PARK AND CEMETERY. 
2 17 
At right angles to this chord from near its 
northerly end Water street runs east to the railroad 
station, crossing the river at the point where the 
flouring mills are located. About three hundred 
feet west from the river on this street stands a pump- 
ing station of the city water works, while between 
this building and the water, running back some four 
hundred feet in depth, lies the land about to be im- 
proved. 
The tract may be briefly described as a slightly 
rolling area with many fine native trees, oak, ash, 
elm, etc , about nine feet below the grade of the 
street, two or three feet above the water in the mill 
pond, and subject to occasional overflows, wh ; ch on 
account of the clearness of the water, soon pass 
away without depositing mud or rubbish. Along 
the rear line passes a railroad with side tracks to the 
pump house, while a wagon road to the building 
traverses the park from the street. Drains from 
the boiler and engine rooms of the water works and 
an electric light plant near at hand, discharge their 
greasy water into the grounds. Turning to the 
river front we find that the daily fluctuation in the 
mill pond alternately covers and exposes a muddy 
margin; across the pond there is a similar strip 01 
mud, then a few feet of grassy meadow, a side 
tract to the flouring mills, and a narrow carriage 
track, the whole included within the limits of a 
platted street. 
The accompanying design, prepared by Frank 
H. Nutter, Landscape Architect, of Minneapolis, 
Minn., shows how it is proposed to deal with these 
various conditions. 
The obnoxious drains are to be discarded and 
connections made with the city sewers; the present 
driveway abandoned and an approach secured 
through an alley to the west of the pumping station, 
thus permitting the grounds of the water works, 
which in front of the building have been brought to 
grade of street, to be treated as a part of the park. 
In the interests of economy, and to preserve so 
far as possible the native trees, no change of grade 
will be made over the larger part of the area, ex- 
cept where necessary to perfect the surface drainage 
of the park. 
Along the street line will eventually be built a 
retaining wall and low parapet, against which on 
the park side a thickly planted slope will be raised 
to about one-half the height of the wall, over which 
passers-by will look down upon the park. Heavily 
planted borders will shut out the coal sheds and 
tracks along the rear lines. 
The shore line it is proposed to treat by form- 
ing an irregular border of boulders and field stone 
in sufficient depth of water to avoid any further ex- 
_ . ■■■■- ■ ,.ra 
posure of the muddy bottom, and extending the 
lawns thereto; on the opposite side of the river simi- 
lar treatment will be given, and the strip of meadow 
between the new shore line and the roadway heav- 
ily planted, with a foot path winding through the 
shrubberies. By this means some rather unattrac- 
tive outlooks will be shut out, and the mill pond 
be practically made a part of the park, thus nearly 
doubling its area. As the size of the park is small, 
only footpaths will be opened in it and those only 
on the lines required for the convenience of the pub- 
lic, which will generally be free to wander at will 
under the trees. Boat landings are provided on 
either side, as the stream is navigable for several 
miles. The only other artificial feature will be a 
pool and fountain situated near the street and dis- 
charging into the mill pond under a foot bridge pro- 
vided to allow for an ample outlet in time of 
freshets. 
A few of the standing trees will be removed on 
account of overcrowding and to open up some vis- 
tas across the park, and what new plantings are 
made it is intended shall be of such native and 
standard varieties as shall harmonize with the tim- 
ber now growing. 
In the picturesque shores of the Cedar River, 
Austin has a mine of beauty, which if properly 
treated, would make her unique among her sister 
cities, and it is to be hoped that this park now de- 
scribed may be but the beginning of a larger and 
more extensive improvement. 
A dispatch from London to the Chicago Tribune , 
dated November 7, says: What is alleged to be the dis- 
covery of Mr. Garton, an English agriculturist, has been 
tested exhaustively with the greatest success at the Earl 
of Winchelsea’s experiment farm at Sleaford. It con- 
sists of applying the system of cross-fertilization to 
grasses, clovers, cereals and other food plants. The 
Earl of Winchelsea’s secretary says that the experi- 
ments were made not only with plants grown in the 
United Kingdom but with those of all foreign agricul- 
tural countries. Special varieties that are best suited to 
any particular soil or climate can therefore be pro- 
duced. The experiments have not been made public 
hiiherto in order that a sufficient quantity of seed might 
be raised to supply the demand when the important re- 
sults were made known. Mr. Garton has already re- 
ceived applications from some foreign governments for 
seed. The United States has effected crosses of wheat, 
but has not attempted to cross barley or oats. Mr. Gar- 
ton has succeeded in all his efforts, and Great Britain 
is thus enabled to take the lead in supplying the world 
with new varieties of grains. This will be a potent fac- 
tor in restoring prosperity to British agriculture. Dr. 
Goodfellow, an expert, writes that Mr. Garton’s meth- 
ods of producting marvelous permanent types of cereals 
are most unique and original, and that comparatively 
useless cereals are converted thereby into the most val- 
uable food plants. 
