THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



553 



FRONT YARDS — SHRUBBERY — FLOWERS. 



From llic Franklin Farmer. 



While the farmers are viirorously preparinir lo 

 p.ncrage in tiie important cind busy operations ol' 

 spring, they should not netrlet't. those employ- 

 ments of the iasie thai contribute so much to the 

 beauty, pleasure and comlbrt of a country resi- 

 dence. Don't suppose Ironi the caption oi' this 

 article, that we are ixoing to advocate an inutile, 

 unproductive expenditure ol" time and labor; I'm 

 if you do, we shall address ourselves to your 

 wives and dauchters — Gon bless them. We 

 hold it the duty of every good liarmer to render his 

 ho7nc as happy and agreeable as possible; to 

 combine the solid comlbrts of lile, with the elegant 

 pleasures of taste. We do not urge the sacrifice 

 of substantial enjoyments to those of the taste or 

 fancy — we would secure both ; and he who is 

 most successliil in obtaining the one, is most likely 

 to secure the other. Let every farmer, therefore, 

 appropriate a liberal allowance of ground (or a 

 fiont yard to his house. It should be expansive 

 enough to permit the execution of a regular 

 design, in laying out the lines for walks, groves, 

 rows of trees, shrubbery and flowers. It should 

 be handsomely graded, sloping downwards from 

 the house, in front and on each hand. Set it in 

 blue grass, and of course enclose it by a neat, 

 substantial paling or fence, painted while. In 

 the selection of the trees, shrubbery and flowers, 

 consult the taste of your " better half;" and don't 

 spare any expense she may require, in order to 

 gratify her taste. If she even fancies exotics, 

 send abroad for them, though we should like to 

 see our native botany more appreciated ; for, be 

 assured, every tree, shrub or flower, will give 

 you and your family a joy and gladness more 

 exquisite than any derivable from the sordid 

 enjoyments of wealth. A taste for trees, and 

 plants, and flowers, is the love an enlightened 

 mind and a tender heart pays to nature ; it is a 

 peculiar attribute of woman, exhibiting the gen- 

 tleness and purity of her sex; and every husband 

 should encourage it ; lor his wile and daughters 

 will prove wiser, and happier, and belter by its 

 cultivation. Who does'not venerate and love 

 some tree, or rose, or honeysuckle, planted, it may 

 be, by the hand of some absent or departed mo- 

 ther, or sister, or brolherl and who would not 

 protect them with a holy reverence, as mementoes 

 of a hallowed love as well as contributors to the 

 gratification of an elegant taste? The writer 

 remembers well the vine planted by his mother's 

 own hand, when he was a little child. Its ten- 

 drils now cling to the topmost branches of a 

 tall tree in the front yard ; and he never revisits 

 the scene of his childhood, without gratifying 

 some of the holiest emotions of his nature by 

 sitting under its shelter and recalling the earliest 

 and happiest associations of his life. And there 

 too, clinging about the columns of the porch, is 

 the coral honeysuckle, shading the evening win- 

 dow, with its rich and delicate clusters of flowers ; 

 and at every footstep along the border, are the 

 many-hued flowers, planted by a sister. And 

 there also, along the line of the enclosure, are 

 the rows of peach, pear, plum, cherry, apple, 

 quince and ornamental trees, planted by his own 

 hand, when but a boy. They now, Hke the wri- 

 ter, who planted them, have grown to maturity. 

 Vol. IX.-5.S 



Every year they pay rich return of delicious fruif, 

 or beautiful and fragrant foliage and flowers; and 

 every returning summer, as he pays the accus- 

 tomed visit to the homestead of his youth, he 

 enjoys a rational pleasure in the mere sight of 

 tlii'm, infinitely greater than the gratification of 

 the most fastidious palate. It is a great joy, to go 

 to each tree, and, as it were, renew an acquaint- 

 iuice begun in the earlier years of our youth, and 

 rejoice in the full strength of manhood — 'tis the 

 very poetry of a gentle and gladsome and nature- 

 loving heart. And these are modes of enjoy- 

 ment which every one should provide for himself 

 and for those who are to come after him. 



We have deemed such an article as this ne- 

 cessary to many of our Kentucky farmers. There 

 are too many of them who sacrifice to a supposed 

 utility all the enjoyments of which we have 

 spoken. We have known some plough almost 

 up to the walls on all sides of the house, which 

 seemed to have been taken from some other 

 place, and set down in the midst of a corn field. 

 Such a taste is extremely vulgar. 



We have but two or three suggesliona further 

 on the subject, leaving lo the taste of the farmer 

 the plan of the improvement we desire all to 

 adopt. The row of trees next the yard fence 

 should be large forest trees, such as the black 

 locust or elm. The passage from the front to the 

 road should either be through a woodland pasture 

 or a grass lawn, neither of which should ever 

 be devoted to the plough. Be content with the 

 pleasure and the pasturage afl'orded by such land 

 — they are profits enough. The woodland pas- 

 tures of Kentuck}', are doubtless more beautiful 

 than the classic groves of Arcadia. Where there 

 is but a lawn in front of the house, the farmer 

 should plant an avenue of trees. For this pur- 

 pose, we recommend the elm ; but the utilitarian 

 will prefer the locust, a handsome ornamental 

 tree, indeed, and producing a most valuable tim- 

 ber. But who is the Goth would think of felling 

 the trees of an ornamental avenue for their 

 t'nnber? — none but one thrice-steeped in barba- 

 rism. The elm is the finest ornamental tree of 

 our forest, lis venerable trunk, its graceful 

 boughs, its early, rich and beautilul foliage, and 

 its entire freedom from the least appearance of 

 stiffness, should render it the classic favorite of 

 the woods. It is surprising that it is not more 

 prized as an ornamental tree. 



We will add but one remark more, fearing our 

 readers may deem the length of this article an 

 encroachment upon more important topics. Never 

 permit the suggestions of a momentary cupidity 

 to induce you to graze your front yard. The 

 grass may look luxurious and tempting, and it 

 may seem '-a sin'''' to lose it ; but better to mow 

 or shear your yard than to graze it. A cow or 

 horse will, in one hour, destroy the growili of 

 years. Nothing is more provoking, to tliB man 

 of taste, than to see the trees he has planted, the 

 vines and the flowers he has nurtured fijryeais, 

 destroyed as fodder for beasts. O, 'lis horribly 

 vulgar. 



BLUE WASH FOR WALLS. 



Two pounds blue vitriol, 1 pint slack lime, 

 small piece of glue. Dissolve the vitriol and glue 



