CHAPTER XXXI 

 THE HOME GROUNDS AND WOOD LOT 



NO home place is complete without trees, plants and 

 shrubs. Even with costly and pretentious buildings a 

 homestead may look barren and inhospitable from lack of 

 the decorative and comfortable effect of shade trees, groves, 

 climbing vines and blossoming plants. One should learn 

 not only to make his farm pay but to make it interesting 

 and attractive to members of the family and neighbors. 



1. Beautifying the Home Grounds 



The house lot and lawn of the farm home can be made 

 especially beautiful and interesting. For there is more room 

 on the farm than in the town or city, and the trees and 

 plants needed for its decoration will cost but little except a 

 reasonable amount of care. Well kept grounds add a great 

 deal to the market value of a farm, and contribute even 

 more to the beauty and comfort of the home. 



Plan for setting. To produce the best results, the 

 setting of trees and shrubbery should follow some complete 

 and well devised plan. The effect of the most beautiful 

 vegetation may be lost by careless or improper placing. 

 When used for decoration or shade, trees should usually 

 not be set in rows, unless along a driveway or boundary 

 line ; nor should they be so blocked together that they shut 

 off the view of the house. They may stand as single iso- 

 lated specimens, or in irregular groups. Trees often are 



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