CITY AND ROADSIDE PLANTING. 107 



in the area of the Queen's Park would increase its 

 amenity. It might renew an aspect of scenery already 

 to be found in old pictures of this and the neighbour- 

 ing hills. Important scientific truths regarding the 

 adaptation of soils to different trees might be gained 

 were the hill an experimental station in connection 

 with the new Forestry School. The decomposing 

 basalts, dolerites, and the diversified rocks forming the 

 area of the hill, render it an infinitely preferable site 

 either to the Arboretum or the Eoyal Botanic Garden, 

 which, situated on the newer formations of recent 

 sands and gravels, have ever and anon iron bands 

 running through them, very inimical to the maturing 

 of shrubs and trees. 



" The extension of private tree-planting, notably in 

 villa residences, has also been proposed. This subject 

 is the more apposite, as already one of the sides of 

 Arthur Seat is being encroached on by streets. The 

 city is now possessor of Blackford Hill, and its adorn- 

 ment in the fashion of the landscape-gardener may 

 irretrievably mar the surrounding historic landscape, 

 or display it in more scenic beauty. Why should not 

 the Cockburn Association call for competitive plans, 

 showing how planting and building might be simul- 

 taneously carried out, especially in that wide area, 

 probably so soon to be taken from the agriculturist 

 by the opening of the new Suburban Eailway ? Such 

 plans would embrace not only villa residences and 

 public gardens, but working-class streets, cottage allot- 

 ments, and children's playgrounds. The marvellous 

 outgrowth of the city during the last thirty years 

 towards the south and west, shows such dreams of 

 further growth may be other than Utopian." 



