FROCEEDINGS OF THE AUTUMN MEETING. ' 63 



TREATMENT OF PARK AREAS. 



BY DR. W. J. BEAL, MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



In m^ny cases a park costs more than it ought to, or, in other words, 

 if different plans had been adopted, from those usually made, the park 

 could be made less expensive, and afford just as much pleasure and satis- 

 faction. In making plans the eye should be kept on the expense of execut- 

 ing them. Too often some florist or nurseryman manages the park in 

 his own interest. He makes plans or gets plans adopted in such a way 

 that carrying them out gives him a job. There is no objection to this, 

 certainly, provided everything is done for the best interests of the people 

 of the village. 



One nurseryman, within my knowledge, had a quantity of balsam firs, 

 arbor vit^e, and other stock which were overgrown. The trees had been 

 sheared so as to grow very narrow and tall. The plan adopted was to 

 sell the trees by the height, so much per foot, and the refuse balsam firs 

 went in to ornament the park. 



At one time, one of the officers of a cemetery said to me something like 

 this: ^'There are three of us on the board in charge of the cemetery. We 

 are business men and know little of the best and most economical meth- 

 ods of managing a cemetery. There is a move on foot to have a lot of 

 bedding plants placed in the cemetery. What do you think about it?" 

 By the way, the sentiment was very likely worked up by the man who had 

 the stock of bedding plants. I replied, "It may be well enough to do 

 something of this kind, but it is expensive. Your plants, if well selected, 

 well planted, and well cared for, will make a fine display for about three 

 months of the year, and during the rest of the time there will be bare, un- 

 sightly spots; besides, at the close of each year you have nothing left by 

 way of permanent improvements to show for your labor and expendi- 

 ture of money. It would be better to give more attention to shrubbery, 

 because it is cheaper, and agreeable the year round, and shrubbery im- 

 proves for a long time after planting. Suppose you divide the work, put- 

 ting in some hardy flowering shrubs and a few bedding plants. While I 

 have my views on this subject, as I am no longer professor of landscape 

 gardening, I think you would do well to consult Professor Taft, who, no 

 doubt, would give you advice after visiting the grounds, without 

 expense." I did not follow the matter any further, but I saw later that the 

 bedding plants went in. 



Judging by the appearance of things, I presume Belle Isle park in the 

 Detroit river is managed in a similar manner. There is an expensive 

 series of canals, and costly bridges, and a lot of geraniums, cannas, coleus, 

 echeverias, and the like to look at. Nice roads have been built, and this 

 part is all right. The native trees and shrubs and perennial herbs are the 

 most interesting things to be seen, but thickets were taken out and the 

 woody area is being improved too much to suit me. How the city people 

 can become so enthusiastic over Belle Isle park I was unable to see. 



