234 SHADE-TREES IN TOWNS AND CITIES 



of specimens at uniform and proper distances apart, and the 

 protection and cultivation of the trees afterward. The task 

 of such a department is not a mean one in the life of the 

 modern city. In the prospectus issued by the New Orleans 

 Parking Commission, created in 1909, to have exclusive con- 

 trol of the planting and care of street-trees in that city, the 

 Commission beautifully defines its function and its mission 

 as follows: 



"If this Commission diligently searches out its true 

 relationships in the beautiful or fine arts, where it rightfully 

 belongs, and studiously possesses itself of that largeness of 

 thought and trained facility of imagination, inspiring within 

 itself the idealizing faculty, whereby the true architect and 

 painter project visually the creations of genius before work 

 is laid on drawing board or brush on canvas, then, of very 

 necessity, as like begets like, there will begin throughout 

 this city a development in pure art, dignified in orderly 

 elegance and grace, beautiful in unity, becoming more 

 apparent and impressive with each succeeding year, just as 

 the Washington city of to-day was visually projected as a 

 living painting by 1' Enfant a hundred years ago and the 

 city of Cleveland, with its newly projected grandeur by the 

 Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. 



' ' To initiate this is the work we are called upon to do a 

 work that must be carefully mapped according to specifica- 

 tions in the general plan, in which every tree planted and 

 dollar spent shall count just that much toward the end in 

 view ; which is the real and practical uplifting and betterment 

 of the whole community physically, mentally, morally, in 

 the actual comfort and pleasure of living and in a growing 

 sense of self-regard and civic pride. It is a home mission 

 work in a strictly rational, business way, with certainty of 



