240 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Oct. 



i 



lurtinilturnl Dffiartrarat. 



EDITED BT P. BARRT. 



How it comes that country people adhere so rigidly 

 to the practice of building their dwellings close to 

 the roadside, we can not very well understand. We 

 do not mean to say that all do so : but the instances 

 where a different course is adopted are so few" and 

 far between as to be mere exceptions. The man 

 who builds on a city or village lot, is compelled by 

 circumstances to build close to the street — his con- 

 tracted plot of ground affords him little scope tn 

 gratify his taste, even if he has any ; but the farmer 

 who possesses his fifty or five hundred acres, is con- 

 trolled by no such circumstances, and wheij he 

 plants his house in the midst of the noise, dust, and 

 intrusiveness of a public highway, we are forced to 

 the conclusion that he does so from choice! We do 

 not, of course, dispute any and every man's right to 

 build his house in such a style and on such a site as 

 he may think fit and proper. A man who builds a 

 house for himself and family to live in, has the first 

 and best right to be suited. Admitting all this to 

 the fullest extent, we nevertheless think it may not 

 be amiss to call attention to some points connected 

 with the subject, that seem to be very generally over- 

 looked. 



Supposing Mr. A., whose city lot is 50 by 100 

 feet, builds his house within a few paces of, or even 

 close up to the side-walk, for the sake of having 

 room enough in the rear for his barn and other offices, 

 and for a small garden ; is that any reason why Mr. 

 B. in the country, with a farm of one hundred acres, 

 should build himself a house precisely similar, on 

 the very roadside, leaving just space enough for a 

 row of maples between his door and the highway ? 

 We could point to scores of instances where this 

 very unwise tiling has been done within ten miles 

 of the city of Rochester, where some of the most 

 delightful situations have been actually deformed and 

 ruined by this copying of city plans. We do not 

 deny that a man may build himself a very convenient 

 house on the roadside — ^it may be very easy getting 

 out and in, and he may avoid all cost of keeping 

 grounds in order — he may eat and drink as well, 

 wear as good clothing, grow rich as fast, and in all 

 other ways gratify his animal nature as well in such 

 a situation as any other ; but surely there are other 

 things to live for besides these. What is it that 

 constitutes the real charms of a country life ? Is it 

 fine houses, fine furniture, fine horses and carriages, 

 ^c. ? No. When we imagine a pleasant country 

 home, we figure to ourselves a plain and simple 



dwelling surrouniled hy trees, green turf, and flowers. 

 It is charming even to think of such a home as this. 

 How many thousands have worn themselves out, and 

 are at this moment toiling like galley slaves, in the 

 harrassing pursuits of cities, that they may be able 

 to procure such a home and close their lives quietly 1 

 How cold and forbidding is the finest house that hu- 

 man hands can rear in the country, without trees! and 

 how inviting and how beautiful is the plainest cot- 

 cage, with its trees and lawn ! Who is there, with 

 a spark of love for nature's beauties, that has not a 

 thousand times made the contrast, in passing over 

 the country ? When a dwelling is built close to the 

 highway, it is placed in a position where it is utterly 

 impossible to give it a true rural aspect. There can 

 be no lawn in front, no groups of trees, no beds of 

 flowers — nothing that can make up a scene that the 

 inmates can love to look out upon. The street, the 

 public highway with its noise and dirt, against which 

 blinds and curtains must continually be drawn tight, 

 is the scene that presents itself, and one that no 

 mortal man or woman, w'hatever may be their tastes, 

 can admire. This is surely a hard destiny for peo- 

 ple to fix upon themselves by choice. There are 

 very many so situated from necessity, having come 

 into the possession of places already laid out, and 

 which it may not be convenient for them to alter. 

 Our remarks do not apply to thom, but to those who 

 have entire control of all the circumstances connected 

 with the location of their dwelling. We do not wish 

 to be understood as recommending to farmers to erect 

 their houses at any unreasonable or inconvenient 

 distance from the main road, or that they shall lay 

 out extensive pleasure grounds. We are very far 

 from suggesting any such absurd or impracticable 

 notions, or anything not in perfect accordance with 

 the best farm economy, and quite within the reach 

 of every farmer iu the country. A house erected 

 twenty rods from the street costs no more than it 

 would within one rod. 



What we would suggest is, that every farm house 

 be built so far back from the highway that half an 

 acre, or an acre, of ground may separate them ; that 

 this be kept in grass and interspersed with groups of 

 trees and shrubs. There is hardly any section of the 

 country, except the prairie, but trees enough of na- 

 tive growth can be found in to make a beautiful plan- 

 tation. Our native oaks, clnts, lindens, tulip tree, 

 maples, white pines, hemlocks, cedars, ^-c, arc all 

 beautiful trees. Those who object to the appropria- 

 tion of so much ground to ornament, may turn it all 

 to profitable account by planting fruit instead of orna- 

 mental trees; they may be grouped to equal advantage, 

 and by cultivating around them, will produce as well 

 as in an orchard. The grass plat, by being kept in 

 good order, may produce good crops of hay, and thus 

 every inch of the ornamental ground may be as pro- 

 ductive and profitable as any part of the farm. Those 

 who might wish to give a higher polish to their 

 grounds, could introduce among their groups of trees, 

 some exotic species, keep their lawn closely mowed 

 and embellished with groups and figures of flowering 

 shrubs, roses, fcc. 



Our object is not, at this time, to enter into any 

 detail, but simply to suggest a principle that every 

 man can adopt, with such modification as may suit 

 his taste and circumstances. At a future tinif, we 

 will return to this subject and ofitr some detailed 

 plans in illustration of the suggestion now given. — 

 The modern style of laying out grounds is simple, 



