Yards and Lawns 
Wm. Gomme, Bartow 
The subject assigned to the Committee 
on Y^ards and Lawns, covers such a large 
area, that it is impossible to touch on 
every phase, therefore these remarks will 
be confined to the suburban yard, which 
usually is limited in space to one or two 
lots. 
Very often when purchasing a ready- 
built house or a lot upon which to build, 
the thought usually comes to the would- 
be purchaser, “Can I have a pretty front 
yard?” Sometimes the property has rem¬ 
nants of a by-gone grove, other times 
large trees are dotted here and there mak¬ 
ing other plant life almost impossible. 
Then again, this same property may be 
entirely devoid of all vegetation, so mak¬ 
ing formulative plans for a pretty yard 
somewhat easier, but not always as at¬ 
tractive. A few properly placed shade 
trees are essential and attractive, their 
shade gives a pleasing and cooling effect 
which is so desirable in this southern cli¬ 
mate. 
The yard having the remnant of a cit¬ 
rus grove can be made beautiful as well 
as profitable. The trees should be well 
pruned and those overhanging the house, 
if there be one, should be trimmed to allow 
plenty of light and air. Very often one 
finds overshadowing trees on all sides of 
a residence, which gives the place a 
gloomy appearance, shuts out the light, 
making the interior damp, etc. Trees 
fronting directly on the house should be 
removed to another location, or far 
enough away so that a lawn and a few 
suitable flowers can be planted. To have 
a place entirely taken up with one kind of 
tree or plant, does not make that place at¬ 
tractive or profitable. One tires of see¬ 
ing the same old landscape, day in and day 
out. Few shade trees for the place is de¬ 
sirable. They soften the hard lines, and 
produce a cooling and pleasing atmos¬ 
phere. They shut off unsightly buildings, 
and generally add considerable intrinsic 
value to the property. Their one draw¬ 
back, especially oaks, is that if too large 
and too numerous, their feeding roots 
penetrate other portions of the yard, some¬ 
times making other vegetation impossible. 
The only solution to this, is to keep them 
within due bounds, by root and top prun¬ 
ing, but not to such an extent as to make 
them unsightly. The yard devoid of veg¬ 
etation of any kind with a house in the 
middle, is indeed, in one sense of the word 
a problem. To insure the best results is 
to fix in one’s mind a plan of landscaping 
to the best advantage. Draw a plan of the 
place, pick out your favorite annuals, 
shrubs and vines, make a place for every¬ 
thing according to its habit, study local 
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