RURAL HOMES.

The pioneer generally puts up his first
rude dwelling in great haste, intending it to
remain only a few years. The imperfections of stick chimneys and log houses
should not be severely criticized, as suitable
materials for a good house are often hard to
get, and the means to buy them very limit-
ed; but the owner of many broad, fertile
acres, if a good manager, soon feels able to
build a larger and more permanent residence. Each member of the family sets to
studying and planning. They naturally
look at all the houses in the neighborhood
and think of others they have seen, call in
some mechanic of their acquaintance and
agree upon a plan which most likely shows
very little originality of design. It may be
convenient, economical and tasty, but the
chances are otherwise. Certain fashions pre-
vail in limited portions of country. This is
shown in the cornice, pitch of roof, size and
shape of windows, materials used, color of
paint, size and arrangement of rooms. For
example, in Chicago and its suburbs, the
cheaper houses are stuck up, from two to
six feet, on cedar posts. The part above
the posts is covered with clapboards.
The part about the posts is surrounded
by upright boards painted of a color different from the main building. Steps outside
lead to the rooms above. This style probably arose from & desire to prevent cottages
from appearing too low; and to get the
main floor up from the wet ground, once so
prevalent in the city. This is still the style,
even where the ground is dry enough for a
deep cellar and a substantial wall of bricks
or stones. The common color of country
houses is monotonous-white with green
blinds. The remedy for this is to give more
thought and observation to rural homes;
read the best works on such subjects
and introduce something of the kind into
schools and seminaries and colleges.
The attempt to beautify country houses and
their surroundings is the rule and not the
exception. The point to get at is, to derive
the greatest benefit from the smallest outlay.
Study the effect produced by white-washed
trees, painted bowlders, green stakes, frames
and trellis work for sustaining green
plants, large upturned stumps in small yards.
Compare in plan and detail, a residence
and its surroundings which pleases almost
everybody, with one of equal or greater
cost which is not so pleasing. Where lies
the failure of one, where the success of the
other. A small yard may have too many
flowers in it, a large one not enough. Trees
and shrubs are the cheapest ornament; perennial herbs cheaper than annuals. Many
of our native trees and shrubs are preferable
to those from distant countries. Too often,
people think a tree is not worth a place in
their yard-that it is not pretty because it is
abundant in their own country. A little
money judiciously expended for cheap clothing that is well fitted and well made, will
produce a better effect than twice or
three times the amount for expensive
clothing not well selected. So a little labor
upon a house and yard in just the right
place, will produce a pleasing effect ; while
a greater outlay without good judgment,
often produces an ill effect. The shrewdest
men have long since discovered that no money pays a better interest than, that used by
skillful hands in making home pleasant. If
you wish to sell a place it is sure to pay
more than twenty per cent. on the investment ; if you want it for a permanent home

who dare say it pays less? More attention
to this subject is one of the greatest wants of our thrifty Western farmers.
W. J. B.