PARK AND CEMETERY. 
237 
THE MINNEAPOLIS PARKS. 
tivity in the project, acting up to the undoubtedly 
correct idea, that the more quickly he can educate 
the people in the desirability and value of the un- 
dertaking, the more rapidly can the park be rea- 
lized. In pursuance of his plan of action he ar- 
ranged a series of lectures, which were delivered at 
Taylors Falls and St. Croix Falls, towns adjacent 
to the site. In a recent issue we gave extracts from 
the lecture by Frank H. Nutter, landscape architect, 
on “Public Parks and Reservations” etc., and this 
was followed on March 12, by one on ‘‘Origin, Pe- 
culiar Formation, Natural History and Attractive 
Features of the Dalles, etc.” by Prof. E. E. Ed- 
wards, Ph. D. On March 18, the next lecture was 
delivered by Mr. Warren Upham, M. A., F. G. S. 
A., Secretary Minnesota Historical Society, on 
“The St. Croix River, before, during and after the 
Ice Age.” The last, of which advance sheets came 
to hand, was delivered by Prof. Henry L. Osborn, 
Ph. D., on “The Mission of Public Parks with Re- 
ference to the Preservation of our Native Anjmals 
and Plants.” The lecturer set forth the duties of 
man to mankind in this relation and described how 
we had been denuding the country of its natural 
resources in plant and animal life, and that the 
government had overlooked the necessity of action in 
this regard except in small degree. He showed 
that the rescue of our native animal and plant life 
is possible through the agency of the public park, 
but advised that as the question was intricate and 
involved, the special authorities on the several sub- 
jects would be required to unite in order to ar- 
rive at a proper solution of the problem. 
Perhaps, it may be thought, if we understood 
flowers better, we might love them less. We do 
not love them much, as it is. P'ew people care 
about flowers. Many, indeed, are fond of finding 
a new shape of blossom, caring for it as a child cares 
about a kaleidoscope. Many, also like a fair ser- 
vice of flowers in the green house, as a fair service 
of plate on the table. Many are scientifically in- 
terested in them, though even these in the nomen- 
clature rather than the flowers. And a few enjoy 
their gardens; but I have never heard of a piece of 
land, which would let well on a building lease re- 
maining unlet because it was a flowery piece. I 
have never heard of parks being kept for wild 
hyacinths, though often of their being kept for wild 
beasts. And the blossoming time of the year be- 
ing principally spring, I perceive it to be the mind 
of most people, during that period, to stay in 
towns. 
John Riiskiii. 
