THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X. 597 



of the home is thus invaded it can be retained by the planting of shrubs 

 or vines so that the porches and verandas remain screened. 



In conclusion I would urge that we all take measures to improve our 

 cities and towns. It pays when we stop to consider the matter. No man 

 speaks lightly of an orderly, well kept, beautiful city. He would like to 

 bring his family and live there; the moral atmosphere seems clearer and 

 purer; health seems to surround one on every hand; high ideals are cre- 

 ated in the minds of the young, their thoughts are elevated, their natures 

 rendered more refined. In fact, most children are born with a love for 

 flowers and trees, and we owe it to them to make their environment as 

 nearly ideal as possible. We should guard against blasting their lives or 

 dwarfing their natures for they are to carry on the work that we have 

 begun; and if conscientious work is done, the city with its dreaded in- 

 fluences can be made to produce the same quality of manhood and woman- 

 hood as now comes forth from those regions where nature beams more 

 kindly upon her children. 



CITY PARKS. 



■J. T. D. Fulmer, Des Moines, Iowa. 



We are once fairly started on our progressive march in this section of 

 the country ,and as we advance we find more and more of our city property 

 being built up with tenement rows and flats, thus crowding the people into 

 closer and more confined quarters. Hence the growing demand is thus 

 formed for a place to get relief in the natural, sweet, fresh air, and so we 

 look for a place provided for that purpose, called a park, arid 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 sur- 

 roundings, amid beautiful foliage and songs of birds. 



We will first take up the tree planting, which should be as natural as 

 possible and done promiscuously— not in straight rows (unless along some 

 park-like boulevard.) When we say promiscuously, we mean mixing the 

 kinds, i. e., do not plant many of a kind together. Mass or group them, 

 being careful 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 particular place. I once asked the question, "What 

 is the object in planting those trees" The answer I received was, "Oh, 

 just to cover the ground." So, I would say, never plant trees merely to 

 cover the ground, but have some object in view, and that of shade or orna- 

 ment, or to help to carry out a view that may need some conifers, elm, pin 

 oak or balm of Gilead. And, let me say 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 parks look what I would call complete. 



