326 MISSOURI STATE HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



where the house wall seemed blistered in the sun, without a tree or 

 vine to cast the tremulous shadow of the leaves across the curtainless 

 window. Then imagine, dear friends, the other side of the picture with 

 only "waste places'- and you have a sorry picture before. Shall we 

 then fill the "waste places" in our minds by useful study and by becom- 

 ing members of the Horticultural Society! 



PUBLIC PAEKS. 



BY Z. S. RAGAN, INDEPENDENCE, MO. 



1 am glad to find that an effort is being made to establish a public 

 park for Kansas City, and that Mayor Kumpf has recommended, and 

 the city council has the same under consideration. The local horticul- 

 tural society for six years past has recommended, and by numerous 

 essays, the importance of suitable drives, boulevards, cemetery and 

 parks as a necessity in any city of importance. 



At the present time it may not be out of question to discuss some 

 of the important questions to be considered. In the selection of 

 grounds, there are two essential requisites : 



First — A sufficient area of contiguous territory containing water, 

 shade, etc., to be improved from year to year, keeping pace with ad- 

 vance and enlargement of the city. 



Second — The eligibility as to health, diversity and beauty. 



If only a small park is wanted its lay is of but little consequence,, 

 confined only to its immediate locality. Many of the Kansas county 

 towns have one or two public parks. Yet if a city park is desired, 

 ranking with those of leading American cities, a suitable area of land 

 must be had to be commensurate with the wants of the city. 



The Central Park, in N^ew York, being the most important work of 

 the kind that has been undertaken in America, the importance of which 

 was urged as a necessity by the horticulturists. At present it contains 

 2,700 acres, and the city park at Philadelphia contains about the same 



