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THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
quently gets a nursery grown one that requires con- 
stant feeding, etc., to make it grow at all. In the case 
of trees starting under natural conditions a seedling 
with a normal constitution will always have root ac- 
tion superior to a weak one growing near and the 
more rapid spread of the roots of the former will soon 
place it in a position where it can command the lion's 
share of food, and even if the weaker tree can con- 
tinue to live, it will he the first to succumb to the efifect 
of any adverse conditions that may arise. 
Park Drainage, Driveways and Walks 
IX the planting of any area the question of drainage 
inn st he carefully considered, perhaps more so in that 
of formal parkings, for we find that on natural sur- 
faces which are rolling or undulating, and which lend 
themselves to informal parkings, nature has provided a 
more or less perfect system of drainage. Wherever it is 
necessary, however, to resort to artificial drains, under- 
drainage is the logical method to pursue, writes H. J. 
Moore in Canadian Florist. Surface drains or ditches are 
not only unsightly, but ofttimes dangerous. If drains are 
essential on undulating land they should be laid in depres- 
sions, which have considerable fall and may empty into a 
small lake, from which the water may pass as a surface 
stream. Should any natural stream exist, by all means 
drain into it. This should not in any way mar its beauty, 
but rather enhance it in increased volume of water which 
would be afforded. 
When parking along natural lines do not reduce the 
elevations or fill the depressions, unless for a special rea- 
son. This, alas, is too often clone in order to create a 
level surface and invariably seriously interferes with the 
natural drainage. Under certain conditions this practice 
may have a very unfortunate result, as, for instance, in 
the case of areas parked with large native trees, especially 
oaks. The slightest unnatural flooding of, or drainage 
from, the area in which these trees grow may result in 
their death. Three years ago the writer observed that a 
ditch had been cut about twenty-five feet away from two 
very beautiful white oaks. This was done to divert a 
small stream so that a roadbed could be constructed. The 
natural bed of the stream was at this time also filled. In 
two years these trees (each measuring eight feet in cir- 
cumference three feet from the ground, died as a result 
of the change in the level of the water table in the soil. 
Do not disturb an undulating surface except to make 
walks or driveways through a swampy depression, which, 
if large and deep enough, had better be spanned by a 
bridge of artistic design, especially if a running stream 
exists. To make a fill and to place a small culvert in a 
stream of fairly large proportions may preclude the op- 
portunity to render attractive what otherwise under judi- 
cious treatment might be made a spot of surpassing 
beauty. 
When roadbeds or walks are being constructed through 
a perfectly natural park, they should follow the contours, 
over the hills, and through the hollows, where the grades 
will permit. Cuts and fills should be avoided, and only 
be made when circumstances will not allow of other pro- 
cedure. Nature cannot be preserved in its entirety when 
ruthless and indiscriminate means are adopted in this par- 
ticular work of construction. 
A perfectly level or straight driveway may seem to 
some more economical to construct. When, however, we 
take cognizance of the cost of cutting and filling, and of 
the fact that level roads often require unsightly parallel 
side ditches which arc hard to maintain and to keep free 
from weeds, there is no apparent advantage. When 
driveways follow the contours, the side depressions usu- 
ally suffice to carry off the water, therefore few, if any, 
longitudinal underdrains, such as must be laid in a first- 
class level road, are necessary. Think of the saving in 
drainage alone. From an engineer's point of view the 
level driveway, or one graded to a particular degree 
through an undulating park area, may seem a perfect 
accomplishment. From a landscape achitect's viewpoint, 
never. 
In the foregoing text it should be understood that ref- 
erence is not made to level city streets or boulevards 
where drainage of necessity must be made artificially 
perfect. The remarks apply solely to those areas of 
which, alas, near our cities are too few, where any exten- 
sive grading would in great measure mar the natural 
beauty, and where the construction of level driveways 
would tend to create a discordant note rather than one 
of unity. 
If the area is extensively rolling, the driveways am 1 
walks should not be constructed in a straight line between, 
two points, rather make them to deviate from this. Al- 
ways, however, allow the curves to run generally in the 
direction of the object for which they are constructed. 
Where necessary to employ compound curves, do not, 
where possible to prevent, design them to double back on 
each other. This does not serve any logical purpose. If 
necessary, for the sake of sentiment, to make a detour, 
for scenic or other purposes, and to the casual observer 
there may appear no reason for such detour, create one 
by grouping trees or shrubs on the inside of the curve. 
Do not, however, obscure the view and so render the 
driveway dangerous. 
It will probably be unnecessary to utter a warning 
against the ridiculous and unnecessary practice of remov- 
ing, numbers of large trees for the construction of drive- 
ways. Especially where straight driveways have been 
constructed has this been done. Usually, however, the 
difficulty may be overcome by making them curve to 
avoid at least the largest and best of the trees, or by 
running the driveway along the side of the wooded area, 
if small. To the writer the wisdom of removing trees 
from the center of a wooded area to accommodate a drive- 
way is not apparent, if other locations can possibly be 
found. Just as the dignity of a lawn depends upon its 
size, so does that of a woodland. To run a concrete walk 
through the center of the former divides it into two and 
so impairs its dignity in that the large lawn no longer 
exists, the walk having created a boundary to each divi- 
sion. To so divide a small natural woodland by a straight 
and definite driveway will in like manner impair its dig- 
nit}- and may show that precedence has been given to 
that which is artificial over that which is natural and 
logically to be the most desired. 
In the laying out of formal park areas the straight 
driveway or walk to a direct point is not only permissible 
but proper. The straight driveway or walk in natural 
park areas is decidedly improper as are all lines that are 
artificially straight and definite. 
This article would not be complete without mention of 
the practice of lining the edges of walks through wood- 
lands with logs of wood or pieces of rock, which in their 
arrangement suggest the artificial. The beaten path 
cleared to a desirable width of that which would obstruct 
pedestrians is the most natural. Here and there an over- 
hanging shrub, here .a recess, there a protruding rock, 
covered maybe with trailing vines or other verdure. 
Above, the lofty trees and the overhanging sky. These 
alone should constitute the lines of definition, for they 
are natural. 
