THOUGHTS BY AN AMATEUR ON OUTDOOR IMPROVEMENTS. 101 



placed all through the town, and an artificial lake is being con- 

 structed, which will be surrounded by drives, walks and trees. 



As has been well stated, "Neatness and picturesqueness, sim- 

 plicity and intricacy can be compassed in a village." Natural ef- 

 fects of great beauty can be preserved which the crowded, stren- 

 uous life of a city would obliterate. Ravines and valleys can be 

 rendered an added attraction in a small town by judiciously plant- 

 ing the sides with native trees, shrubs, plants, placing streets at 

 the edge, on either side, and building houses facing the ravine. 

 Too often a valley is rendered unsightly by filling it with the 

 debris of the whole neighborhood, while all the buildings turn 

 their backs upon it ,as if to ignore or scorn its very presence. 

 Valleys, or basins, in parks, are but recently being rated at their 

 true value. This method of planting, road making and house 

 building applies equally well to a river bank, wherever manufacto- 

 ries or railroads do not monopolize the frontage; and even then 

 the shore lines can be redeemed from absolute uncleanliness and 

 ugliness by proper agitation and co-operation, as was shown by 

 Mr. Loring last evening, in his allusion to the Northfield views. 

 Native vines and shrubs, willows of different kinds, and the sterile 

 variety of cottonwood, or Carolina poplar f with now and then a 

 red cedar, are all most suitable in changing mutilated, abused 

 river banks into a scene which could be described as "not without 

 art, yet to nature true." 



In dealing with public or private grounds, one fact most im- 

 portant to be kept in mind is this: Any road which is not a 

 necessity is a positive impertinence. In cemeteries the many roads 

 are necessary, and partially destroy the so-called park design. The 

 loveliest roads are in the country, where only an unobtrusive 

 ribbon of mother earth is seen, and restful grass, luscious clover, 

 shy wild blossoms, dainty ferns, with now and then a hardy shrub 

 or stately tree, crowd in upon the traveler as if to do him honor 

 and express affection by their nearness. Where the demands of 

 traffic are not too urgent, roads should be planned and made after 

 this fashion. Another hint: We sometimes become daft over 

 curves. One has good authority for stating that a curve in roads 

 for the sake of avoiding a straight line, where the latter is most 

 convenient and no obstacle exists to prevent it, is nonsensical and 

 a violation of good taste. Obviously when we desire to avoid too 

 many straight lines, we must provide a definite, healthy obstacle 

 to turn the path aside. 



Everything to which we have heretofore alluded could well be 

 executed ere the house be built, and some landscape artists plead 



