37 



from tlie changing colors of autumn foliage there is a wide field for the 

 artist. 



The most conspicuous colors are the scarlet of the sour gum, red 

 maple, wild cherry, and some of the oaks, and the yellow of the hick- 

 ories, tulip tree, sugar maple, and others. The dogwood and sassafras 

 are also decided in their fall colorings. 



The beauty of groups will greatly depend upon their definiteness, 

 distinction, and separation by expansive open, green lawns. These 

 grassy openings are the lights of the natural picture, while the trees 

 and vegetation furnish the shade. The error of too much planting is 

 frequent and disastrous in its effects. The open, clear, well-kept lawn 

 should largely predominate, for, as Bacon remarked 300 years ago, 

 "there is nothing more pleasant to the eye than green grass kept finely 

 shorn." 



ON DRAINING LANDS. 



The statement is sometimes made that draining is of but little use in 

 a climate where hot dry suns and dry weather are so common ; that in- 

 stead of trying to get rid of the water we should rather try to retain it; 

 but those who reason in this way do not seem to be aware that the pur- 

 pose served by draining laud is the removal of superfluous water only, 

 and not that of extracting all the available moisture which it contains. 

 Every variety of soil has its relative degree of porosity or power of re- 

 taining moisture. Peaty or mossy soils, which are mainly composed of 

 organic matter in different stages of decomposition, are very porous, 

 and in consequence absorb water readily and in great quantities. Clay 

 soils, on the other hand, being close and compact, absorb water slowly 

 and to a limited degree as compared with the first mentioned. Draining 

 a peaty soil will not deprive it of porosity. It may be likened to a sponge, 

 which will retain all the water which may be poured on it until its 

 pores become filled; afterwards the water will drop from it as fast as it 

 is poured on. So it is with draining soil; no water will escape by the 

 drains until the soil is saturated and is unable to contain any more; 

 then the superfluous water passes off by the drains, leaving the land 

 always in a condition for healthy plant growth, which is completely 

 reversed when the superfluous water is only removed by the slow and 

 chilling process of surface evaporation. 



Clay soils can not be cropped to their best advantage until they are 

 drained. The ordinary operation of plowing has a tendency to form a 

 hard surface at the bottom of the furrow, which in time becomes com- 

 pacted and acts as a basin holding water. Soils of this kind are well 

 designated as cold. The heat of the sun can not warm the soil until 

 the water is first removed by evaporation, a process which produces 

 cold ; so that, in addition to the impracticability of putting in crops early 

 in spring, every heavy summer rain cools the earth, and the plants 



