68 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



ful is thus inculcated or acquired, and when they return to the farm 

 with its house set out in the blazing sun, without a tree or shrub, 

 and possibly without a flower except an old, antiquated rose bush or 

 a deserted looking hollyhock, and a total absence of the beautiful, 

 they become dissatisfied, and as soon as possible they leave the farm 

 for the city where their taste for the beautiful can be gratified. 



There is no reason why the home surroundings of the farmer 

 should not be as tasteful and beautiful as that of the city or suburban 

 resident; have its well-set lawn, its well-selected groups of shrubs, 

 and its well-trimmed shade trees. To have all this requires but little 

 labor and expense, and the interest on the investment of labor and 

 money will return a hundred fold in the enjoyment of the farmer 

 himself, to say nothing of the return in making his children con- 

 tented and in love with life on the farm. 



In the artificial adornment of grounds by means of plants, 

 nature is pur best instructor. From here we learn the use of grass, 

 flowers, vines, shrubs and trees, and how to combine them to the 

 best advantage. By growing together for ages, the various classes 

 and species of plants have developed forms, habits and requirements 

 which enable them not only to live and thrive in harmony, but 

 actually assist one another. (L. C. C.) 



The proper adornment of the lawn must depend to some 

 extent on its extent and the contour of the ground, but every farm 

 house has ground enough around it to give opportunity for aisplay 

 of taste in the selection of the grass for me sward, the plants, and in 

 their arrangement. While every lawn should have a proper num- 

 ber of trees for the grateful shade they will give and for their general 

 effect in the plan of adornment, the sward is the first and greatest 

 consideration. 



The Soil. To grow grass luxuriantly enough to make a beau- 

 tiful lawn the right soil is of importance. This cannot always be 

 had, but it may be approximated. The ideal soil for grasses for 

 lawn purposes is one which is moderately moist and contains a 

 liberal percentage of clay. It should be a soil that is inclined to 

 become heavy and compact. In many localities it will be impossible 

 to get the ideal soil, but effort should be made to approach the ideal 

 as near as possible, by careful preparation. This can be done in 

 several ways. The best and most effective way is by the liberal use 

 of fertilizers, bearing in mind that the soil cannot be made too rich. 



Where a pure sand or a light sandy soil is found it should be 

 given a top dressing of clay, two or more inches in depth, and this 

 should be thoroughly incorporated with the native sand. It may 

 require two or three years to make a soil for the grass, hence too 

 much haste should not be indulged in. On the sandy soil after its 

 top dressing of clay has been thoroughly incorporated it is well to 

 grow one or two green crops which give an abundance of vegetable 

 matter, such as cowpeas, red clover or Canada peas. These crops 

 should be allowed to remain until their maximum growth is attained 

 and then should be plowed under. This will make the soil more 



