CHAPTER VII 

 RENOVATING AND IMPROVING OLD HOMES 



THE established home is often far more difficult to treat 

 than where the land is clear and new material only is to be 

 used. It often is also the case that there are objectionable 

 features that must be removed before anything like real 

 beauty can be evolved; as, for example: ist. Trees, shrubs, 

 and vines may be so closely planted and so entangled that 

 none of them can ever be made beautiful objects. This is 

 shown to some extent in Fig. 59. 2d. There may be un- 

 natural embankments, slopes, terraces, or basins. 3d. 

 Bank walls, unsightly fences, and improperly located build- 

 ings. 4th. Unnaturally located and unnecessary walks and 

 drives. 



In other cases much valuable material may be found in 

 a condition that, with a little proper care, may be easily 

 improved so as to become objects of great beauty in a much 

 shorter time than if new trees or shrubs were planted. 



When a place is taken that has for a long time been 

 under neglect or improper care, the walks overgrown and 

 trees and shrubs more or less a tangled mass, there seems 

 to be but one of two things to do, i.e., to either cut down 

 everything on the place, clear up and grade the land, and 

 begin as in a new place, or to thin out some of the least 

 desirable and trim up those of value and plant other desir- 

 able trees and shrubs in proper relation to each other among 

 those standing (removing, of course, such as will absolutely 

 prevent the growth of the new ones), give them careful 



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