288 ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. 



ance constructed, making them either of substantial mate- 

 rial or depending in a measure on earth roads for summer 

 driving, as is done in the Richmond Park in the outskirts 

 of London. Trees, shrubs, and plants, for desirable new 

 groves, masses, and wilds, may be planted, shelters erect- 

 ed, and other improvements introduced. Then under cer- 

 tain mild regulations, allowing and providing for forest rov- 

 ing, boating, carriage driving, horse-back riding over mead- 

 ow and hill, and other privileges of great freedom, such a 

 semi-natural park might be rendered immeasurably valu- 

 able as public recreation grounds. By introducing herds 

 of cattle, sheep, or deer, restrained by hurdles to keep 

 down the grass of meadows, a desirable attraction would 

 be gained, and at the same time the expense of mowing 

 such portions of the park be obviated. 



A park or parks of such character, not so far off but 

 that they might be reached by carriages, street cars, or 

 the railroad, and then several small, well kept parks and 

 boulevards, in and near the town, to provide garden 

 beauty, fresh air, and comfort, near the center of popu- 

 lation, to benefit every body every day, it is believed may 

 together afford the elements of a complete public garden 

 system, more fully for a certain expenditure than in any 

 other way. 



GARDEN BOULEVARDS. 



The idea of the Paris boulevards one hundred to two 

 hundred feet wide, has been for sometime adopted on a 

 small scale by a number of our cities. A common 

 width of these is one hundred and seventy-five feet, 

 and arranged with a wide center space, supporting 

 four rows of trees, or irregular arrangements of trees, 

 shrubs, and plants, with walks, settees, fountains, etc., 

 and on each side a driveway and a side walk, next to the 

 private property. Narrower boulevards are planted with 

 two rows of trees in the middle, and a row at each side, 



