261 
PARK AND CEME-TE-RY 
ing plants. The tropical growth of vegetation in the 
ideal climate of Los Angeles requires unremitting care 
to keep the trees, plants and flowers in subordination 
to the park requirements. Every plant is in its proper 
place; every bit of shrubbery grouped together is pic- 
turesque ; scan Westlake park from center to circum- 
ference and it is like a picture well laid upon the can- 
\as. 
Sunset park is about twelve acres in dimensions, and 
is virtually an annex to Westlake. The two are closely 
connected by a l)road, shaded boulevard. 
Eastlake park is one of the grandest features of the 
city. It is on the old Adobe road, containing fifty-two 
acres, ten of which are in the beautiful lake. It has a 
different history from any other Los Angeles park. 
The Southern Pacific contemplated erecting a car shop 
in East Los Angeles, in 1889 or thereabout. The city 
agreed to donate the area of ground that now consti- 
tutes the park, and negotiations had gone so far that 
theland was purchased by the city. The railroad com- 
pany decided not to build on the land, so the city con- 
verted its newly acquired land into a park, and the 
improvements are said to have cost $100,000 and still 
progressing. 
The immense conservatory of Eastlake park contains 
thousands of very rare plants, and serves the practical 
purpose of supplying the other parks of the city with 
the requisite annual hedding plants. One general con- 
servatory where plants of a kind, in the large numbers 
required by parks, may be had in the best condition is 
a fine arrangement. It has been generally approved in 
the case of the Eastlake conservatory. 
Los Angeles has more acreage devoted to parks than 
any city approximating its size in the United States. 
Naturally, where the climate is intoxicating like a cor- 
dial and there is nO' winter, the people seek the open 
air, and of all places the parks are the most inviting 
for recreation. Mrs. G. T. Drennan. 
Wirthi’s Merry-Go-Ro\ind. 
An important factor in the entertain- 
ment of children in our parks is the 
merry-go-round. The idea of a ride, 
of going faster than their legs can 
carry them, is always a fascination for 
children. Heretofore the merry-go- 
round has been to ride in a seat or on 
horseback, the motive power being ap- 
plied, bv hand or engine, near the cen- 
ter, and the ride is taken at the cost of 
from a penny to a nickel. So familiar 
has this style of a merry-go-round be- 
come that it never occurred to me that 
one could be different. Imagine my 
surprise at the meeting of the park su- 
perintendents in Hartford last summer 
to find in operation a merry-go-round 
automatic, and free for any child who 
can find a place to hang on, without 
the least danger, and freely used. It 
was entirely new to the thirty or more park superintenrl- 
ents who were present, and all pronounced it a success 
and immediately named it “Wirth’s merry-go-round,” 
as the originator was Mr. Theo. Wirth, superintendent 
of parks, Hartford, Conn. Since then three of the 
superintendents have taken steps to have it installed in 
their different parks. 
It is not patented, costs but little to construct, and 
nothing to run, and gives lots of fun. This merry-go- 
round consists of a disk platform twelve feet in diam- 
eter, the outer edge used as a seat with a footboard. 
The whole rests on ball bearings, is so constructed that 
the least effort puts it in motion, and so well balanced 
that when once started it runs for a long time. The 
children do their own pushing, get on and off as they 
choose, and enjoy it hugely, and never yet has a child 
been hurt. Fifty or more children can ride at a time. 
It is not infrequent to see people larger in size and 
older in years apparently enjoying it as much as the 
children. 
I understand that Mr. Pettigrew, superintendent of 
parks, Boston, has constructed one costing several 
times what Mr. Wirth’s cost, but hung from the top, 
yet revolving on ball bearings and arranged for a can- 
opy so as to give shade if used in the open in the 
summer. G. A. Parker. 
WIRTH-S MERKY-GO ROUND IN A HARTFORD. CONN , PARK. 
