ESTHETICS IN AGRICULTURE. 35 



Farmers can have pleasanter homes than any other class in the 

 community, without studying at the feet of professional landscape 

 gardeners and without paying out much money, simply by attend- 

 ing to little homely things and by a tasteful care of what they 

 already possess. We quote the following from Hon. George A. 

 Harden : " The luxury of a home entirely under self control, on 

 which one may expend pleasant labor in adornment and cultiva- 

 tion, is a thing not always appreciated. . . . One can hardly ride 

 over any teu miles of New England road without observing that a 

 very large majority of the people do not begin to make as much 

 of their opportunities in this direction as they might. A little 

 planning, a few hours of extra work now and then, and a little 

 ingenuity, will add, month bj" month, to the beauties and comforts 

 of a home, such as will make it cosier and more homelike than 

 more pretentious architecture. Outside and inside the buildings 

 and on the grounds and fences, in the planting of trees, shrubs, 

 vines, and flowers, lie the opportunities for added luxury in such 

 measure as au}' one may desire. The field is practically unlimited." 



Wheu one has reached the degree of perfection I have already 

 described, he can, and doubtless will, advance further to more 

 scientific landscape gardening and floriculture. But I have thought 

 best to confine myself to elementary suggestions and such as 

 would be within the means and ability of any one to carry out. 

 This work of beautifjdng farm-houses will be of great benefit in 

 lifting the mind above the tedious routine of exacting toil. The 

 rays of the sun playing hide and seek among the restless leaves of 

 tree and shrub, and painting the flower garden or lawn will give a 

 healthy diversion to the thoughts and awaken higher ambitions. 



This benefit concerns woman even more than man, for the 

 breath of fresh air, the occasional view of flowers, lawn, and 

 trees, and possibly the care of some, will prove a grateful relief 

 from over familiarity with the hot cook stove, and in some instances 

 may rouse from that feeling of gloom and despondency which 

 sometimes creeps over one who is continually overworked and 

 has no view of an}- but the practical bread and butter side of the 

 world. 



This clearing up, and removing the noisome places, at the 

 mandate of aesthetics, is also an aid to hygiene. Care of out- 

 buildings, fixing the sink-drain, filling the stagnant pool, and 

 removing decaying rubbish, root out possible breeding places 



