LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE. 63 



as onerous, as the provision of the more extensive driving 

 parks for the wealthier classes. 



Boston, in this respect, in her Common and Public Gar- 

 den, comprising seventy-five acres in the heart of the 

 city, is better provided than any city in the country, but 

 Boston has no grand outside park, though she has abund- 

 ance of admirable sites which are available. The diffi- 

 culty is the one already suggested, that no one site will 

 suit all parties, and any one party can block the game of 

 the others. The case is by no means a singular one, and 

 the readiest means of relief would seem to be the adop- 

 tion of a system of mutual improvements between the city 

 and its outlying suburbs, in the prosecution of which, the 

 suggestions I have made in regard to the improvement of 

 otherwise valueless land might be wisely applied.* 



Instead of looking for a tract possessing intrinsically : 

 beautiful or picturesque features, let the city avail itself 

 of any tracts which are intrinsically valueless, and pro- 

 ceed to adorn and render them attractive. Such places 

 may be found of greater or less extent within the limits, 

 or in the vicinity of almost every city, which detract from 

 or destroy the value of adjacent property by their 

 unsightly or offensive appearance, as being marshy or 



*Since the above was written, I have received from Boston an 

 " Essay and plan for the improvement of the city of Boston," by my 

 former partner, R. Morris Copeland. The general design is precisely 

 in conformity with the principles I have advocated a series of parks 

 connected by broad avenues, dividing the city into sections, and pro- 

 viding for those classes who are least able to provide for themselves, 

 the refreshment of pleasure gardens within easy access of their homes. 



