ORNAMENTAL PLANTING FOR PARKS, ETC. 127 



only be determmed when the work is systematically under- 

 taken." 



The value of public gardens, places, or greens, in distinction 

 from 2iarks, is dependent less on the extent of their sylvan ele- 

 ments than on the degree of convenience with which they may 

 be used ; those being the most valuable, other tilings being equal, 

 through which the greatest number of people may be induced to 

 pass while following their ordinary occupations, and witliout seri- 

 ous hindrance or inconvenience. Therefore, if a piece of ground of 

 one or more acres in the midst of a busy town is laid out and 

 managed with a view to providing upon it the greatest practical 

 degree of plant beauty in trees, shrubs, flowers, and turf, on the 

 same general principles that a private garden for the same pur- 

 pose would be, it will be of comparatively little use ; for the walks 

 will be indirect, the low planting of the outer parts will obscure 

 the general view of passers-by, and there will be frequent crowd- 

 ing, jostling, and disturbance of quiet. 



Neatness and the maintenance of orderly conduct among visitors 

 in such a ground becomes also exceedingly difficult. It is much 

 better to plant and decorate them in such a manner as will 

 not destroy their openness or cause inconvenience to those who 

 have occasion to cross them. Fortius purpose their plans should 

 be simple and generally formal in style, their passages should be 

 broad and direct, and they should be provided with seats in 

 recesses (preferably) or on the borders of the broader paved or 

 gravelled spaces, leaving ample room for free movements. The 

 green effects of the grass, accentuated by the shadow effects of 

 trees, properly selected and grouped, should be made the chief 

 and most important feature of their treatment. The trees should 

 be high stemmed and umbrageous, and flowers and delicate 

 plants little used except in vases or as fringes of architectural 

 objects. Union square, Xew York City, is a good example of this 

 style of treatment. 



Architectural adornments may properly l)e employed in small 

 parks, so long as they do not seriously interfere with the open 

 grass effect. There may be even busts or statues (if artistic in 

 design), but especially suitable are drinking fountains, and foun- 

 tain basins, with great sprays of water. The fountain basins may 

 be effectively ornamented with lotuses, water lilies, and other dec- 

 orative water plants. All such adornment of small city squares 



