tS 97 . 



GARDENING. 



%*1 



callings, no time need be spent in its dem- 

 onstration. 



"Next togood character comesaknowl- 

 edge of what a park should be. A super- 

 intendent should know for what purpose 

 the thing he superintends exists, what 

 should be its leading features, and how 

 these can be preserved or attained. He 

 should know that a park exists, prima- 

 rily, for its beauty, for its varied scenery, 

 for its contrast with city streets, and for 

 the rest, the recreation, and the pleasure 

 that is given by this beauty with all its 

 various modes of expression. 



"In some cases the superintendent is 

 also the designer, and then he should 

 know the general plan of the park is of 

 more importance than any single feature. 

 If a building is to be erected it should not 

 be placed where it will cut off an impor- 

 tant view; if a tree is to be planted it 

 should stand where it will improve the 

 landscape rather than where it will com- 

 pete with other trees; if a road is to be 

 made the superintendent should know, 

 first, where to place it and then how to 

 construct it. 



ARTIST AND ENGINEER. 



"If he cannot have both kindsof knowl- 

 edge he should have the first, and get 

 some one else to build the road, since 

 there are a dozen who can answer the 

 question 'How' to one that can answerthe 

 question 'Where?' If there is grading to 

 do he should undertake it with the feeling 

 of an artist rather than an engineer, since 

 the shaping of park surfaces is more 

 nearly allied to sculpture than to the 

 building of railroads. If people give a 

 monument, a fountain, or a relic of any 

 kind and it must be accepted, he should 

 know how to subordinate it to the gen- 

 eral effect desired. 



"But in most cases the superintendent 

 will be required to carry out the design 

 furnished by some one else. Even then it 

 is important he should kmw something 

 of the principles of design and should 

 have a knowledge of trees, shrubs, and 

 flowers, with their various requirements; 

 he should appreciate the value of large 

 open spaces and varied outlines; he should 

 know what constitutes a good road, 

 when it has good lines and proper con- 



struction; he should know how to make 

 the border of a lake appear natural and 

 interesting. 



SHOULD UNDERSTAND LANDSCAPE GARDEN- 

 ING. 



"To put the whole matter brieflv, a 

 park superintendent, in order to fulfill his 

 duties in a satistacl ory manner, should 

 have some knowledge of landscape gar' 

 dening. This is just as important as it is 

 for a man who conducts an orchestra to 

 have some knowledge of music. The con- 

 ductor may not be able to compose an 

 opera, but he should be able to appreciate 

 a good composition; and puttiug a man 

 in charge of work required to maintain 

 and create beautiful scenery who has no 

 special knowledge of landscape art would 

 be like asking a man who cannot beat 

 time or tell one tune from another to act 

 as leader for an orchestra. 



"It is, to be sure, an advantage for a 

 park superintendent to have some knowl- 

 edge of engineering. He should know 

 how to put in drains, water pipes, build 

 roads, walks, and do all the various 

 kinds of engineering work usuallv needed 

 in the construction of a park. He should 

 also know how to prepare the various 

 plats and records of such work that may 

 be needed for reference. 



"I believe this knowledge can be gained 

 by the person who has also the desired 

 acquaintance with landscape gardening, 

 but if the superintendent is to be deficient 

 in either line the deficiency can be most 

 easily supplied from other sources if it is 

 lack of knowledge of engineering. 



SHOULD BE IN LOVE WITH HIS WORK. 



"The ideal park superintendent should 

 be thoroughly in love with his work. I 

 have known a number of such men. One 

 had charge of a large tract of land, which 

 was really a public park, although it was 

 not called such, and was not managed by 

 a City Council or by park commissioners. 

 I remember visiting him manv vears ago; 

 he would call my attention to bits 

 of scenery, the border of a lake, an undu- 

 lating lawn, or a distant group of red 

 pines, by reflecting them in a mirror 

 which he carried for this purpose, and 

 which framed in and separated the view 

 in question or the picture beingexamined. 

 He showed these views with as much 

 pleasure as a mother would exhibit in 

 showing her baby. 



"Again on going to see him early one 

 morning, I found him greatlv interested 

 in a ravine drive. He had actually been 

 laying an important drain with his own 

 hands. On another occasion, at his office, 

 he took great pleasure in showing his 

 various books which treated of landscape 

 gardening and birds. I know another 

 superintendent, who is still living, who 

 for many years was in the employ of the 

 late Henry Shaw of St. Louis, and who 

 still looks after Tower Grove Park, who 

 shows as much interest and affection 

 for his lawns, trees, shrubs and lilies as a 

 parent would show for a child. 



HIS POSITION SHOULD BE SECURE. 



"But this deep interest, which is so 

 essential for producing the best results, 

 cannot be expected from a man whose 

 position is insecure; from a man who 

 may be discharged when the other party 

 gets in power. The ideal superintendent 

 should expect to spend his life with the 

 park he cares for. The park is to con- 

 tinue for generations. Many of the effects 

 desired will require years of growth for 

 their production. 



"It takes time for a man to become 

 acquainted with the various features of 

 even a small park, so the one in charge 

 should have no fear whatever of beino- 



