New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-04
v vovx n,uv TRIBUNE SUNDAY Isso-TR1pLE SHEET

Improvement" embrace variety Oh pa'"o
MARS IN almost every one Of which the counsei
and supervision of experts are essent'a' I"
reasonable success. When an enthusiastic
community awakes to the necessity vi
identifying village or district IL 700 oi'c"
sets itself to work at promiscuous tree.
planting, especially along the highways anu
dreams that il il doing its whole duty Every
body has seen half-hardy trees set upon DieaA
ridges, or noble trees like our own white pine
planted in heavy wet soil, where they VIII
surely die after a short and slckiy grown
But even if gross errors like these are
stunned, and all the streets are lIned WIN "o
trees best suited for the purpose W" ,"'U
being crowded as they usually are, INC "noi0
proiect falls far below what might DC aoooin
plished. In the first place, all rOadwaSs az
not inonrovedv by being shut IN and shaueu
ovor The treatment most suitable for long,
..roiob- avenues would disigure many other
roads where open, sunny spaces are oes'i"o'0'
What is really needed is some comprehehsiSo
nlan which will embrace in Its scope all 'no
natural features of the district under treatment
opd in n community which has generally en-
listed in the Improvement business tuo
reouisite cooperation is already assured. Eacn
individual landholder cannot make PARK OF
his few acres perhaps he cannot make q perleco
picture of it with the resources az MS com
1oond But under iudicious guidance the entire
territory could be developed into harmonious
whole. and at no greater expense thah II edcn
man followed his own untutOred TASTE uhder
which conditions the improved dlstIict
would be a patchwork of incongruitles.
II has been well said that a house painter
bears the same relation to a landscape painter
which tbo ordinary gardener and tree planter
bears TO a genuine landscape artst ihele
,re few men who know how to take advant-
ace of the material oflered-eacth, water, trees
shrubs and festOoniDg clr9bers-nd VINO,
preserving the hes of what already exists anu
DESIGNING and iding new features, can com
bne the whole into pleasing picture OF sun
lioht and shadow. But such artists there are
and these are The men TO whom associations TOT
ruroI Improvement must ultimately appeal for
counsel Il has already been ntimated that 70
secure efficient drainage the services Oh
compefent engineer will be required IL Will DC
admitted by any one who has driven through
any township in the country that the collective
American citizen has never learner no" ~
build road and as good roads must be part
of every plan for rural Improvement, here VIII
he n further mand for engineering skill.
Nor can the educated taste of the rurai
architect be dispensed with. Not that every
man will be required to remodel his house but
certainly when new buildings are erected they
should he constructed with an eye TO something
like harmony with theiI surroundings, ana I'D
an improved" village there will be fine
opportunity for original designing IN every
nublc structure down to the town-pump
and waier1ng-trough and tree-prOtectOrs. Inc
sum of the whole matter is that Rural I'M
= movement Associations are deserving or all
sympathy and support, and that the desirable
ends thew aim at will be reached most surely
and speedily when their members realize their
own inconvenience in view of the magnitude
Of the task before them, and are willing TO
employ thoroughly trained and sk'Itul masters
in the various depa tments OF the work
1,t.