260 



Elementary Principles of Agriculture 



more natural. Had the shrubs been placed in the open 

 space the effect would not have been half so pleasing. 

 The large open lawn gives an attractive setting for the 

 trees farther 'on. A comparison of these two pictures 

 teaches us the A, B, C of landscape art. In making 



pictures on the land- 

 scape, whether around 

 the home, church- 

 yard, cemetery or 

 the school house, we 

 should 



(A) Strive to 

 avoid sharp, straight 

 lines; 



(B) Preserve 

 broad, open spaces ; 



Fig. 167. A plan that brings the plants (FlgS. 167, 168). 



into prominence. () Plant in 



masses, and look to nature for instructive examples in 

 arranging shrubs and trees. 



371. Rural Home Grounds should have such group- 

 ings of lofty trees and attractive shrubs that the sharp 

 lines of houses, barns and fences shall be softened into 

 a natural picture. The appearance of the home lot 

 should suggest more than mere shelter for man and his 

 useful animals. It should appear as though the house, 

 barns and lots were built in what was naturally an at- 

 tractive landscape. Open lawns and large trees are 

 always pleasing. In the crowded city such features 

 may, from necessity, be dispensed with, but, when the 

 country house is set in a small yard, it impresses us 

 immediately as showing too great a contrast with the 

 natural openness that is so characteristic of rural life. 



