BRINGING UP A PARK THE WAY IT SHOULD GO 



efforts. It is hoped that this mere reciting of prevalent con(htions will 

 reveal the nselessness, if not harnifulness, of such commonly misguided 

 energy. Park designs are usually developed only after labourious and 

 patient study, influenced by a great number of practical details which 

 have to be met; they are prepared with a view to overcoming incon- 

 veniences which experience has developed, and with a view to provid- 

 ing for needs which exist or can be reasonably forecast. Park design 

 is a greater task than one of providing pretty effects throughout the 

 grounds, and a certain amount of confidence should be put in those 

 having the matter in charge. 



FALSENESS AND DECEIT EVENTUALLY UNCOVERED 



The park designer must consider the growth or " growing up " of 

 a park. In the inception of the original design, he must visualise what 

 the development will be fifty years later and establish an ideal to which 

 to work. Frequently there may be seen, in parks, planting which will 

 appear tasteful and well composed to the artist or to the layman, but 

 the professional landscape architect identifies it at once as fraudulent. 

 A planting picture of charming effect, but composed in its minor 

 elements of infant trees which in fifteen or twenty years will be as 

 many feet tall, and in its major elements of specimens which have 

 reached their ultimate development and will deteriorate in five or six 

 years to a point where they must be removed, is not what an honest 

 designer calls sincere planting. Unless the planter knows no better, 

 such design is knavery on his part. It is l)ringing up a park in false- 

 ness and deceit which will mean a pitiable old age. Planting of this 

 sort is difficult to detect, but is prevalent to a large extent in both park 

 and private estate work. It results frequently from the desire of gar- 

 deners to make the planting look right for the time being, for they will 

 not subject themselves to the criticism which the landscape architect 

 stoically accepts in working for the ultimate beauty of a park. The 



48 



