Parks, Public Squares, School-yards, Etc. 137 



When the natural features of any park, square, common, 

 or village green have been made as perfect as possible, and 

 all made to blend and harmonize with the surroundings, 

 then it is time enough to think of adding artificial objects. 

 Let every tree, shrub, vine, or plant be made as perfect as 

 possible. Let every rock or ledge too large to be easily 

 removed be decorated with suitable natural growth of 

 shrubs, vines, and plants. Let any body of water, stream 

 or brooklet, be carefully and neatly decorated, and there is 

 hardly a park, square, or green that will not be beautiful, 

 that will not possess merit that will please any one with 

 true artistic taste. 



No work of decoration however small should be under- 

 taken unless it can be done well, for half work is often 

 worse than no work at all. No community need go to 

 a great expense for plans or advice upon the subject of 

 oranmenting public grounds, for there are many skilful 

 men connected with the park systems of neighboring cities 

 who will be glad to help on the cause of the ornamentation 

 of public grounds. There are also men of skill and experi- 

 ence connected with the colleges and experiment stations of 

 each State to whom they can go for advice, and our agri- 

 cultural and horticultural press abounds in illustrations and 

 suggestions for such work. What is most needed is some 

 patriotic and energetic person or persons with a real love 

 of nature and the beautiful who will take the lead and work 

 unceasingly until success is attained. Such individuals are 

 to be found in almost every community, and their efforts 

 should be seconded and supported by substantial aid. 

 The old-time ''planting-bees" should be revived, or the 

 substitute for this. Arbor-day, when the planting of public 

 grounds by the united effort of every one who can give a 

 few hours to the good work, would soon result in beautifying 

 all of our public squares, village commons, and roadways. 



