Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 278, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1916 — HOME TOWN HELPS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOME TOWN HELPS

BEAUTIFY YOUR HOME PLACE It Doesn’t Cost Much But Adds a Great Deal to Value of Property— Some Shade-Tree Advice. Beautifying the home place is one of the pleasures ami duties of every home lover. Homes that do not reflect In some way the better natures of their owners are not what they should be. Home Is the place where we spend the most Important part of our Ilves. Homes that are not comforting to the tired home-maker have lost all their charm' and usefulness. Homes should be made beautiful to the eyes as well as comforting to the body and nerves. If you will look about you the homes that are the best In appearance are homes that harbor gentle people. Homes that are allowed to run to ruin are owned by people who are careless and often shiftless In their personal habits. It Is not hard to beautify your home. It does not require a lot of money or valuable labor. “I remember seeing a little dooryard in St. Louis once in which a few seeds had been planted,” says a writer In Farmers’ Guide. “Possibly the place was not more than ten feet square, but there was such an abundance of flowers and grass on that little dooryard that it gladdened thousands of passers-by every day. That little place was tended by a crippled girl. And it reflected more than anything else the spirit of generosity and gentleness which was her predominating characteristic. Money alone will never make a home beautlfuL” —— Many farmers plant fruit trees about the house, but shade treks w’ould be better for the front yard. A shade tree to be satisfactory must be tall, thick and cover a large space. Unless it Is pruned high the grass will not grow well under It. The most satisfactory fruit tree is almost opposite this in general characteristics. It must be headed low in order to have the fruit within reach at harvest time. If it grows tall and thick there will be very little fruit and it will be of poor quality. An open top or crown is necessary for the production of good fruit, and with this condition the shade Is not good.