CHAPTER XI 

 Ornamentals 



A flower garden will grow more good thoughts, kindly acts, 

 smiles and pure joy to the inch than the best acre on the farm. 



— American Agriculturist. 



The one thing necessary to make most farms at- 

 tractive is ornamental planting around the house 

 and buildings. The plants used need not be expen- 

 sive, they need not demand much attention, they 

 need not be imported, they need only to be appro- 

 priate to their positions. A great many mistakes 

 are made in planting trees and shrubs by scattering 

 them in a meaningless way over the ground. The 

 one thing to remember in planning an ornamental 

 garden is to have the whole thing form a picture ; 

 that is, every plant should be in such a position 

 that it will form part of the frame in which the 

 main feature of the place, the house, is rendered 

 more beautiful and homelike. 



If the shrubs and trees are scattered over the 

 lawn, each one will claim its individual share of 

 attention and will detract from the house itself; 

 whereas, if they are grouped around the borders of 

 the place so as to leave the main portion of the 

 yard in grass, the effect will be greatly improved, 

 because the lawn will give a restful air to the place. 

 No matter how large or how small the yard may 

 be, the planting of ornamentals should be at the 

 sides except for such necessary trees, vines, etc., 

 as will partially shade the porches and windows of 

 the house itself. Even these trees should be placed 



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