The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-22

Of the authority Of the experimenting Gar
dener, to whose charge all such work had
been committed. For the Board had pro-
viously, after the fullest discussion OF the
subject, passed series Of resolutions re-
organizing the gardening force, directing
that It should DO under the exclusive order
Of the Experimenting Gardener and that
nothing should be done on ground occupied
by trees, shrubs, or plants, except under his
orders or with his approval.
This order has never been rescindcd. and
the gentleman on whom the authority was
conferred still occupies the position of Su-
perintendng Gardener, with his RESPONSE
bilities really the same by the record, but
with his powers usurped and curtailed by
the aggressive policy Of Superintendent
JONES, who Is prompted and sustained by at
least ono Of tho Commissioners in his
violations Of duty. Tho Superintending
Gardener, Mr.. W. L. FISCHER, Is as
competent for his post as Mr.. JONES
has proved himself incompetent for
his. Mr.. FISCHER has studied his pro-
fession from his youth in Germany and In
England, and under tho instructions OF the
most eminent landscape gardeners in their
respective countries; and In this country he
became identified with tho Central Park at
the timo when the first work was done upon
1t, assisting in the preparation Of the plant
ing maps, and directing nearly all the
planting Of trees and shrubs; and this work
has been continued by him from that
day to the present time, with an inter-
mission Of few years. AS Mr.. F. L. OLM-
sTED says, she has planted ten times as
30 N1,~ ..ftI ,0 ID nrIy
any other man; has cared for most Of them
as for his children for moro than twenty
years past, understands tho object with
which they have been planted, and what is
further required to make them serve this
object, much better than any other man ever
can. II any man deserves well Of the city 1t
Is Mr.. WILLIAM L. FISCHER"
With man OF such character and with
such requirements to direct the treatment of
the planting in the Park, fairly and wisely
sustained by the Board Of Commissioners, the
Park would to-day have retained its former
glory, and would not have become q spectacle
of neglect, decay, and mismanagemant, and
reproach to the city. The Commissioners,
while retaining Mr.. FISCHER In his Office
have allowed Mr.. JONES to override his au-
thority and usurp his functions. Mr..
JONES neither has nor pretends to
have any special training for the duties
which he has assumed in addition to those
which are usually expected Of the Super
intendent Of Parks, namely, tho manage
ment OF bodies Of laborers and the proper
care Of the roads, walks, and buildings. To
add to the complication, the Commissioners
have recently created new office, that OF
Superintendent Of Planting, and have ap-
pointed to it a gentleman who serves without
salary from the department..
II we look for an explanation OF these
complications these conflicts OF authority,
these error, OF administration on the part
OF the Commissioners and OF these destruc-
tive vandalisms on the part Of the Superin-
tendent, Mr. JONES, we may find 1t in re-
cent paper by Mr.. OLMsTED: III an explana-
ton Is needed, may 1t not be given In the
one word Ignorance, complete blind ig-
norance OF the principles, even Of the mo-
tives and objects, Of an art to which many
men Of great wisdom and venerated
character have thought it right to give
as long and arduous study as is often given
to any other form OF art, or to any learned
profession; an art to which it Is no more
reasonable to suppose that a man can turn at
middle life and In q few months be prepared
to assume the responsibility Of great pub
lie work, than that he can, in like manner
qualify himself to take command OF an army,
to servo as Corporation Counsel, superin-
tending physician OF Bellevue Hospital, as
sculptor, chemist, or lapidary?"