Planting a Country Place for Winter— By James Wood s 



HOW WINDBREAKS MAY BE ARRANGED TO SHELTER THE HOUSE, AVOID SNOW- 

 DRIFTS, AND PROVIDE A WINTER WALK— SUGGESTIONS FOR MAKING ATTRACTIVE 

 WINTER VIEWS, PROVIDING CHEERY BITS OF COLOR, AND ATTRACTING THE BIRDS 



'"THE method of planting a country place 

 ■* depends chiefly upon the purpose that 

 animates that place. It may be a farm 

 where business interests are prominent; it 

 may be a gentleman's residence to be occu- 

 pied throughout the year; or it may be for 

 summer rest and enjoyment. The place 

 should be planted to best meet its particular 

 purpose. 



For summer use the house should receive 

 the unobstructed southwest wind, which 

 brings such refreshment into "the twilight 

 of the sultry day," and open lawns and 

 flowers and cooling shade should combine 

 their attractions. Upon the farm beauty, 

 convenience and utility should be brought 

 into harmonious relation, while for the all- 

 year residence particular attention should 

 be given to winter comfort and enjoyment. 

 Indeed the all-year home requires more 

 skill for its proper planting than does any 

 other, for the requirements of every season 

 must be considered. 



Every season has its peculiar charms for 

 the eye that can see them, but dear old 

 winter seems to require more attention to 

 arrangement to bring out its beauties than 



do the others. Its biting blasts must be 

 broken and tempered, its drifting snows must 

 be regulated, its feeble sunshine must be 

 conserved, the mellow autumn must be kept 

 as long as possible and the returning spring 

 must be encouraged to hasten its coming, 

 while during the time of its undisputable 

 sway we must set out in fairest display its 

 charms of snowflakes and ice crystals and 

 white mantles. 



A FREEZING MAX HAS NO EYE FOR BEAUTY 



In planting for winter, comfort must 

 receive the first consideration. The rude 

 north wind must have its force broken. 

 This may be accomplished by planting 

 evergreens for windbreaks. But it is best 

 to attain the end without the formal array 

 of a straight border, which is often too 

 assertive. The outbuildings should be placed 

 to do part of the work, but so as not to show 

 too plainly that this was in view. Between 

 the buildings groups of evergreens may be 

 placed, so as to make a pleasing variety, 

 add a beauty of their own and effectually 

 complete the windbreaking circuit. In all 

 our Northern states the northwest wind is 



the enemy whose assaults must be guarded 

 against. But we have severe winds from the 

 north and northeast, and these points should 

 also be effectually covered. It requires not 

 a little study to do this without formality, 

 but by using natural elevations where there 

 are any, and arranging buildings and plant- 

 ings with due relation to each other, utility 

 and beauty may join hands very successfully. 



Snowdrifts should be considered, as well 

 as the direct force of winds. These often 

 cause much inconvenience, but they are the 

 creatures of well-known conditions and may 

 be easily guarded against. They are never 

 made for a considerable distance in the lee 

 of a belt of evergreens. In almost any 

 situation this may be readily ccntrolled. As 

 a rule, the places where snow will drift can 

 only be known by experience, but whether 

 it will accumulate in a given space or not 

 one may insure against by proper planting. 



The lee of windbreaks should be utilized 

 for special purposes. Where there is con- 

 siderable length, there should be made a 

 winter pleasure walk. We need open air 

 exercise, and "the winter walk at noon" has 

 great possibilities for enjoyment. The wind 





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The winter dreariness of a wind-swept tract. No suggestion of comfort here. Compare with the cozy suggestiveness of the picture on the next p&ge 



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