THE PROFESSION OF LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



33 



Love of the beauties of Nature is an admirable thing, but it is fatal 

 to the object of admiration when too many suitors press their attentions. 



The rate at which virgin country is disappearing is so prodigious that 

 it would be most interesting to know the exact acreage which is annually 

 withdrawn from a free state of Nature. A moment's thought will help us 

 to appreciate the extent of the erosion, and to realise how much land is 

 being cut up for new roads, and either lost to view behind garden fences, 

 or, as may be sometimes worse, denied and exposed in ugly disorder. 



However regrettable may be the transformation of so much beautiful 

 country, any protest would be puerile in view of the social development of 

 which it is a symptom. We can only temper our regret with some satis- 

 faction by insisting that where Nature is dispossessed it shall be succeeded 

 by art worthy of the traditions of the site. Herein lies a legitimate 

 opportunity for the landscape gardener. 



Sufficient proof can be furnished that the material advantages which 

 result from expert artistic treatment justify it as a practical con- 

 sideration. 



For the landscape gardener there are problems of great interest 

 involved in the preservation and use of features beautiful and natural, 

 and their combination with technical details essential to the development 

 of building property. 



Every road may become a vista of potential beauty, which may be 

 accentuated and not prejudiced by the buildings for the service of which 

 it is created. 



The solution of the problems which will give such a result should be 

 greatly aided by the conditions of spaciousness which appear to be 

 necessities of the future. 



This is forecasted particularly by the proposals contained in the Town 

 Planning Bill now before Parliament, which meets with sufficient approval 

 to justify an expectation that in some form it will become law. It offers 

 certain local bodies authoritative powers, hitherto unheard of in this 

 country, over areas in their charge. It confers upon them the power to lay 

 down the lines of new roads, irrespective of mixed ownership of the land, 

 and to enforce the execution of their own model plans of development, 

 which will provide for such open spaces as are deemed necessary. One 

 may be quite sure that lively controversies will result from the exercise of 

 these powers, and may entertain the hope that aesthetic considerations 

 will provide their share of debatable points, which can only receive due 

 justice if they are represented by technical advisers who have devoted 

 special study to the subject. 



There is some excuse for anxiety on this point when one remembers 

 how often gentlemen, whose official engagements depend on their ability 

 as civil engineers, are saddled with such extraneous responsibilities as the 

 designing of parks and public gardens. 



It seems only reasonable that municipalities desiring the luxury of 

 artistic amenities — paid for compulsorily by ratepayers —should obtain 

 designs from, and entrust the supervision of the work to, men technically 

 educated to deal with such matters. 



It is no disparagement of some able men who hold municipal gardening 

 appointments to say that the custom does not generally prevail. There 



vol. xxxiv. d 



