92 G. H. KNIBBS. 



elaborate development of the parks. Another suggestion made 

 by the same gentleman is that the parks might to some extent 

 illustrate the types of timber to be found scattered over the face 

 of the earth, not by individual specimens, but by creating small 

 forests of such type. 



19. Hygienic elements of design. — It is not only in the choice of 

 a site that the elements conducing to health need to be studied. 

 However wisely the choice may have been made in respect of 

 climate, of the nature of the surface and subsoil, of the condition 

 of the discharge of surface waters, and the position of the ground- 

 waters, of the possibilities of adequate water-supply and efficient 

 drainage, there still remains a need for a hygienic as well as aesthetic 

 control of the localisation of settlement. And since this reacts 

 upon the whole question, it is not possible to omit the hygienic 

 elements in elaborating a design that is to be as perfect as our 

 knowledge will allow. 



The first great requisite to general health is the prevention of 

 all settlement on those parts of a site where undesirable hygienic 

 conditions prevail. For example, neither residences nor factories 

 should be allowed to be built or established in depressions or other 

 places where the moisture is excessive, or where water is liable to 

 accumulate in heavy storms. A complete defence against the 

 liability to misapplication of such areas is the converting of them 

 into parks, and planting with types of vegetation that make a 

 maximum demand upon the available moisture. By planting and 

 draining, an area can be quite transformed, both in character and 

 appearance, as the history of the city of Washington, U.S.A., so 

 well demonstrates, and an unsightly feature may be converted 

 into one of beauty. 



A second requisite is that so far as possible variations in the 

 design permit, those should have weight which lend themselves to 

 convenient and efficient drainage systems, both for storm waters, 

 and domestic, industrial, and other polluted drainage ; and the 



1 Alexander Oliver, Esq., m.a., President of the Land Appeal Court, 

 State of ST.S.W. 



