THE YARD 7 



have owners of houses, factories and other 

 buildings of a semi-public character, beautify- 

 ing their grounds by the liberal employment of 

 nature's materials. 



VALUE OF EXAMPLE 



Moreover, we have examples to encourage 

 us ; we have city parks and streets or avenues, 

 city yards, suburban homes and country estates 

 planted or landscaped. And these are not 

 without valuable influence, for it seldom hap- 

 pens that the residents of a neighborhood sur- 

 rounding a place, large or small, that has been 

 effectively planted, lag far behind the pioneer. 

 Before his advent, or before his operations 

 were begun, it might be that lawns were un- 

 kempt and flowers were unknown, but it does 

 not require more than a season or two for the 

 one improvement to arouse others to action and 

 for the movement thus started to gain in extent 

 until it amply justifies all the faith placed in 

 the power of example by such bodies as civic 

 improvement societies. 



Planting, from whatever cause it may spring, 

 once begun is not quickly abandoned. Garden- 

 ing begets gardening — the more one plants the 

 more one desires to plant. But the fascination 



