BEAUTIFYING THE HOME GROUNDS Page 5
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A Farm aid Home Weekly for
The Carolinas. Virginia. Georgia and Florida.
Vol. XXIX. No. 44
FOUNDED 1886, AT PAI
UN. C.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1914
91 a Year; 5c. a Copy
A WORD ABOUT THE HOME
GRODS
WELL PLANNED GROUNDS MAKE OF THIS SOUTHERN HOME A PLACE OF BEAUTY
MAYBE some one will say that the time is inopportune for talking
about making the farm home more attractive; that in view of
tne crisis in cotton it is essential tnat no immediate . improve
ments be attempted, and that expenditures be held to a minimum. In a
measure this is true. Certainly it is a time for careful economy, pend
ing a readjustment of affairs. However, there are many things that
will help greatly in making our farms pleasant to look upon that may be
done with the expenditure of little money, and no very great amount
of labor, it is to these few essentials that we would, call attention.
First of all, there must be a definite plan, such as that described by
Mr. Hayden on page 5 of this issue. Study this sketch
showing the location of the house, outbuildings,
walks, driveways, and shrubbery. Then with paper
and pencil make a sketch showing how you would
like for your grounds to appear, of course always
keeping in mind tne peculiar local and topographical
conditions that must be considered. It should not be
forgotten in making your plans that what is most nat
ural is always most beautiful, and all striving for stiff
formality and garish effect should be avoided. Let
us not. forget, too, that any plan is faulty that does
not locate the barnyard and outbuildings generally to
the rear or to one side and back, so that offensive
odors and drainage may be away from rather than
toward the front of the house.
With our plans made, perhaps the next most im
portant step will be to make the lawn. We are only
stating the truth when we say that far too few South
ern farm homes have grass covered lawns that are
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DON'T FAIL TO READ
Acreage Reduction in
South Carolina . . . 7
Cotton Market Situation 17
How a County Fair Helps 7
Marketing Waste Prod
ucts Through Hogs
Oats As a Substitute for
Cotton ...... 6
The Livestock Growers'
Opportunity . .
We Must Have Help in
Crop-Marketing . . .
What About the Potash
Shortage? 10
worthy of the name. In a country where grass of some kind grow s the
year round, it seems a pity that our front yards should be swept bare
and hard. There's nothing prettier than a thick sod of closely clipped
Bermuda or blue grass, and to neglect this is to neglect a matter of.,
major importance in making the grounds attractive. It may be objected
that the lawn must be mowed regularly, but if a good lawn mower
is used this work is certainly not a whit more laborious than "sweep
ing, the yards" once a week.
Another detail that must claim careful consideration is that of trees.
Generally, these should be to the sides and back, rather than close
in at the front of the house. In selecting such trees
our preference as a rule would be for those that are
both ornamental and useful. The pecan certainly
falls in this class, and there are literally thousands of
hot, glaryV dusty Southern, lanes that might be im
mensely bettered by being made into avenues of
stately pecan trees.
With the plans made and the trees and lawn planted,
there of course remains the planting of shrubbery
and borders of flowers. There are dozens of varie
ties from which selections may be made and which,
when properly combined, will add a touch of color
for nearly the entire year.
Mr. Progressive Farmer, let's not dismiss this sub
ject as one unworthy of our attention. Green grass,
flowers and trees properly grouped and combined,
afford us the means for making the rural South a land
of infinite beauty. To use these advantages is our
duty to ourselves, our children, and our communities.
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