42 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



modern times, amidst all the toil and moil of a busy, bustling city 

 life, despite its many unnatural drawbacks, it yet proves a healthful 

 resort to the weary toiler whose aims and tastes are towards higher 

 things than those of the hanger-on who lounges at the street corner 

 or prostitutes his manhood by vicious indulgence in strong drink. 



For generations it has been the rendezvous of those who desire 

 to ventilate their grievances against all laws human and divine, 

 as well as of those whose aims are for the regeneration of mankind 

 socially, morally, and spiritually. No wonder, then, that it is beloved 

 of the people, and any alteration is jealously watched in case such 

 work would militate against what is regarded as the usefulness of 

 the Green. 



Time will not permit, even although it were desirable, to enum- 

 erate the many changes which have been wrought on the Green to 

 bring it from what was but a " common " to a park to meet modern 

 requirements. These changes began with the early years of the 

 nineteenth century, when the pulse of the city's life was quickening 

 towards expansion and improvement, in which the Green shared. 



Kelvingrove Park. 



Area 87 acres, acquired 1852-54 and 1881-1904. The rapid 

 expansion westwards of the city, resulting in the covering-up of 

 all the fields with streets of houses and the sweeping away of old 

 landmarks, created feelings of dismay and alarm in the minds of 

 thoughtful citizens, with the result that an agitation to secure one 

 or more of the rapidly disappearing residential estates as an open 

 space for the public resulted in the purchase in 1852 of the mansion 

 and lands of Kelvingrove, at one time the country residence of a 

 former Lord Provost. 



This picturesquely situated property, through which flows the 

 River Kelvin, was laid out from designs by Sir Joseph Paxton. 

 As a city " lung " it is ideal, but its steep slopes and lack of large 

 flat spaces for games hardly meet modern requirements where 

 active outdoor sports are in such demand. Like its forerunner, it 

 has charms for the native-born. Most Scotsmen the world over have 

 heard the song, " Let us haste to Kelvingrove, bonnie lassie O ! " 



Owing to its central position, and being so well served with tram- 

 way, subway, and railway facilities, it is an ideal site for International 

 Exhibitions. Three of these, held respectively in 1888, 1901 and 

 1 91 1, were conspicuously successful. These Exhibitions necessarily 

 caused serious alterations in the original contours of the park, though 

 in the restoration advantage was taken to make various improve- 

 ments. Amongst these were the erection of the splendid Art Galleries 

 and Museum, which is managed by the Corporation, the building 

 of two handsome stone bridges across the River Kelvin, the forma- 

 tion of four public bowling-greens, and, by cutting off an unnecessary 

 carriage drive, a much larger playground for children. 



