The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-07-27
PARKS. PLEASURE GROUNDS AND
LAWN ADORNMENTS.

) PARKS. PLEASURE GROUNDS AMI
LAWN ADORNMENTS.
Address OF Major Raglan at the HOrti.
cultural Picnic Held at the Resi-
dence OF NIahlOn stubbs
At the request of a number of oul
readers we publish the following excel
lent address delivered by Major Raglan
of Independence, Missouri, at the horti
cultural picnic held at the residence OF
Mahlon Stubbs last week:
Ladies and Gentlemen, aud friends Of Tx
Lyon County Horticultural Society
and Mr.. President.
In compliance with the kind invita-
ton of your society, / have consented
) to furnish paper on the subject of
parks, Pleasure Grounds and Lawn
} Adornments."
Although I have given this subject
some thought, have some fears Wheth
er what / have written will meet the
wants and expectations of your society.
This is subject that is engaging some
of the best talent of our country, and
year by year an increased interest is
taken by the most enlightened of every
community.
If we trace ancient history, both sacred
and profane, to the creation of man, we
find that our Creator placed the primal
pair in garden. We reasonably con-
clude that the Garden of Eden was not
merely cabbage patch. Yet some per-
sons may claim that q cabbage is the
prettiest flower they have ever seen
still we think that in connection with
tempting fruits there were prettier and
more fragrant flowers than the cabbage
in that garden. Il has been aptly said
that horticulture is the flower OF agri-
culture. Thus it may be claimed that
! landscape gardening is the browning
establishment of both. 1t is health-in-
MIGRATING, inspiring the higher and no.
| bier sensibiHties of mankind.
| The first settlement of any country re-
quires the best energies and economy of
its inhabitants TO fell the forests and
break the prairies to provide the neces-
saries of life Yet, when the country is
under successful cultivation railroads
are required to transport the surplus
and towns and cities spring up. Hence,
| our leisure time and capital can be profit
ably employed in improving our homes,
| parks, boulevards, landscape gardening,
| etc.
That town or city that fails 10 provide
| for public recreation TO meet the SANTA
ry needs and pleasure OF its inhabitants
| dlI f4SilOIS Will IdIl Tile
tations and wants of the intelligent of
| the present day.
| We should, by all means, endeavor TO
| cultivate taste for rural Improvements;
while, with the growing wealth of our
country, beautiful cottages and villas
are being erected ON every hand we
should not neglect to devote part of
our means and talent TO our lawns,
parks and drives.
AS we would employ an architect to
| plan and erect our mansions, so, also,
professional talent will be required to
| lay out and plant trees and plants best
adapted to the grounds in question. By
| failing to employ competent persons and
laundering without practical experience
much money and time are often useless
| ly wasted, and that which should be a
thing of beauty" and enjoy our highest
admiration. becomes a subject of criti-
cism.
While we emulate older states and
countries that in the course OF centuries
| have grown populous and wealthy and
can afford the many facinatiug enjoy
ments connected with our subject, the
vim of our western people will not be
content to wait for ages, and leave fu-
ture generations to the enjoyment of
these avantages.
Landscape gardening, differs from
| gardening in embracing the whole
scene Immediately about a country
house, which it sOftens and refines or
renders more spirited and striking by
the aid of art.
At one time it was thought best to
initiate as far as. possible nature, but
more recently We claim TO improve on
nature, by artistic arrangement and CON-
binations, by grouping and blending
colors from the darkest and richest, to
the lightest, producing brillinncy and
even gorgeousness that can be obtained
| only by artistic arrangements of our i'm
proved trees, flowers and shrubs. In
my travels over most of the states of
the Union. l have made it point TO
visit as many of the parks and public
and private ornamental grounds as
time would permit. If time and space
would permit l might make special
! mention of the parks OF Savannah,
Washington City, New York City, Bos-
ton, st. Louis, etc. Washington City is
said 10 be the model tree city
in the world. The most noted
among its attractions are the
grounds around the Smithsonian
These grounds, were laid ont and plant
ed by the late A. J. Downing author of
Landscape Gardening" and perhaps
are the best samples we have. The selec-
ton OF trees was a judicious one after a
long life in tree culture and practical ex-
perience. The after care was entrusted
TO that distinguished horticulturalist
Mr.. VIM. Saunders.
Beautiful trees. plants, and flowers
and fruits elicit our admiration, and even
excite our surprise and wonder by their
magnifcenee and granduer but these
sensations arc transient comDared with
those awakened by the sight of a smooth
soft, yelyeiy lawn in its fresh brightsver-
dure. Yet when we add to this clumps
and fringes of trees and flowers, tasteful
ly arranged to produce happy effect,
we have the croWning picture OF beauty.
| And it is by eliciting, preserving, or
heighteniBg this expression that we
may give our landscape the highest
charm.
Central Park, in New York City, is
the most important work of the Kind
that has been undertaken in America.
This project was urged by the "Horti-
culturist," the leading work on horticul-
/ ture of that day. The first plot Of
/ ground C750 aeres) was secured in the
year 1887, but has been added to from
| time to time till il now contains 2 700
acres. It is two and half miles long
| and over half mile wide, and during
| the favorable part of the year. employs
2.0o0 men. spent one day last fall very
pleasantly there, viewing its lawns,
shrubbery, trees. reservoirs, bridges, AR
BoRETUM, water terraces, prOmenades,
caves, plateaus, drives, bride and foot
| paths; to pass under the drives, through
| iunnels, and to view its lakes decked
| with BEAUTIFUL sea fowls, its geological
| garden, etc, etc, was 8 rare treat. 1
| trust you win excuse me for not az
| tempting q description at this time.
Allow me to allude briefly 10 one more
only, IN the way Of public parks, to-wit,
| Boston Common, which has much con-
neeted with il that Is historic. Il was
under the spreading branches Of the old
memorable elm tree, that such men as
Hancock and the Adamses In their eio-
quence aroused spirit of patriotism
i that prompted the leaders of the Feyolu-
ton TO make teapot Of Boston Harbor
and 20 90 TO prison before they would
| be compelled 70 enforce the stamp act
and other obnoxious laws calculated TO
Cypress the people. That old elm hes
been blown down and gone che way of
all the earth, but eion has sprung up
from one Of its roots, and receives Ell.
most sacred care, being protested by
strong iron fence
Boston commons have had q modern
addition Of the public gardens, which
are in better taste and keeping than any
other public grounds In the world The
commons is one vast lawn perfectly set
with blue grass which is kept closely
shorn and when necessary kept watercd
10 give uniform verdHre, with gravel,
sand aud asphalt walks which are daily
thr0nged with people promenading and
reclining in rustic seats enjoying tue
{ and iindens OF sporting on and around
the crystal lakes
Mr. President, il may be asked why /
have not dwell On such edot nments as
come within the means OF this locality
/ can say this much that am here 10
answer any questions as 70 home adora
ments upon = limited way and could