The New York Pabk. — Hon. Fernando Wood, the present Mayor of New York, and 

 by far the most efficient one that New York has had for many a year, refers to the Park 

 in his late Message as follows : 



"Central Paek. — The commissioners appointed to open the Central Park are progreseing with 

 tlie work — since the organization of the Board, it has collected and examined evidence of title 

 to the lands to be taken for the Park; in causing the necessary surveys, maps of blocks and pro- 

 files of grades to be made ; in personal view of the lands to be taken, and in procuring such in- 

 formation in regai'd thereto, as may serve to guide to a just valuation of the same; also in deter- 

 mining the area of assessment for special benefit, and procuring maps of the same, and in pro- 

 curing evidence of the value of the improvements on the land to be taken ; and are now engaged 

 in the valuation of the lands themselves. It will be remembered that this Park is to be bounded 

 south by Fifty-ninth street, north by One Hundred and Sixth street, east by the Fifth Avenue, and 

 west by the Eighth Avenue; and will comprehend an area of seven hundred and seventy-six acre?, 

 from which deduct State Arsenal, fourteen; Croton Reservoir, thirty-eight; proposed do., one 

 hundred and twelve ; Streets and Avenues, one hundred and ninety ; belonging to the city 

 thirty-four — three hundred and thirty-eight ; leaving to be paid for, three hundred and eighty- 

 eight; which, by estimating at sixteen lots per acre, makes six thousand two hundred and eight 

 lots to be paid for by the city, and by assessments upon contiguous property. The import^int 

 question of the valuation of these lots has not as yet been positively fixed by the commissioneis. 

 Tlie subject is now before them, and I advise all who are interested to appear at their office. 

 Another question of much public interest, in connection with this matter, is the territorial lin it 

 to which the commissioners shall extend their assessments upon property of individuals, and 

 what proportion of the whole cost shall be made a tax upon the city. 



"These questions are entirely under the control of the commissioners. I am informed, unoffi- 

 cially, that the disposition of the Board is to extend the area of assessments three blocks east 

 and west, and a greater distance north and south; and to make two-thirds of the whole cost 

 payable by the city. If this be the determination, it can be easily ascertained about what sum 

 the Park will cost. Estimating the average value of the land at five hundred dollars per lot — a 

 liberal estimate — the whole cost would be three millions one hundred and four thousand dollars ; 

 deduct one third to be paid by imdividuals whose property is supposed to be benefitted, it will 

 leave two millions sixty-nine thousand dollars to be paid for by the city — a smaller sum than 

 was anticipated at the time of passing the act. The commissioners expect to close their duties 

 early in the ensuing summer. There can be no doubt as to the necessity of some such Park, con- 

 veniently located on this island. In my opinion, future generations, who are to pay this 

 expense, would have good reasons for reflecting upon the present generation, if we permitted 

 the entire island to be taken possession of by population, without some spot like this, devoted to 

 rural beauty, healthful recreation, and pure atmosphere." 



The "WniTLAViA gr.vndiplora. — "We are glad to learn that Messrs. Joseph Breok & 

 Son, of Boston, have received a small quantity of the seeds of this beautiful blue-flowered 

 annual, figured and described on page 37 of our last number, and will be able to furnish 

 amateurs with it, Mr. Breok writes us that he has no doubt, judgii>g from dried speci- 

 mens of the flowers, that it will be a great acquisition to our list of bedding-out annuals. 



Kirtland's Mart Cherry. — During U>e Cherry season, I discovered that a graft labelled Kirt- 

 land'o Mary proved by its fruit to be the Elton. From it have been distributed, during the lost 

 two years, grafts to horticulturists in various parts of tlie country. The error is no doubt one 

 of my own, but how it occurred I do not know. It would be well for all cultivators of fruit 

 having the first named grafts from me, to test them before they propagate any number. 

 KiRTLAND. — East Jtockport, Ohio. 



