44 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1896. 



end. To eliminate every feature that tends to detract from the great- 

 est enjoyment of our home life is therefore of paramount importance. 

 " Order is Heaven's first law." 



A place for everything and everything in its place is a very impor- 

 tant factor in the appearance of our home grounds. To this end 

 shelter must be provided for all implements of husbandry as well as 

 every description of vehicle used upon the farm or by the family. It 

 is neither economical nor creditable to any place to leave them where 

 last used, or scattered at random along the roadsides, beside the walls 

 or fences, or around the Iniildings. If implements and carts, wagons 

 and the like, have reached that state of their existence that they are 

 not worth housing, they certainly should not be allowed to encumber 

 the ground. 



The beauty of a shade or fruit tree is not enhanced by being dec- 

 orated with old scythes, rakes, hoes, chains, hoops, harnesses or horse- 

 shoes. Dilapidated chicken coops, discarded furniture, old barrels 

 and boxes, are not only an eyesore to every thoughtful observer, but 

 an object lesson of carelessness and shiftlessness to every member of 

 the household as well as the employes on the farm. 



If any parts of these appliances or accumulations are of any value 

 for repairing others, let them be taken apart and carefully placed in 

 the tool-house or workshop, where they can be found readily if wanted. 

 Let the remnants be cremated as far as possible, and the old iron 

 turned over to the junk dealers. 



The next disfigurement to our grounds is the promiscuous deposit of 

 rubbish of all kinds, — stumps, logs, old lumber, lirush and the like, — 

 which should be reduced to ashes, either as fuel or in one general con- 

 flagration. Stones and boulders are not very attractive in large quan- 

 tities around a place, and the larger share of them at least should be 

 removed from sight. 



With this elimination of unsightly objects around the home we are 

 now in a condition to discuss the matter of improvement by planning 

 and laying out our grounds in an attractive manner, and planting such 

 trees, vines and shrubs as may be necessary to accomplish this result. 



The construction of buildiugs for convenience and enjoyment is not 

 a subject to touch upon here, for that question of itself would be 

 enough to engage our attention for a full session. 



Drives and Walks. 

 While the location of the buildings and their distance from the high- 

 way will to a certain extent govern the character of the approaches 

 thereto, a few general suggestions may not be out of place here. 



