330 Landscape Gardening 



but not smaller than one hundred feet front, should be sold 

 for smaller cottages.* 



In this way, we would secure to our village a permanent 

 rural character; first, by the possession of a large central 

 space always devoted to park or pleasure ground and always 

 held as joint property and for the common use of the whole 

 village; second, by the imperative arrangement of cottages 

 or dwellings around it, in such a way as to secure in all 

 parts of the village sufficient space, view, circulation of air, 

 and broad, well-planted avenues of shade trees. 



After such a village was built, and the central park 

 planted a few years the inhabitants would not be contented 

 with the mere meadow and trees, usually called a park in 

 this country. By submitting to a small annual tax per 

 family, they could turn the whole park, if small, or consid- 

 erable portions, here and there, if large, into pleasure grounds. 

 In the latter there would be collected, by the combined 

 means of the village, all the rare, hardy shrubs, trees, and 

 plants, usually found in the private grounds of any amateur 

 in America. Beds and masses of ever-blooming roses, 

 sweet-scented climbers, and the richest shrubs, would thus 

 be open to the enjoyment of all during the whole growing 

 season. Those who had neither the means, time, nor incli- 

 nation, to devote to the culture of private pleasure grounds, 

 could thus enjoy those which belonged to all. Others might 

 prefer to devote their own garden to fruits and vegetables, 

 since the pleasure grounds, which belonged to all, and which 

 all would enjoy, would, by their greater breadth and mag- 

 nitude, offer beauties and enjoyments which few private 

 gardens can give.f 



* Modern practice has not 'justified this specification for a 20-acre 

 park at the village center. A small green, common or civic center of 

 one to three acres is thought best, the larger parks being placed at the 

 periphery of the town or at the termini of radiating trolley lines, where 

 special scenery or other attractions justify. --F. A. W. 



t At this point also American taste has failed to work out along the 

 lines of Mr. Downing's own likes. The botanical garden or other col- 

 lection of plants is nowadays favored by few landscape architects, if 

 any, and is as seldom asked for by clients. Public parks in particular, 



