by trees, to the point where the earth-fill of the road now under 

 construction traverses and blocks the valley. South of this it 

 widens out into a broader sunlit valley flanked by pleasantly 

 wooded hills, the site of a former artificial lake abandoned 

 because of the intercepting of much of its natural water supply. 



The embankment of the new road is in itself an ugly interrup- 

 tion of the valley, but it can and should be pierced by an ample 

 archway through which the narrow sylvan portion of the valley 

 and a pathway traversing it would debouch at the head of the 

 broader glade, the embankment of the roadway being heavily 

 embowered in trees. Such an arrangement would afford sweeping 

 views of the open part of the valley from the road without letting 

 the automobiles spoil the charm of the valley as enjoyed from the 

 foot-paths within it or seriously impairing the intimacy of its 

 connection with the narrow sylvan upper portion. The situation 

 lends itself admirably to providing both the scenic and the cultural 

 variety of conditions desirable for such an exhibition of rhodo- 

 dendrons and related plants. 



An unfortunate obtrusion at present into this valley are the 

 stables of the Park Department. It is of vital importance that 

 these be removed from the scene, preferably to the undeveloped 

 park lands just across Pelham Parkway. A portion, at least, 

 of the site of these buildings would be included in the scheme, 

 in order to reclaim the complete form of the valley and to com- 

 plete the essential enclosing plantations. 



In Appendix B we have developed somewhat more in detail, 

 in a tentative way, the ideas which have occurred to us for the 

 treatment of this Rhododendron Glade; and we believe it would 

 be the best large new feature on which to concentrate first, after 

 assuring increased funds for general maintenance and for the 

 detailed improvement of existing features. 



It must of course be borne in mind that the proper maintenance 

 of such a Rhododendron Glade will cost much more per acre 

 than the old lake with its borders of unsophisticated woodland, or 

 than a simple meadow; and that such an improvement, however 

 desirable from every point of view, ought not to be undertaken 

 without seeing the way perfectly clear to obtaining the necessary 

 additional maintenance funds. The principle, of course, is the 

 same as that which has very properly led various institutions to 

 refuse gifts of very much desired new buildings in the absence of 

 endowment for their operation and maintenance. 



2. A group or series of desirable new undertakings is that 

 referred to in your report of April, 1923, under the heading 

 "Model Gardens." Some of the most valuable of these from 



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