X INTRODUCTION. 



This last point may not be considered by some people 

 of sufficient importance to be discussed in a prac- 

 tical treatise. I am not sure but it is the most 

 practical and important question that I can possibly 

 lay before my readers. Certainly it shall not be 

 overlooked. The materials to be used for the pur- 

 poses enumerated class themselves under the head 

 of deciduous and evergreen. These will be sepa- 

 rately discussed. 



My object will not be to say everything- that 

 can be said about my topic, but succinctly and clearly 

 to give necessary information. I shall especially not 

 undertake to create an enthusiasm for hedge plant- 

 ing; knowing well that where such a tendency is 

 aroused it must be well sustained or the results will 

 soon be a disgrace to our farms and rural residences. 

 I shall keep this continually in view to stimulate my 

 readers, and through them the American public, to 

 a higher conception of the beautiful in home-making. 

 The truly beautiful cannot be established by making 

 a fad of any one sort of utilities, or of ornaments 

 like arbors, or of ornamental utilities like hedges. 

 It is by a judicious and thoughtful use of all that 

 nature provides that we make our surroundings the 

 best. It is especially desirable that we learn to dis- 

 cover to see what nature freely offers us; for 

 often the most glorious as well as the most 

 valuable things are overlooked, while the inferior 

 are cultivated. 



Traveling through the New England states, I 

 am impressed with the fact that with many noble 

 exceptions the most beautiful places are those 

 where nature has had most freedom. I have 



