Dkcember 2.J, 3 0112. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review. 



183 



laterior View of the New Greenhouse at Briarcliff, Scarborough, N. Y. 



a rather slow process, and some of them 

 may take several months in cominjr u]>. 

 Seedling araiuarias are rather spindly 

 objects while making their first growth, 

 the plants usually presenting quite a 

 length of bare stem before the first 

 leaves open out, and it is therefore the 

 practice of many growers to coil <lown 

 this unsightly stem in the ]mt when 

 shifting on the seedling plants and thus 

 to produce a better furnished plant. 



The best shapetl specimens of Arau- 

 earia excelsa are, however, secured from 

 top cuttings taken from selected seed- 

 lings. \V. H. Taplin. 



QTY PARKS. 



[PreHciited to the lowji Park and Fni-estr.v As- 

 sociation by J. T. D. Fulnn-f, Des Moines.] 



We are onlj- fairly started on our 

 progressive march in this section of the 

 country, and as we ailvance we find 

 more and more of our city property be- 

 ing built up with tenement rows and 

 flats, tJius crowding the people into 

 closer and more confined (|uarters. Hence 

 the growing demaml is thus formed for 

 a place to get relief in the natural 

 sweet fresh air, and so we look for a 

 place provided for tliat purpose, called 

 a park, and the people are willing to 

 tax themselves quite heavily to have 

 such a place. 



It is of these places, called City Parks, 

 that I speak. It is immaterial as to 

 how large a park shall be — whether of 

 few acres or many — the intent is the 

 same, i. e,, to afford a place for rest 

 and enjoyment in nature's surround- 

 ings, amid beautiful foliage, and -songs 

 of birds. 



We will first take up the tree plant- 

 ing, which should be as natural as pos- 

 sible, and done promiscuously — not in 

 straight rows (unless along some ])ark- 

 like boulevard). When we say promis- 



cuously, we mean mixing the kinds — i, 

 e., do not plant many of a kind to- 

 gether, ilass or group them, being care- 

 ful to select varieties that look well 

 near each other, and do not plant a tree 

 unless you are convinced that that very 

 tree will be an improvement to that par- 

 ticular ])lace. I once asked the ques- 

 tion, "What is the object in planting 

 those trees';" The answer. I received 

 was, "Oh, just to cover the ground.'' 

 .So, I would say, never iilant trees mere- 

 ly to cover the ground, but have some 

 object in view, and that of shade or or- 

 nament or to help to carry out a view 

 that may need some conifers, elm, pin 

 oak or Balm of Gilead, and, let me say 

 that while I advise the use of native 

 trees for parks I would not be restricted 

 wholly to them, for there are many 

 trees that are not strictly native, that 

 do well and are almost indispensable in 

 making a park look what I would call 

 complete. 



We think that if the trees are not 

 trimmed at all it adds to their Ijeautv, 

 especially conifers and elms. Kven pin 

 oaks are finer when their branches 

 droop almost to the ground. So, it fol- 

 lows that the in-uiiinc knife should ]>e 

 kept in experienced hands. 



Xow as to the shrubberv. Tt should 

 be selected with an end nf hiving some 

 of it in bloom or fruit all sttmmer. 

 It should be so planted as to have a 

 jiatural, easy apnearance, and not look 

 stiff and formal as tboti^h made by 

 hand at the carpenter's bench. 



Then there is the green, or lawn. Tliis 

 should be so arranged and kept as to 

 have a dark green appearance; and we 

 would recommend the use of com- 

 mercial fertilizers instead of ma- 

 ntire on account of the weed seeds. 

 We must not forget the plav- 

 ground for athletic sports, or the 

 outdoor kindergarten, or the public 



1 



bathing and boating places. In fact the 

 aim should be to afford the maximum 

 of outdoor recreation and enjoyment for 

 those who are so much in need of pure 

 air and sunshine amid flowers and trees. 



The aquatics are also an eminently 

 interesting and instriictive feature and 

 should not be omitted. Then, as to the 

 flowers, more commonly called green- 

 house plants, these should be. as nearly 

 as possible, in one garden or part of 

 tlie park and should consist of both sub- 

 tropical and carpet bedding. I am 

 aware that some of our best known 

 landscape gardeners oppose carpet 

 bedding, and with all due respect to 

 these gardeners, I will say that carpet 

 bedding will be with us when they arc 

 gone. Where this kind of planting is 

 not overdone it is fine; it is interest- 

 ing and instructive and it tends to re- 

 fresh one's interest in nature and art 

 combined. 



The drives and walks should be as 

 ea.sv as jxissilile, free from short curves 

 and steep hills. .\t prominent places 

 alongside of them should be pieces of 

 statuary, so placed as to give a pleas- 

 ing effect. There should also be drink- 

 ing fimntains or sprinirs in abundance 

 to accommodate all visitors. 



We have now come to the manage- 

 ment of parks, which is bv no means 

 of the least importance. First — should 

 lio n Park Board — which should consist 

 nf llivpp or five men. and .shotibl be as 

 fir eliminated from politics as possible. 

 They should have direct charge of all 

 flip fipjinces and all improvements of 

 th" p-rk. 



Next, under them, and selected by 

 tli""i, shon'd lie a suppri"tend'-nt of the 

 entire park system of tlie city, or a 

 spnevintcndent for eac'i nark as the 

 board may see fit. Tu either case, this 

 superintendent should be a park man of 

 knowledge and ability, for what five 



