47 



would be to import from Europe the seedling plants, which, by 

 careful cultivation in the grounds of the park, will soon outstrip 

 the larger, but much more expensive trees, which are purchased 

 from American nurseries. The greater portion of these trees 

 are imported from Europe, and there appears to be no reason 

 for paying the large increase in price over that of importation, 

 while we have the ground in which they may increase in size 

 while gradually adding to the beauty of the park. The same 

 trees may be imported from $10 to $12 per thousand, which, 

 after being here two or three years, our nurserymen charge 

 from $300 to $500 per thousand for. By preparing the 

 ground along the exterior line from fifty to one hundred 

 feet for a nursery, and stocking it with imported trees, they 

 would be large enough to transplant when the ground in the 

 progress of improvement is ready to receive them. 



ROADS, WALKS AND DRIVES. 



There is very great responsibility attendant upon the proper 

 construction of the roads and walks, and their judicious loca- 

 tion. An error in this respect cannot be discovered until the 

 work is completed, and any alteration of the route or of the 

 manner of construction is accompanied with great expense, not 

 to speak of the delay consequent upon such a course. There- 

 fore, the location, grade, shape and material to be used should 

 be carefully considered. The conditions to be fulfilled in the 

 construction of a perfect roadway are, an easy grade, a well 

 drained and smooth surface, a firm, dry road-bed, and durable 

 materials. The cost will be governed by the character of the 

 materials used, and in this connection it is proper to take into 

 consideration the fact that there is lying upon the surface and 

 distributed through the drift a very large quantity of boulders, 

 chiefly composed of Diorite — a species of trap or basaltic rock 

 transported from a distance during the drift period — the time 

 that a greater portion of the soil of Long Island was transported 

 where it now lies. It possesses both hardness and tenacity, 

 essential qualities for a durable road material ; but its excessive 

 hardness renders it difficult to break into small pieces, and 

 therefore perhaps too expensive to be used — much will depend 

 upon the cost of breaking it up. There is also found in the 

 drift a large quantity of other stone, which, though not equal 



