1900.] essays. 83 



these influences of culture or lack of culture help to mark the 

 limit of culture for future generations. 



Then, too, you will understand that beautifying the home 

 grounds makes the place more desirable and, therefore, in- 

 creases its selling price in the real estate market. Prof. Bailey 

 says that k 'it is the front yard that sells the farm," and I am 

 sure that he is right, as regards the sale of farms to city 

 people, for summer homes. It would seem as though its beauty 

 should have a greater value to those who remain upon its 

 grounds, not only during the summer, but through the whole 

 year. 



THE FORMAL VS. THE NATURALISTIC GARDEN. 



I do not purpose to discuss the merits and demerits of these 

 two styles or fashions of gardening art. You might prefer one 

 and I the other. The formal style was the one first practiced in 

 Europe, and the gardens of Italy remain today as the best ex- 

 amples of the formal garden. This style seems more appropri- 

 ate in connection with wealth, or an appearance of wealth, than 

 for the average country place. Pretentious buildings, terraces, 

 copings, fountains, statues and an abundance of exotic or 

 tropical plants belong to the formal garden and it is there that 

 the carpet-bed can find a legitimate place. 



The other kind is now being advocated and largely practiced 

 in England and America. It is called naturalistic, or nature- 

 like, because of the simplicity and naturalness of the design and 

 because we look to nature for our models. 



I shall propose this style of gardening for the rural home, 

 because it is much less expensive at first and requires far less 

 care in after years than the formal garden. It also seems more 

 appropriate. Our native plants would not lend themselves well 

 to formal treatment ; and the groups and borders that we wish 

 to make will greatly resemble some natural ones that we can 

 find along the edge of the meadow, by the border of the 

 woodland. 



In the formal garden the loss of a single plant ruins the de- 

 sign, and no other kind of plant can take its place. In our 



