, 1873-03-23
TREE-PLANTiNG,

| By u. II. 3. CLEVELAND, LANDSCAPE GARDENER
Since the appearance OF my communication OF
last week on the abovo subject, I have bee1
asked several times what meant by An ''un.
sympathetic" " method OF tree-plantlng Let
me- forestall further questioning BY referring
all inqulTers to the printer, who probably
thought the word more expressive than sun
syBtematic," which WAS what w-ote.
In that article cndeavored to show the OBJ
joctionable character of the universal custom OF
inclosing the front areas OF fine residences with
7ailings or fences, which never fail to injurc
the appearance OF q street or avenue, calling at
tention, By way Of illustration OF what I would
recommend instead, to an elegant residence in
front Of which the stone curbiug has been set
preparatory to the erection OF t. railing, which
has not yet been put in place. Such q
curbing, rising D. few inches above the
sidewalk, is all the Enclosure that is
needed in the ordinary cases, where the houses
are in ju1taposition, or nearly 30. II .the area
extends, on either Or both sides, to the rear OF
the house, and it is desirable, on any account, to
| shut of that portion from the street, light
| railing may be run acroes from house to house,
On the line OF their fronts. II garden
ia one of the appu1tenances Of the
| place, it must, OF course, DO in
| closed; but tho fact should never be
! forgotten that the fonce is not, and cannot be
made, an ornament to the garden, and is only
| the more offensive in proportion as it assumes
to challenge attention by its pzetensions to ele-
| gance. It is SIMPLY necessary guard, and
| should perform its duties in the most simple
| and incouspicuousl manner consistent with
efficiency. But the great majority Of
| casos to which sllude arc those
where the houses arc immediately, or
! very nearly, in connection, but setting
| back Is or 20 feet from the sidewalk. In all
| such caseB, the front fence should be dispensed
| With entirely, and the front area simply filed
! and sodded even with the top OF the cusbing,
| gravel, stone, or asphalt, which should also be
! flush with the grassy surface. In some cases,
| towering shrubs or beds Of flowers may be
tastefully introduced, as shall chow hereafter.
proposition to do away with front fences, and
throw tho area open to the street, will arise
mainly from the feeling that It involves, to
| certain extent, surrender Of private rights; !;
| and it will, OF course, be said that it is i'm
being destroyed or stolen By trespassers.
As an Illustration Of the principle which may
be cited in reply, let me relate anecdote, for
the truth Of which can vouch:
Nearly 10 years ago. gentleman In an Esst-
ern city opened private classical school for
boTs, and fitted up his school~room In style at
that time unheard of,-with handsome mahogany
desks, 3 carpeted floor, and tho walls adorned
with works OF art. His friends demonstrated
assuring him that his fine furniture would
only be d temptation to tho boys
to deface and destroy it. His reply waa: "6n
the contrary, it will teach them to behave them
tant part Of their education as Latin or
Creek and the result proved that he WAS
right.
When 1t was first proposed in Paris to
make gardens Of grass and flowers in the
with such a rough and e1citable people; and
ono Of the strongest arguments of the oppo-
nents OF the New York Central Park was the
abeurdity Of such an extravag1nt outlay for
public garden, which would serve only aa
temptation to the rowdy element Of the popula-
tion. Yet in these and many othercaseo where the
experiment has becnstred, it WAS found, not only
that the aowers were undisturbed, but that
they exert a constant and powerful, though |
silent, influence in refining the character of tho
people, by tho very sense Of confidence implied |
BY their presence, their beauty, and ther help |
lessness.
thing, advantage might be taken Of the oppor- |
tunities offered for the perpetration OF petsy |
outrages, but, with the growth Of the custom, tho
temptation would pass away, while the interest
IN Inc prevention q % ou5liges !; e monia necome
al'oes a 1es ~ Jg - oaa snas
INC eost OF fences mu.fn "oulu 10 saseu "ouia
more than sun1ce 11 lor me support o. an ample
ponce 19lce ;t1 t1la Saen tt1e 40 'ne Pio'lc0 n'o
oeionte ~ - uao!saal. nsaa ~;r,.. x;.,,.a o,,
as 10 tue SURRENDER ~ plNAte tl8nss. hooouy |
nov makes any use OF ne Lron' area, cAcep. n9
1ag ~ 40 tba n.ao;ass ~ sn sny ~ ts
most pptA 1 naIt Il the @ efort to a. TO- 40 is M cone u
nneu ~ .Io W ~ 4 ~. uncn a. "a.
oat d sades tha yonn ~ ne that
I' haif- ata-rad snd ack1r roostaton ia nosa;hys
a. 20 IL H., 800. <-,aop i
ncd nrasaa ~ u D." 'tk7 'no 'no7' 4o''oin A'1a
Pfes'hs Is ths tonca. uera ,erored and tho ororna
properly prepared, grass could bo ND every
Hhere, ana IN most cases, nothing should be At
'cmPted beyond tho securing OF arlch green sTard'
which Is always beautiful and tefreahing,
md requires no caro- for It's protection from
rear TO year. Flowers cannos' OF course oe
,ultlsatea On the eonth slae OF streets running
snst ;; and west, ~ they would get no sun; and