Ornamenting New Homes 17 



nected with a comfortable home, provided one has the 

 knowledge and skill to make the work a success and has 

 the time to either do the work or to see that all the opera- 

 tions of planting, cultivation, and harvesting are properly 

 done. To the professional man, the business man, or 

 mechanic of sedentary habit the physical effort necessary 

 to successfully care for a small garden of fruits and vege- 

 tables will be invaluable and one of the best means of secur- 

 ing vigorous health, while the products of a well-kept gar- 

 den have often been made to supplement many a meagre 

 income and provide the most healthful and appetizing food 

 possible to obtain. (See Chap. XVI.) 



But this caution should be observed: Do not undertake 

 this work on a large scale until some skill or experience has 

 been obtained. Small areas well tilled in all lines of agri- 

 culture and horticulture generally give the best results, and 

 only so much land should be given to garden purpose as 

 can be cared for in the most thorough manner. If land is 

 abundant, a part of it might be set off to the children for a 

 flower-garden, for the planting of a few trees or vines, or for 

 growing a few vegetables like melons, etc. In no way can 

 so much of nature and her ways be taught to children and 

 a real love for all her products be fostered, as well as a 

 strong love be developed for the home which they have 

 helped to build. 



Location of Buildings 



After deciding where to build a home, the first question 

 to decide is where to locate the house. Nothing can be 

 more important. In building a house it is with the idea 

 of permanent occupancy or for a long series of years, and 

 any mistake made at this stage is often irreparable. 



Wherever possible the house should be located at some 

 distance from the street; the building will look better, and 



