Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 217, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1914 — COMMENDS GENERAL APPEARANCE OF CITY [ARTICLE]

COMMENDS GENERAL APPEARANCE OF CITY

Prof. C. G. Sauers, of Purdue, Judges Premises and Makes Helpful Criticism. < The prize awards were made Sunday by Prof. C. G. Saurers, of the horticultural, station of Purdue University, who went over the entire city iri an automobile and after selecting several of the premises which looked the best used a score card in arriving at his conclusions as to which were entitled <to the prizes. Th (Towards were made in two classes, owners and tenants and the result was as follows: Owners: C. A. Roberts, first; Dr. A. G. Catt, second: E. D. Rhoades, third; - Tenants: Dr. Ed. N. Loy, first; H. E. Hartley, second; Harvey W. Wood, third. , In each class the prizes were S2O, sl4 and SB. After paying the expense of the judge there was $1.50 left, which Mr. Holden will give to the Board of Charities. The premises of John Eger.scored the highest of any in Rensselaer, but the prizes are given only to those Who do their own work in care of flower beds and fawns. Prof. SaueYs was one of the judges in the Lafaydtte Yard Improvement Content, and th& prize yard in Lafayette scored 90 points out of a possible 100. The Eger yard scored 90.5. In Lafayette these inspections a month apart 'were made. The score cards were based upon the yard and the flower garden, each with a value of 50 per cent, as follows: Yard: lawn, 10, shrubbery 10, neatness 30.

Flower garden: selection of vavieties 10, condition and care 25, arrangement and placing 15. The Eger property scored as follows: lawn 8-5, shrubbery and trees 7.5, neatness 27.5, selection of flower varieties 9, condition and care 24, arrangement 14. The Roberts property scored 87. The lawn scored 9.5, shrubbery and trees 1, neatness 28.5, selection of flower varieties 7, condition and care 23, arrangement and placing 11. It thus can be seen that the Roberts yard was only 4 per cent off perfect, but the flower garden Was graded off 9 points. Mr. Roberts has very few flowers, preferring the green lawn to flowers. The Dr Catt property graded 83, the Rhoades property 82.5, the Comer house 81.5, F. iM. Haskell’s property 80.5. z The Dr. Loy property scored 83, the H. E. Hartley property 80 and the H. W. Wood property 79.

In the favorable mention class of the owner’s property was Mrs. William Washburn’s,. Dr. English’s and O. K. Rainer’s. There were many others,- but these in about the order named “Were considered ''after the Comer house and the Haskell property. Mrs. Bicknell, at the corner of Weston and Harrison streets, E. D. Rhoades in the old Washburn property and other tenants received favorable mention. (Mrs. Bicknell has many flowers, but the parking was not mowed outside of the walk «ind there was some lack of detailed attention. The following general criticism was made by Prof. Sauers and should prove a valuable guides in future years.

Rensselaer is to be commended upon its general appearance. It has that clean, green and bright aspect which is so desirable in any town or city. This condition indicates the excellent civic spirit which must be prevalent among the citizens and which is alwpytf so desirable but hard to obtain.

Yet, along with her splendid appearance there are some flaws in the civic appearance which can be easily, remedied. Probably the most noticeable is the planting of trees too close together. To attain its best growth and make its best showing a tree must have room and lots of it. Shade trees Should be planted at least 30 feet apart and 40 is better. Although this may seem a good piece when seating the small tree, at j£he end of a few years the owner can readily see the advantage of distance. If your trees are too close, look them over carefully and cut down the undesirables. If you are planting new ones, choose a good species, one that is hardy, disease resistant, beautiful and long lived. Another comipon discrepancy is the lack of foundation planting., Screen your bare foundations with permanent shrubbage or perennial flowers. The screen for foundations makes the connecting link between the house and lawn and break” thejharsh line caused by a bare foundation. There is a lack ot attention to de tail.' It is the little thlngaabont a yard that count. Keep la vii free of weed?. \Do nci allow rubbish to co.ie-t in odd .viners. Keen the grass along the wilk cut hank It all counts w.ien a yard is care fully 1« ckei over as is . eoessary in judging them. The is too much bedding of plants. Do not put a formed be<l out In the center of a ’?wn, put the

flowers along the ft-r»ee, heders and w.i k. Leave 11. e. lawn sprt’S open, it is more tasteful and fc ivfs the passerby a much » e.ter iinsession. * Lear-?, to know tie perennial plants a.id shrub •. l?rcy need !?•> esre than an.u.al ih u is, m r. t o; •hem prett'er and nju<h'the bes . in the iong run. There is, lack of attention to detail. It is the little things about a yard that count. Keep the lawn free from weeds. Do not allow rubbish to collect in odd corners. Keep the grass along the walk cut back. It all counts When a yard is carefully looked over as is necessary in judging them. There is too much bedding of plants. Do not put a formed bed out in the center of a lawn. Put the flowers along the fence, 'borders and walk. Leave the lawn spaces open, it is more tasteful ’and gives rthe passerby a much better Impression. Learn to know the perennial plants and shrubs. The ynee delss' plarits and shrubs. They need less care than annual flowers, most of them are prettier and much the in the long run.

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