ESTHETICS IN AGRICULTURE. 31 



on this subject, sa3"s that " picturesqneness is nearly always 

 largely the result of attention to little things. Neatness and order 

 depend so much on trivial details that the beauty of a home and 

 the good looks of a farm are substantially at their mercy." I have 

 tried not to exaggerate the evils of carelessness — not to erect a 

 straw man for the fun of battering him down. My rides in the 

 country have impressed me with the need of more attention to 

 these small matters, and have sometimes tempted me to say, with 

 a traveller of wide experience, " We have a clear atmosphere and 

 brilliant skies, but we are all sons and daughters of Shabb3'ville." 

 It is surprising how many country estates are unattractive on 

 account of the lack of a little picking up, the want of a little care 

 about the lawn, or the infrequent use of scythe or lawn mower. 



Take any dooryard as j'ou find it ; and, without any expense or 

 labor worth naming, it can be transformed into an exquisite lawn. 

 But education is a growth, and when the owner's taste has been 

 brought to this point, he will want to go further. His ideas of 

 beauty will gradually expand. A few flowers, a vine over the 

 door, some shrubbery and trees by the roadside, will be suggested. 

 Here, too, great satisfaction can be got without much outlay of 

 money. It is marvellous what large returns can be obtained from 

 a ver}- small investment. Every farmer should have some place 

 for flowers ; but he should not attempt too much in the shape of 

 elaborate gardens, fantastic designs on the lawn, or rare and 

 expensive plants. The plain, rich carpet of grass would be pref- 

 erable to such things. But everj- one can raise a few of the old- 

 fashioned varieties which grow easily, do not require a great 

 amount of attention, and are unsurpassed for beauty. Their 

 commonness does not change the immutable laws of proportion 

 and color which constitute the beauty of a flower or plant. A 

 clump of sunflowers, hollyhocks, or dahlias in the background, 

 with zinnias, asters, marigolds, phlox, larkspur, and petunias, in 

 appropriate places ; and morning glories and sweet peas over the 

 porch, will add man}' fold to the attractiveness and homelike 

 appearance of hundreds of farms. If one has time, taste, and 

 money for imitating the professional landscape gardener, well and 

 good ; but more should not be commenced than can be carried out. 

 It should be remembered that but one common plant, lovingly 

 cared for so as to be thrifty and luxuriant, is better than a large 

 yard full of neglected, weedy, or hen-scratched attempts at flori- 



