Research, Forest Service, 

 Washington, D. C. He grew up on an 

 Ohio farm, and received degrees from 

 Purdue University and Ohio State 

 University. 



