WAY-SIDE HINTS 



his flower-growth. It should be fairly under- 

 stood that about a densely shaded door-step, 

 the conaitions of vigorous and healthful 

 flower-growth can never be maintained. 



But far worse, and more to be deprecated 

 than a starvation of the flowers in the immedi- 

 ate neighborhood of a country house, is the 

 starvation of the turf ; yet in many of the old 

 established village yards, and about many 

 suburban homes where the fancy for dense 

 overhanging shade has had full sway, even 

 the grasses maintain a doubtful livelihood, 

 and their place is taken by the wild mosses. 

 It may be laid down, I think, as a safe rule, 

 and of universal application in our Northern 

 latitudes, that wherever shade immediately 

 contiguous to the house is too dense for the 

 vigorous growth of the ordinary lawn grasses, 

 it is too dense for proper conditions of health ; 

 and I would recommend to the invalid tenants 

 of such a house — in place of nostrums — the 

 axe. 



Of course we can hardly venture to expose 

 our whole frontage to the sun, in the generous 

 way in which the British country liver is wont 

 to do; but sunshine on the roof should, I 

 think, be religiously guarded, whatever may 

 become of our old favorites, the trees. 



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