CHAPTER IV 



THE DECORATION OF HOME GROUNDS 



" Be it ever so humble 

 There's no place like home." 



THE more of beauty and comfort there is about 

 the home the better one can stand the trials of 

 life, the more enthusiasm and energy one can 

 put into the work of getting a living and caring for 

 the loved ones in the home, and helping those about 

 him. 



Preserve all Naturally Beautiful Features. 



There are very few homes about which there are not 

 more or less attractive features. All of these should be 

 studied carefully and nothing be destroyed or changed 

 without good reasons. The rocks, trees, shrubs, vines, 

 woods in the immediate surroundings of one's own place, 

 and the distant views of hills, meadows, or water, should 

 be kept distinctly in mind in all the work of changing 

 and improving or planting, so that none be covered up 

 or destroyed. If there are unsightly objects near we 

 must study how not to expose them to view or to hide 

 them if conspicuous. We should preserve and improve 

 the natural growth of trees and not cut one down with- 

 out due consideration. It takes a long time to grow 

 newly-planted trees to the size to afford shade or pro- 

 duce much of beauty, and we should make the most of 

 any already standing. It is generally the case that 

 trees growing naturally along the roadside, in the hedge- 



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