MY FARM OF EDGEWOOD 



who wants unyielding metal beneath his heavy 

 cartage of spring. The perfection of roads of 

 course supposes perfect drainage, and a deep 

 bed of stone material; but I am only suggest- 

 ing methods which are in keeping with ordi- 

 nary farm economies. 



There must needs be directness in all paths 

 communicating with out-buildings, and the 

 exigencies of economic and effective culture de- 

 mand the straight lines in the kitchen garden ; 

 but when I take a friend to some pretty point 

 of view, or a little parterre of flowers dropped 

 in the turf, — we are not hurried; the dainty 

 curves make a pleasant cheatery of the ap- 

 proach. Thus there is charming accord be- 

 tween the best rules for landscape outlay, and 

 the wants of the country-liver; where economy 

 of tillage or of labor demands directness, the 

 paths should be direct ; and where economy of 

 pleasure suggests loitering, the paths may 

 loiter. And so, they loiter away through 

 pleasant wooded coppices — doubling upon 

 themselves on some rocky pitch of hill— short 

 reaches, concealed each one from the other — 

 blinded by thick underwood — wantoning in 

 curves, until presently from under a low- 

 branching beech tree, there bursts on the eye 

 a great view of farm, and forest, and city, and 



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