102 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The article I enclose, written for the Sunday Press, June 30, 

 1889, will give some idea of the floral effects. 



Washington Park is of too small an area to secure very extended 

 lawn and meadow effects, or to indulge in masses of deciduous or 

 evergreen planting for distant sky line perspective. The roads, 

 walks, etc., have all been adjusted to the existing topographical 

 features, and considering the piece by piece manner of purchase 

 of the park area and the resultant changes of portions of the 

 original design to accommodate these intermittent purchases, the 

 general effect of the park, as a whole, is very pleasing and the 

 area largel}' exaggerated to the casual visitor. 



The views of landscape architects or gardeners have been re- 

 peatedly expressed as antagonistic to floral eflfects, or the general 

 introduction of such effects in park ornamentation, and I should 

 myself criticise adversely the introduction of such planting in a 

 park where natural effects of lawn and planting are to be desired 

 as the most pleasing 'and lasting. 



Washington Park is cen trail}' located, and is being surrounded 

 by dwellings. It is a nursery ground for children, and the desire 

 of this Board is to make it attractive to all classes of the citizens. 

 We find that a great deal of pleasure is afforded by the floral 

 effects, and many persons owning small estates in the suburbs or 

 countr\' endeavor to introduce similar ornamentation at their homes. 

 The "King Fountain" site, where you probabl}' saw the cannas, 

 pampas grasses, etc., etc., is shown on the plan enclosed. The 

 intention is ultimatel}' to have a fine fountain basin there, and the 

 surroundings have been laid out somewhat in anticipation of this 

 central effect in the design ; otherwise the plan would have been 

 very different at this point. It now looks stiff, and the general 

 effect is not altogether pleasing. With the fountain completed 

 and other architectural features appropriately introduced, the gar- 

 den site will be more in keeping with the general design. This 

 portion of the park is overlooked from the pedestrian concourse 

 above the terraces, and the plan of the garden is outlined with 

 great distinctness. The lake is 1750 feet long with an average 

 width of 150 feet, and contains about six acres. It is artificially 

 supplied from the city mains and is provided with an outlet valve 

 and proper overflow. In summer, boats are used, and in winter, 

 skating and curling are indulged in. The Board maintain a swing 

 tender, croquet tender, and tennis keeper, at their own expense. 



