Suggestions For Planting the Place 
Adding Beauty to the Farm Home 
S EEDS AND NURSERY STOCK.—While most of 
the seedsmen admit that less seeds are being 
sold to the farmers, truckers and market gardeners 
this season, they say that the demand for seed to he 
used for planting kitchen gardens and ornamental 
gardens is as great as last year. Nurserymen, too, 
are reporting a heavy demand for ornamental shrubs 
and trees, as well as for perennial plants. On the 
whole, the prices quoted for garden seeds are less 
than they were last season, although there are some 
exceptions, as in the case of peas, which are in short 
supply. Nursery stock, on the contrary, runs about a 
third higher than in past seasons, the increase being 
due to the shortage of help which made propagation 
of the plants difficult while the war lasted. It is en- 
Pai?t I. 
charm to the home grounds the whole Summer 
through. They are listed according to their blooming 
season: Forsytliia or golden bell. Japanese quince, 
lilacs. Weigela, syringa or mock orange, bush honey¬ 
suckle. Deutzia crenata, Spiraea Van Houttei. some¬ 
times called bridal wreath (although this name more 
properly belongs to Spinea prunifolia), Rose rugosa 
or Japanese brier rose. Hydrangea paniculata grandi- 
flora, Altluea or Rose of Sharon, Japanese barberry. 
IIARIT AND TREATMENT.—These are all com¬ 
mon shrubs which are very easy to grow, although 
they require somewhat different treatment. For- 
less susceptible to mildew than many of the common 
kinds. Other varieties which can be recommended 
are the Rouen lilac, with reddish flowers: Ludwig 
Spaeth and Congo, both with very dark blossoms: 
Marie Legraye. Princess Alexandra, Madame Abel 
Chateney and Madame Casimir Perier, pure white; 
Coerulea Superha, blue; President Carnot, pale lilac; 
Maxime Cornu, lilac rose; Villosa, light purple, and 
one of the last to bloom. I think that no mistake 
will be made if any of these lilacs are purchased. 
It should be stipulated, however, that they must he 
grown on their own roots and not grafted. Much of 
the trouble which has been found in past years be¬ 
cause named varieties seemed to revert to the com¬ 
mon lilacs has been due to the use of grafted stock. 
I// r'lrlire I’tanting in Front of the Form Home. Fig. 119 
couraging to find that farmers and suburban home¬ 
makers are buying freely of the ornamentals, for if 
shows a growing tendency to make the home grounds 
more attractive and inviting. It is not commonly 
realized, perhaps, to what extent even an ugly house 
can he transformed by the generous use of trees and 
shrubs. There is another angle to this subject, too. 
Experience has shown that a small investment of 
this kind greatly improves the selling value of any 
property. Real estate men are beginning to appre¬ 
ciate this fact, although in their development they 
almost always use the plants which give quickest 
results, regardless of their value in the long run. 
A DOZEN GOOD SHRUBS.—As a matter of fact, 
the average home-maker is not sufficiently acquainted 
with hardy shrubs to make a selection which will 
give the best returns for the money spent. It is not 
at all difficult to make a choice which will give a suc¬ 
cession of flowers from Spring until Fall. Here are 
a dozen good hardy shrubs which will add color and 
sythia. for example, should he planted in a sunny 
location. Moreover, it should have an abundance of 
room, for it has a branching habit and does not look 
well when crowded. While the Japanese quince is 
very lovely in bloom, its habit is not as neat as that 
of some others, so that it should either he kept well 
trimmed or else given a somewhat inconspicuous 
location. Like the Forsytliia it prefers full sun¬ 
light. 
DESIRABLE LILACS.—A whole article might he 
given to the lilacs alone, for at least 200 species and 
varieties are being grown in this country. No shrub 
is more satisfactory or longer lived. Washington 
brought lilacs to this country, and the original plants 
are believed to be still in existence at Mt. Vernon. 
The lilac is one of the few plants which improve with 
age, and there is almost no shrub which will stand 
so much neglect and still produce a profusion of 
flowers every Spring. One of the best is the Persian 
lilac, because it is remarkably free flowering and is 
for suckers come up from the roots and eventually 
crowd out the graft. 
WEIGELA AND MOCK ORANGE.—Weigela rosea 
is an old-fashioned shrub, but a much finer variety 
for the home garden is Eva Ratlike, with reddish 
blossoms carried over a long season. Properly speak¬ 
ing. the syringa or mock orange is a Philadelphus, 
but the common name will doubtless stick. Many 
handsome hybrids can be obtained now. but none can 
surpass Bouquet Blanc, one of the finest of the new 
sorts. Syringa Virginal is another fine new variety. 
It is well to remember that you must choose between 
size and perfume, for while the old-fashioned mock 
orange with small cream blossoms is exceedingly 
sweet, most of the newer kinds, with huge, pure 
white blooms, have little or no fragrance. 
OTHER FAMILIAR SHRUBS.—One desirable 
feature of the honeysuckle is its handsome fruit. The 
honeysuckle, too. will bloom in a shady place, as well 
as in the sun, and looks well in the border or.as iudi- 
