Management of City Grounds. 



13 



nerve to have it enforced. The small minor- 

 ity in a city like Dayton keep cows, and 

 they should be compelled to fence them in, 

 and not require the large majority to fence 

 them out. Who has not had bitter experi- 

 ence of trees broken and flowers trampled 

 by breachy cows? An experience of this 

 kind, which occurred years ago, I recollect 

 vividly to this day. A novice in horticul- 

 ture, and wishing to plant a number of 

 dwarf pear trees, I determined it should be 

 done according to the books. The trees 

 were procured from Rochester. The holes 

 were dug three feet in diameter and two 

 feet deep. A compost was prepared of the 

 most approved kind, including bone dust. 

 The trees were planted, and I retired to 

 dream of the luscious pears that at no dis- 

 tant day were to regale myself and friends. 

 The very night the work was completed (it 

 had required several days), a cow broke in, 

 and the first sight that greeted my eyes next 

 morning, was the Irishman who had assisted 

 in the planting indulging in an extravagant 

 pantomime of rage and disgust, as he pointed 

 to the stubs of my once beautiful trees. In 

 many parts of the State the law is enforced. 

 In Cleveland, the gates of the fine places on 

 Euclid avenue stand wide open, and the lib- 

 eral owners invite all well-behaved people 

 to walk in and enjoy their beauty. All that 

 wealth and skill can grow of choice and 

 Ijeautiful flowers, massed and grouped to 

 produce the most exquisite efi"ects, are freely 

 open to the inspection of strangers. This 

 willingness that the public should enjoy our 

 floral treasures with us is an American trait. 

 The garden of an Englishman is a paradise 

 of fruits and flowers, but no eye but that of 

 himself or friend ever feasts on its beauties. 

 An ugly wall of brick or stone faces the 

 street, and shuts from view all that is within. 

 What a contrast in this respect between 

 Montreal and Cleveland 1 The absence of 

 fences makes common for the enjoyment of 

 all the green grass and flowers. Shall this 

 great boon be sacrificed for a few wandering 

 cows and hogs ? 



In small yards, no trees should be planted. 



There can be no more beautiful object than 

 a fine evergreen or group of evergreens on 

 an extensive lawn ; nor can anything be 

 more out of keeping than such a tree in a 

 contracted place, where it has no room to 

 develop half its beauty. Many persons 

 crowd their grounds with small trees, with 

 the purpose of removing them when they 

 grow to disproportionate size. Yet, who 

 ever cut down a fine tree without a heart 

 pang? Once planted, they are permitted to 

 stand when they are out of place and an eye- 

 sore. Shrubs and bushes may be used with 

 good eff"ect, if skillfully disposed, but there 

 is quite as much danger of overcrowding 

 with them as with trees. What a ragged 

 appearance a door yard presents, where, 

 every few feet, a rose bush or spirea breaks 

 the turf into fragments. We need not seek 

 for rare or costly varieties to produce the 

 finest eff"ects. The Spireas, the Deutzia, the 

 Weigelia, the Persian Lilac, the Japan 

 Quince, and other old and thoroughly tested 

 kinds, can be readily procured at reasonable 

 rates, and will answer very well. Among 

 the small trees, there is none so striking as 

 the magnolia, because of its showy flowers 

 and its early blooming, coming before all 

 others. Unfortunately, the finest of the 

 magnolias, " Grandiflora," is too tender for 

 our climate ; but several varieties are as 

 hardy as the oak. "Purpurea," " Con- 

 spicua " and " Soulangeana '" have all been 

 tested in Dayton, and have succeeded per- 

 fectly. 



Rosebushes, ordinarily, should be planted 

 in beds, and not as single bushes. The ef-< 

 feet produced in this way is much finer, and 

 the winter protection easier, as a half dozen 

 bushes grouped can be covered with little 

 more labor than one standing singly. For 

 constant bloom throughout the season, the 

 Hybrid Perpetuals cannot be relied on. 

 Their perfect hardiness and reputation as 

 bloomers have made them popular, but they 

 cannot be called constant bloomers. If you 

 would have continuous bloom from June till 

 November, you must plant the Bourbon, 

 China and Te^ fpses. It is true they re- 



