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THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 



SIMEO?r FRANCIS, Editor. 



BAIX.HACHE & BAKER, Pubiisebks. 



»*ol. 3. 



JfJECJEJftBMR, 1857. 



«/ro. 13. 



Embellishments of a Conntry Home. 



£]/ Tyler McWhorter, Merctr County, Illinois. 



Let othera praise the architectural piles, the 

 marbled columns, and the glitter ot art and the 

 costly embellishments of the crowded city — • 

 where hoarded wealth, that has been abstracted 

 from the hands of honest toil, displays itself in 

 the decoratiens of fashion — but from the pent 

 up views of walled streets, let me hasten to 

 where the pure breezes of heaven freely play 

 over the green landscape, where the leafy bonghs 

 spread their cooling shade over my head, while 

 far away, on the broad old prairie, the glowing 

 beams of light are softened to the eye — 



"Where the tints of the earth and the hues of tlie Bky 

 In color though varied in beauty may vie" — 



From the ceaseless din, the tainted air, and the 

 erowded street' of the city, let me steal away to 

 some sunny bank, where the light zephyrs bear 

 along the sweet fragrance ot opening flowers, 

 where the warble of birde, the murmur of the 

 dancing streamlet and the balmy freshness of aa'^ 

 ture can soothe and tranquili^e every levered 

 disturbance of the mind. Lat him, to whom the 

 varied beauties of the smiling earth impart no 

 delight, go the mart of trade and fashion; but 

 give me the free air that waves the green 

 meadows and rustles the fields of growing corD — 

 let me eijoy the rich bounties of the orchard 

 and the gardes — give me the social tranquility 

 and all the rural endearmeuta that cluster 

 around — 



X COUNTIT HOMI. 



And this la the subject to which it is proposed 

 to call the attention of the readfr. "We live to 

 enjoy happiuess; and the happiness of living 

 necessarily depends very much upon what degree 

 of convenience, comfort and enjoyment the place 

 where we live will afford. 



The human mind is dependent upon something 

 external to itself for its entire nourishment, cul- 

 ture and expansion. External natsre impresses 

 its images, and everything with which we are 

 Burrounded and associated has its modifying in- 

 flaence. Then let him who would cultivate a 

 love of hoiBe, contentment, and the finer sensi- 

 bilities, in his own laind- and more especially in 

 the minds of his children — study to make a 



place PLEASINO AND DKLIGHTFDL TO THE SENSBS, 



As fine strains of music greet the ear and 

 tranquiliie the mind, so, also, pleasing objects 

 meet the sight and impart a more happy and 

 abiding influence. Then, how important that 

 the scenery and objects that are almost contin- 



ually before our sight shoald be such aa most 

 delight our senses. 



With the individual that hag been reared in s 

 pleasant home — in a place surrounded by inter- 

 esting scenery — in thereminiscences ef that child- 

 hood, the fondest associations of memory will 

 ever cling around "ths old homestead;" and, 

 with true emotions, he may sing — 



"IIow dear to myhpartare the scenes of Juy childhood.'' 



The object of this essay is not to recoramend 

 an extravagant outlay for costly dwellings, or 

 homestead embellishments. Nothing should be 

 recommended that will not accord with economy 

 and republican simplicity. Having been for 

 twenty years a resident of the western States, we 

 well know the many thiaes that press upon the 

 care and attention of the western farmer; and 

 will endeavor to offer some practical saggestions, 

 with due regard to the cost of labor aad expense 

 of doing things. And let it be distinctly un- 

 derstood, that the following hints are designed 

 for those who have, with their own hands, sus- 

 tained the dignity of labor, and added to the 

 growing greatness of our State. It is not ex- 

 pected that people can do everything at once; 

 but in arranging things abont a homestead it is 

 very important to start aright. 



In a short essay published in the reports of 

 1855, we labored to skow that all correct taste 

 in landscape gardening must spring from a love 

 of nature; and that the most pleasing forms 

 and aspects are always obtained by imitating 

 the scenery of nature. And the same position, 

 a£ a foandatioQ principle, will be adhered to in 

 these remarks. 



In fitting up a place, the first matter that 

 presents itself for consideration is — 



Til LOCATIOW. 



One of the first objects to be considered in the 

 location of a place is landscap* iffict. And 

 here arise two entirely distinct considerations: 



1. The appearance of the grounds when view- 

 ed from the house. 



2. The aspect of the place when viewed 

 from the main road, or some other position. 



On this point a decided difference exists be- 

 tween the feelings or fancies of the English and 

 the Americans. The Englishman prefers a sit- 

 uation quite ofi from the main road; and the en- 

 tire scenery of the place is arranged with refer- 

 ence to the pleasing effect when viewed from 

 the mansion. Or, if adjacent to ■ the highway, 

 masses of trees are planted so as rather to hide 

 the place from view — sufiBcient at least to give 

 the whole an air of seclusion. The Englishman 



