PUBLIC CEMETERIES AND PUBLIC GARDENS. 



11 



But does not this general interest, mani- 

 fested in these cemeteries, prove that public 

 gardens, established in a liberal and suita- 

 ble manner, near our large cities, would be 

 equally successful ? If 30,000 persons visit 

 a cemetery in a single season, would not a 

 large public garden be equally a matter of 

 curious investigation ? Would not such gar- 

 dens educate the public taste more rapidly 

 than anything else ? And would not the 

 progress of horticulture, as a science and 

 an art, be equally benefitted by such estab- 

 lishments ? The passion for rural plea- 

 sures is destined to be the predominant 

 passion of all the more thoughtful and edu- 

 cated portion of our people ; and any means 

 of gratifying their love for ornamental or 

 useful gardening, will be eagerly seized by 

 hundreds of thousands of our countrymen. 



Let us suppose a joint stock company, 

 formed in any of our cities, for the purpose 

 of providing its inhabitants with the luxury 

 of a public garden. A site should be se- 

 lected with the same judgment which has 

 already been shown by the cemetery compa- 

 nies. It should have a varied surface, a 

 good position, sufficient natural wood, with 

 open space and good soil enough for the 

 arrangement of all those portions which re- 

 quire to be newly planted. 



Such a garden might, in the space of 50 

 to 100 acres, afford an example of the prin- 

 cipal modes of laying out grounds, — thus 

 teaching practical landscape-gardening. It 

 might contain a collection of all the hardy 

 trees and shrubs that will grow in this cli- 

 mate, each distinctly labelled, — so that the 

 most ignorant visitor could not fail to learn 

 something of trees. It might have a bo- 

 tanical arrangement of plants, and a lec- 

 ture room where, at the proper season, lec- 

 tures on botany could be delivered, and the 

 classes which should resort there could 

 study with the growing plants under their 



eyes. It might be laid out so as, in its 

 wooded positions, to afford a magnificent 

 drive for those who chose so to enjoy it ; 

 and it might be furnished with suitable 

 ices and other refreshments, so that, like 

 the German gardens, it would be the great 

 promenade of all strangers and citizens, 

 visitors, or inhabitants of the city of whose 

 suburbs it would form a part. But how 

 shall such an establishment be supported? 

 Cemeteries are sustained by the prices paid 

 for lots, which, though costing not a large 

 sum each, make an enormous sum in the 

 aggregate. 



We answer, by a small admission fee. 

 Only those who are shareholders would, 

 (like those owning lots in a cemetery,) 

 have entrance for their horses and car- 

 riages. This privilege alone would tempt 

 hundreds to subscribe, — thus adding to the 

 capital, while the daily resort of citizens 

 and. strangers would give the necessary 

 income; for no traveller would leave a 

 city, possessing such a public garden as 

 we have described, without seeing that, 

 its most interesting feature. The finest 

 band of music, the most rigid police, the 

 certainty of an agreeable promenade and 

 excellent refreshments, would, we think, 

 as surely tempt a large part of the bet- 

 ter class of the inhabitants of our cities 

 to such a resort here as in Germany. If 

 the road to Mount Auburn is now lined with 

 coaches, continually carrying the inhabi- 

 tants of Boston by thousands and tens of 

 thousands, is it not likely that such a gar- 

 den, full of the most varied instruction, 

 amusement, and recreation, would be ten 

 times more visited. Fetes might be held 

 there, horticultural societies would make 

 annual exhibitions there, and it would be 

 the general holiday-ground of all who love 

 to escape from the brick walls, paved 

 streets, and stifling atmosphere of towns. 



