The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-23

HE TRANSFORMATIONS OF TREES IN THE ZEN
TRIAL PARK.-The attempt to transplant forest
trees to the barren soil Of the Central Park
has proved, as every one knows, magnificent
failure. The whole process, from beginning to
end, was blunder, and the result is that we
have nothing now but the curious anomaly Of
a Park without shade An artistic desert of al
most valueless ernamentaton.
1t is stated that one Of the Commissioners,
Mr.. J. A. c. Gray, has just brought from Paris
plans OF the carriage upon which full grown
trees were so successfully transported there 10
beauty ing the streets Of the French capital;
but unfortunately it happens that immense
sums of money have already been fruitlessly
expended upon the withered stumps which
now decorate the promenade in the Central
Park, and we greatly fear that the Introduction
OF this new continuance will not do much to
improve the system Of transplantation adopted
there, if radical change in other respects is not
effected. Tie fact is that the soil of many
portions Of the Park Is not adapted to the
growth Of large trees, nor is 1t deep enough for
that purpose. The only way to secure the sue
cess of the experiment is to blast holes Of some
ten feet deep, and of sufficient diameter, 10 the
rock which underlies the soil, and Gil them
with good stuff; in this way the trees may be
planted, as in vase, but to expect a full
grown forest tree, fresh from the virgin soil to
grow in two or three feet depth Of mould, is
absurd.
We are afraid that in the endeavor to push
AZ ,r L. M aLa
show for the money expended, too little con-
sideration has been given TO the very FIRST prin
ciples which should govern the designers and
constructors of the work, as is manifested In
this matter Of transplanting trees While
demolishing good deal of the beauties which
in too much to give an appearance Of labor
wbuH Is of little or no service Let US In
stance, for example, the multitude Of bridges
under construction, the object Of which can be
accounted for In no other way than that there
are large number Of architects among the
employees on the Park, who can do nothing
else there but build bridges-a suggestion which
reminds us Of the story Of the English no
bleman who resolved to embellish his baronial
mansion with nothing but the works Of ma
tive artist and, happening one day to be struck
with an admirable representation Of red lion
over an inn door, sent for the painter, and
forthwith indicted him into one of the halls Of
his new domicil. "What design would you
suggest for the space over this mantel ?" asked
the nobleman. "A red lion would be very
good" responded the artist. "And what de-
sign for the spaces on either sidesn q think
two red lions would be just the thing" said the
painter. "What," said the nobleman. would
you decorate my whole house with red
lionsw Why" answered the painter, i can
paint nothing elsev' And so with the archi
tects Of the Central Park-they can de nothing
else but build bridges, and hence we have a
bridge at almost every turning.
There have been many terrible blunders SO
far in the construction Of the Central Park, but
the most fatal Of all is the absence, Of shade 80
absolutely essential to enjoyment An un-
sheltered waste Of greensward, in this climate
is more Of a purgstory than a paradise. No
amount Of ornamental architecture, picturesque
lakes, or winding rambles, can make up for the
loss Of that ever welcome shade which the
London parks and the Bots de Bolougne afford
10 the visitor.