48 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



formed the nucleus of a fine range of conservatories which are open 

 daily to the public, who enjoy seeing more orchids there than prob- 

 ably will be found in any public park in this country. There are 

 three bowling-greens, bandstand, &c. Football and cricket pitches 

 were being formed, but, as the areas were requisitioned for garden 

 allotments during the War, some time must elapse ere these games 

 can be accommodated. 



Richmond Park. 



Attempts were made for many years, with the view of meeting 

 the requirements of the residents in the matter of recreation ground 

 in the industrial area south of the River Clyde, to purchase what to 

 all intents and purposes was waste ground badly broken up by mining 

 operations in extracting the underlying coal, but the price asked 

 was prohibitive. However, in 1898, through the exertions of Sir 

 David Richmond, who was Lord Provost at the time, a settlement 

 was effected at two-thirds less than what was originally demanded. 

 The price paid, £1,000 an acre, was heavy enough; but the trans- 

 formation of a wretched piece of land, with only a few blocks of 

 miners' houses thereon, and these not of a high # class, with hardly 

 a tree or bush on its surface, to a well-ordered park, fully equipped 

 with bowling-greens, yacht pond, children's playgrounds, &c, is a 

 matter of satisfaction to all interested in municipal work who are 

 desirous of improving the amenities of the city. The difficulties 

 attendant on getting trees and shrubs established are gradually being 

 overcome, and, despite the destructive tendencies of the rising 

 generation, the arboreal vegetation is fairly satisfactory. 



Rouken Glen Park. 



This unique property, which is about six miles from the centre 

 of the city, was given in 1906 to the Corporation as a public 

 park by Lord Rowallan. In these 135 acres stand the mansion- 

 house, gardens and policies, and the glen known locally as the 

 " Rouken." Some maintain that the term was originally "Reekin," 

 literally " smoking " in English, from the fact that under certain 

 conditions the spray from the waterfall created an appearance of 

 mist or smoke. The popular name " Rouken Glen " was applied to 

 the park to distinguish it from the estate generally of Thornliebank. 



The natural beauty of the place, with its pretty waterfall and 

 stream, along with the nicely- wooded glen and fine trees throughout 

 the grounds, at once appealed to the citizens, and despite its distance 

 from the city it immediately became a popular resort, especially on 

 Saturdays and Sundays. The Corporation Tramways Department 

 quickly realized the possibilities of the place, and extended their 

 system to it by laying a double-lined track. This proving inadequate, 

 they made further extensions by connecting the lines to those in 

 Pollokshaws, and by so doing the public have now a choice of two 



