THE FARM HOUSE AND GEOUKDS. 67 



pillars supporting the structure. On the second floor it 

 forms a commodious balcony, and the small windows have 

 been enlarged and cut down to the level of the floor, so 

 that when the window is open you step at once on to the 

 balcony. The color of the yellow limestone walls is in har- 

 mony with the scenery and the prairie rose, ivy, honey- 

 suckle and woodbine that are just beginning to climb up 

 their supports will hide the wood work, resembling the 

 natural festoons that drape the distant rocky bluffs. The 

 slope has been planted with rare specimens of trees and 

 shrubs. The sombre hues of the cedar and hemlock, are 

 relieved by the brighter green of the Norway spruce, its 

 branches hanging in graceful curves from the ground to 

 the summit. These young trees have been planted in 

 groups, which when better grown will be in keeping with 

 the natural growth, forming a foreground to the picture 

 a wide contrast to the massive oaks in the background, 

 yet appropriate, as there is no glaring incongruity to of- 

 fend the cultivated taste. There is no formal, stiffly laid 

 out flower garden, nor even beds in geometrical figures, 

 but patches of flowers spring up where least expected, 

 greeting you with their bright colors and sweet fragrance. 

 There are a few pots in which are growing those that 

 need the protection of the conservatory in the winter, 

 which has been added to the house on the west side, part 

 of the wall having been removed so that there is a com- 

 munication with it from the library and living room. 

 Ornamental vases are distributed about the grounds, not 

 placed there to be admired for their beauty of design and 

 richness of sculpture alone, but every one further deco- 

 rated with some plant that gratifies the eye with its unique 

 appearance, or shrouding the pedestal with a mass of foli- 

 age and flowers drooping from the rim. That old stump, 

 from which the tree has been barbarously cut, has been 

 formed into a sun-dial. We do not expect to time our 



