244 LANDSCAPE-GARDENING 



vided for all who wish to visit it, the commissioners 

 should not allow golf, when, by doing so, they de- 

 prive many persons of the privilege of using land 

 which is needed for picnics, for rest, or for indul- 

 gence in those quiet games which require little room 

 and which are accompanied by no element of dan- 

 ger such as being hit by a golf ball. On the other 

 hand, when a park is very large in extent, the com- 

 missioners would be justified in allowing golf, since 

 by so doing there would be no interference \vith 

 the usual recreation which the park affords. A 

 great stretch of lawn, perhaps half a mile or more 

 in extent, an expanse that is really needed for the 

 park scenery, may be even more interesting if 

 dotted with players. 



The introduction of certain sports into parks has 

 sometimes been justified by the statement that 

 they would bring more persons to the park. Some 

 have even attempted to introduce race-tracks, which 

 are entirely out of harmony with the spirit that 

 should prevail in a park. For those who really 

 need a park, it is an advantage not to have it 

 crowded. Horse racing, polo playing, football, cir- 

 cuses, gatherings to listen to public speaking, and 

 in general all features which tend to collect a crowd 



