DEPARTMENT OF PARKS. 51 



Splendid locations may be found for this on the bare slopes of 

 Lookout Hill, around the Plaza, the Peninsula, and in the bar- 

 ren place called the stone quarry, to the north of Willink En- 

 trance. In some of the plantations created for immediate effect 

 and protection, disastrous results have followed the lack of thin- 

 ning out. Owing to overgrowth, many of the most pleasing 

 effects and charming views have been entirely lost. A gradual 

 and judicious thinning out should be begun at once. Some of 

 the most interesting plantations are filled with sickly trees, of a 

 spindling habit, due to their having been deprived of lower 

 branches and undergrowth, which are essential for natural devel- 

 opment. It is expected during this year to add such material 

 as will be found appropriate for the locality and beneficial to the 

 existing plantations. 



VARIETY IN COLOR. 



One feature particularly missed in the Park is color. At the 

 height of the season a monotonous feeling forces itself upon the 

 observer of the landscape, due to a scarcity of contrasting colors. 

 Harmony should exist in the general features of the landscape, 

 and this should be produced by contrast of color, form and gen- 

 eral arrangement. To produce strong and striking effects, there 

 must not only be a varied collection of trees, shrubs and plants, 

 properly arranged, to give variety and contrast, but also groups 

 of particular kinds planted in prominent places, to produce occa- 

 sional masses of peculiar form or color. Large clumps of flower- 

 ing trees and bushes and masses of flowering plants would 

 create a most inviting and picturesque feature to the land- 

 scape at seasons when most needed. During the past thirty 

 years a marvelous advance lias been shown in the produc- 

 tion of hardy and half-hardy flowering and ornamental trees, 

 bushes and plants. By taking advantage of this, splendid dis- 

 plays may be created in perfect harmony with the existing land- 

 scape views in the Park. Ehododendrons, azaleas and kalmias, 

 together with hardy evergreen plants, all of which do remarkably 



