I3O HEDGES, WINDBREAKS, SHELTERS, ETC. 



relation which your property bears to that of other 

 people about you. Consult even the prejudices of 

 those who live adjacent. They have formed their 

 associations, their tastes, even their characters, 

 largely from the trees and the collocation of the nat- 

 ural scenery that surrounds them. Disturb them 

 just as little as possible. Indeed, there is a certain 

 sort of property that another man has in what you 

 claim as your own. Emerson sings : 



"One harvest from your field, 

 Homeward brought your^oxen strong, 



Another crop your acres yield, 

 Which I gather in a song." 



My plea is that you be careful of the feelings, 

 the tastes and old associations that make up the 

 neighborhood, of which you should be a component 

 part. Press forward even your improvements con- 

 siderately. It is possible to consult those whose 

 judgment you do not value. In the long run, if you 

 are right, you will improve not only your own prop- 

 erty, but all the neighborhood ; if you are wrong, and 

 the chances are you will be, you will get time to 

 correct yourself. 



