The Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56, No. 2, January 12, 1884 | Page 4

had been no thought of a re-arrangement of the
component elements of the park in order to give it an expression of
grace or beauty, but they had thought I might be able to make it
attractive by the introduction of rustic arbors and gateways, or perhaps

a fountain or "something of that sort to give it a stylish look."
I gave him an advertising pamphlet containing designs and prices of
garden ornaments, and told him they could select and order whatever
they liked from the manufacturers,--but declined to give any advice
which should connect my name with the work.
I have told this story as the readiest means of setting forth my ideas of
the capabilities of such public areas, and also as an illustration of
prevailing errors in regard to landscape gardening, which most people
seem to think consists solely of extraneous, artificial decoration, by
means of which any piece of ground can be made beautiful, however
stiff and formal may be the arrangement of the trees, shrubbery, and
lawns which give expression to its character as truly as the features of a
human face.
Such squares as I have described are the most common and simple
forms of public parks, and they might and should in all cases constitute
not only a chief ornament of the town, but a most attractive place of
resort for rest and refreshment. Nothing beyond the materials which
nature furnishes is needed for the purpose, but it is essential that these
should be gracefully dispersed, and that they should exhibit a luxuriant,
healthy growth.
Above all we should avoid the introduction of artificial decorations
which are intended to "look pretty." If arbors or rests are needed, let
them be placed at the points where they are obviously required, and be
made of graceful patterns; but do not put elaborate structures of rustic
work where no one will ever use them, and where in a few years they
will be only dilapidated monuments of a futile effort at display.
The Village Improvement Societies which are everywhere springing up
should devote their earliest efforts to the tasteful arrangement and care
of these public ornamental areas, which should form the nucleus and
pattern of the graceful expression which should pervade the streets.

FARM NAMES.
Since the call of THE PRAIRIE FARMER for "something new" I have
been afraid to follow any of the old beaten paths so long traveled by
agricultural writers; and have been on the lookout for the "something
new." Something that does not appear in our agricultural papers, yet of
interest to the fraternity. It matters little how trifling the subject may be,
if it begets an interest in farm or country life; anything that will make
our homes more attractive, more beautiful, and leave a lasting
impression on the minds of the boys and girls that now cluster around
the farmers' hearths throughout this vast country of ours.
There is a beautiful little song entitled, "What is Home Without a
Mother?" which could be supplemented with another of equal interest,
to wit: "What is Home Without a Name?" I answer, a dreary waste of
field and fence, there being nothing in the mind of the absent one to
remind him of his distant home but a lone farm-house, a barn, long
lines of fences, and perhaps a few stunted apple trees; and when he
thinks of it, his whole mind reverts to the hot harvest field, the sweat,
the toil, and the tiresomeness of working those big fields! Nothing
attractive, no pleasant memory. Nothing to draw the mind of the youth
to the roof that sheltered his childhood. No wonder boys and girls yearn
for a change.
Then what are we to do to change this for the better. I say give your
country homes a name, no matter how homely or isolated that home
may be. Give each one a name, and let those names be appropriate and
musical, short, sweet, and easily remembered and pronounced, and then,
when you go to visit a neighbor, either on business or pleasure, instead
of saying, I am going to Jones', or to Brown's, or Smith's, let it be, I am
going over to "The Cedars," or, to "Hickory Grove," or, to "Holly Hill."
How much pleasanter it would sound. There would be no mistake about
your destination, there being perhaps half a dozen Jones, Browns, or
Smiths within five miles of your home, but only one "Hickory Hill."
Then, when young folks make up their surprise parties during the long,
cold, winter evenings, in place of notifying each other that they are
going to surprise the James', the Jones', or the Jackson's, it would be,

we are going to surprise "Pleasant Valley" "Viewfield" or "Walnut
Hill." Every member of the surprise party would know the