THE PUBLIC PARKS OF GLASGOW. 



45 



Ruchill Park. 



Significant name ! — which, anglicized, means Roughhill. How 

 this place came to be purchased as a public park is somewhat of a 

 mystery. The only trees on its area were a few miserable specimens 

 alongside of what had been the avenue to a mansion, and a few 

 overgrown hedges dividing the fields of a badly cultivated farm, 

 with, on its western side, a variety of industries such as oil, glass, 

 bottle, iron, and chemical works, all emitting smoke and fumes inimical 

 in the highest degree to plant life. The only redeeming features 

 were its proximity to a densely populated area in the northern section 

 of the city and its altitude, from which, under favourable conditions, 

 splendid views northwards are obtained of the hills of Dumbarton, 

 Stirling, and West Perthshire. As there was hardly an acre of level 

 ground in the park, it was somewhat of a puzzle how to adapt it 

 for general park purposes. However, it was tackled, with results 

 which have been fairly successful considering the many disadvantages 

 of the situation. The question of finding out what, in the way of 

 trees and shrubs, in dismal surroundings, bad exposure, and poor 

 clay soil, would exist — not to say thrive — opened a field for experi- 

 ment ; so, along with the reliable hawthorn, everything that had any 

 apparent prospect of living was tried, with, in many cases, surprising 

 and satisfactory results, thus giving a wider and more varied selec- 

 tion of material for planting in similar situations. 



Springburn Park. 



Situated in the north-eastern part of the city, this park has the 

 highest altitude of any within the municipal boundary. From its 

 highest point magnificent views are obtained of the Kilpatrick and 

 Kilsyth hills ; while through the valley between these ranges are 

 seen many of the mountains of mid-Perthshire. Not infrequently, 

 when atmospheric conditions are favourable, Goatfell and other 

 Arran hills, as well as those of lower Argyllshire, are seen to the 

 westward. This park, like Ruchill, was anything but well cultivated, 

 doubtless due to the fact that the underlying minerals were more 

 important than what could be raised in the way of agricultural pro- 

 duce from the poor surface soil. 



The disposal of the huge heaps of material from the iron-stone 

 pits was one of the problems to be solved, along with others, to adapt 

 the situation for public park purposes. Through time, with dogged 

 perseverance, the difficulties have been overcome and assisted by 

 the generosity . of the Messrs. Reid, of Hydepark Locomotive Works, 

 who even gave the magnificent Winter Gardens and bandstand, 

 and defrayed the cost of removing the latter to a new position after 

 having been nearly twenty years in a somewhat unsuitable situation. 

 With additional ground for football &c, this park is now one of 

 the best equipped, having bowling-greens, cricket and football pitches, 



