304 Our Farming. 



yourself. Let it reflect your taste and skill, rather than be an 

 exact copy of some other. Lay out walks in easy curves rather 

 than straight lines. Avoid all stiffness and too much regularity. 

 Trees and shrubs never grow naturally in straight lines. You 

 need a few bright flowers for contrast, but my notion is that a 

 farmer better depend largely on hardy flowering shrubs and vines 

 and perennials, rather than on annuals. This is the way we have 

 tried to do. We want beauty that comes with the least care. And 

 while I think of it, don't get your grounds too large. A little 

 lawn well kept will be more attractive than one that you haven't 

 time to attend to in time. 



But be the grounds ever so neat and well kept, they will 

 never be quite perfect without the small fruit garden. Don't for- 

 get that. I will tell you more about that in another chapter. 

 There are ever so many more points I would like to speak of, 

 but I will just take one more and then give you a rest. The town 

 man's wife can easily walk to visit her friends, or for recreation, 

 or to do her trading. The distance is short and they have side- 

 walks. In the city, where distances are greater, they have the 

 street cars to ride on. They are not tied up at home by their 

 husband's business. Is it so on the farm ? Yes, when the wife 

 has a horse and buggy for her special use, a low, easy phaeton 

 that she can get out and in alone handily, and a horse that is 

 always at her command. This cannot be afforded often, particu- 

 larly at first, but it will have to come before you get a farm home 

 that is just perfect. Work for it. In good weather farmers are 

 apt to need the farm horses and in bad weather your wife and 

 daughters cannot well go out. Fix them out with a nice little rig 

 as soon as you can. Now take a little rest and then we will look 

 over my home. 



