PARKS IN TOWNS AND MUNICIPAL FORESTS 39 
using the house and a large strip of adjoining ground as a 
permanent convalescent home. The free use of common 
lands is occasionally interfered with by letting portions for 
golf and other games. Much good work has been done by 
the Commons and Footpaths Preservation Society, which 
was founded, as a result of the report of the Committee of 
the House of Commons appointed in 1864, to inquire into 
the best means of preserving the forests, commons, and open 
spaces in and near London for public use. Wimbledon 
Common, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, etc., which were 
in danger of being enclosed, have been kept for the people. 
The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association, which was 
founded in 1883 by the Earl of Meath, has done much 
useful work in continuously drawing attention to the 
necessity of providing town dwellers with parks, gardens, 
and recreation grounds within easy reach of their homes. 
The Association has laid out numerous disused churehyards 
and burial grounds, enclosed squares, and waste places. 
These, according to circumstances, are either laid out as 
gardens, or as gardens and playgrounds combined, or as 
playgrounds pure and simple. The extent of this work is 
shown by the fact that from 1884 to 1912 the Associa- 
tion spent £44,248 in laying out 115 open spaces, and 
contributed £9679 to the acquisition or formation of 
47 gardens, playing fields, etc. Before laying out each 
ground, the Association arranges for its permanent main- 
tenance by securing its transfer to the London County 
Council or local authority, under the Open Spaces Acts, or 
by obtaining special grants from public bodies or private 
individuals. The Association plants trees in suitable 
thoroughfares, and gives advice in pruning which is greatly 
needed, owing to the way in which trees are often maltreated 
by unskilful pruning and lopping. It has promoted further 
legislation for giving public bodies all over the country 
increased powers for purchasing land for public recreation, 
as the Open Spaces Acts of 1887, 1890, and 1906, ete. 
One of the questions (4) to be considered in town 
planning is what proportion of the area of a city should be 
