SOMETHING ABOUT PUBLIC PARKS. 103 



loud color designs, and of all the tricks, intricacies, 

 extravagancies and artificialities which eat up the gar- 

 dener's time and the city's money, and which, by so 

 much, render the ])ark unfit for its best service. It is 

 said, with considerable truth, by gardeners and others, 

 that the public demand tlie artificial color patterns. 

 Many people feel obliged to cater to this taste, even 

 thougli they regard it as childish. But it should be 

 said that the disproportionate notice which such objects 

 attract in a public park is not a safe measure of the sat- 

 isfaction they give. Many visitors are benefited by the 

 fresh grass and the cooling shade who do not notice the 

 lawn and the trees ; while those who exclaim most 

 loudly over the wonderful Chinese puzzles in coleus are 

 not helped by them in the smallest degree. Such vocif- 

 erous features of park ornament? tion may be very fairly 

 compared with the cryiijg evil jf advertising displays. 

 When once begun, there is no excess to which either 

 one may not be compelled to go. - 



