PLANTING TREES AND SHRUBS ON THE DRY FARM 91 



A screen of shrubbery should separate the barnyard from the 

 yard proper. This should be far enough from the house to give a 

 loomy back yard which may serve as a children's playground, 

 clothes' yard, etc. 



A row of trees may border the lawn on the two sides opposite 

 the windbreak. They should not be low-growing trees, however. 

 Remember that at least from some points along the highway one 

 should get a clear view oi the lawn and of most of the house. If 

 the yard is large, clumps of trees or even single trees may be scat- 

 tered about the front and back yard. In planting trees and shrubs 

 about the home it is in most cases desirable not to mix the planting 

 too much. In other words, group together in one part of the yard a 

 few lilacs, in another corner a few honeysuckles, etc. A clump of 

 five lilacs, with a background of other shrubs, looks better than a 

 clump made up of five different kinds of plants. Avoid crowding 

 the yard full of trees and shrubs. Leave a goodly portion of open 

 lawn. If the yard is small, one tree with a few shrubs about it will 

 look better than a group of five trees with the additional shrubbery 

 which would crowd the lawn. 



The shrubs used in the yard must be selected from a rather 

 limited list. The Russian olive may be pressed into service as a yard 

 shrub. It makes a very good appearance when used in masses 

 about the border, as a hedge or as a screen. Two forms of the 

 Siberian pea tree (Caragana arborescens and Caragana frwtescens) 

 are among the hardiest shrubs. The first mentioned grows to a 

 height of fifteen feet, but it is useful as a shrub to be planted in 

 masses or in hedges and screens. It will take it several years to 

 reach this height, and as it will stand severe pruning it may be 

 kept down quite low. The other is a smaller shrub which grows 

 into more graceful specimens. It is a useful shrub to plant about 

 the house or about clumps of trees upon the lawn. Both forms 

 produce rather showy yellow flowers. 



The common lilac succeeds very, well in trying locations. It 

 may be used as a hedge plant in the screen, or as specimen plants 

 about the lawn. It grows into a graceful shrub or high hedge with 

 little pruning. The Tartarian honeysuckle should thrive under dry 

 farm conditions. It grows to a height of ten feet and forms a very 

 graceful specimen plant with small but fragrant blossoms. It is a 



