LAYING OUT OF GROUNDS 



are not insensible to the quick spring growth 

 under the lee of a northern garden-fence, will 

 one day learn that an evergreen belt along the 

 northern line of their farms will show as de- 

 cisive a gain in their fields or their orcharding. 



Again, in the disposition of roadways, there 

 is no rule in landscape gardening which is not 

 applicable to a farm. Declivities are to be 

 overcome by the easiest practicable grades, and 

 the curves which will insure this in most land- 

 scapes are those which are justified at a glance 

 by the economic eye, as well as by the eye of 

 taste. A straight walk up and down a hill, is a 

 monstrosity in park scenery; and it is a mon- 

 strosity that cannot be found in pasture- 

 lands, where cattle beat their own paths. Even 

 sheep, who are good climbers in search of 

 food, whenever they wend their way to the 

 fold, take the declivities by zigzag, and give 

 us a lesson in landscape art. An ox-team, in 

 worming its way through woodland and down 

 successive slopes, will describe curves which 

 would not vary greatly from the engineering 

 laws of adjustment. 



Once more, there are certain special fea- 

 tures about a farm-steading, which may be led 

 to contribute largely to landscape effect with- 

 out violation of economic law. These are the 



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