New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-03
cellars ought to advance at least 100 per cent
between now and the first of March.
PROGRESS IN THE PARK.

| PROGRESS IN THE PARK.
No one who has habitually visited the Park
during the season now closing can have failed
to observe a steady Improvement in the work
It Is evident that the officers now responsible
for its management have at least an intelligent
appreciation of its motive and are in full SYM
pathy with its spirit. Negatively; no outragcs
have been permitted like those perpetrated I'M
der the Sweeny regime and repeated year ago.
| The lower branches have not been cut from the
trees to allow the people " to see under them.
| The rocks have not been secured and polished
| The rich underground in the wood borders has
not been stigmatized a" underbrush' and cleared
away to allow tile "air to circulate" The
screen of trees planted to shut out of sight IN
congruous and distracting objects has not been
cut through to afford an opportunity to see the
city. In the holder and more picturesque pas
sages no trim facing of turf has been worked up
to the rock lodges nor sharp-edged borders dug
out about the shrubbery. Positively; Nature
| has everywhere been encouraged and assisted
to hide and heal over the wounds inflicted by
ignorance The pruning has been done with
intelligence The sward never looked so green
in time of drouth as it did this summer under
the generous watering it received Many wild
herbaceOus plants have been made at home
among the wood shrubs. Unsightly objects have
been quietly removed. There has been tOnng
up of the work in every part-a general move
ment and progress toward a realization of the
original design. Reports from Mr.. Vaux have
| been presented at several meetinsg of the Park
| Commissioners recommending certain modlhca-
tons in the system of walks, but careful OBSERVE
ton shows that many of them have not been
carried out. This is matter of regret. 1t Is
to be presumed that Mr.. Vaux was restored to
the Park because his advice was particularly
valuable in work of this sort and no doubt his
recommendations were the fruit of elaborate
study. His familiarity with the plan and pur
pose of the Park, his conservatism and expert
ence should make him a safe counsellor.
The most extensive planting during the Au
tumn has been along the transverse roads
These were successfully planted out of sight
in the early history of the park. The recent
work was undertaken with view to make the
roads themselves attractive. Two of them
have been carefully paved, and the trailing
vines which have been disposed so as to hang
in iestoons of flowers and foliage over the wall
with occasional masses of shubbery above will
prove an effective addition, Many trees have
been planted on the long neglected Riverside
Drive but it is a misfortune that more care
was not taken in choosing them. In a formal
structure where the effect depends on long
lines of trees every one should be a selected
specimen The crooked, unhealthy and mutill
ated individuals which have been placed there
should be weeded out unsparingly. In Man
Az
complete a large number of shrubs have been
planted with excellent effect, the whole being
belted with a line of Japan ounce. The
American elms used on the border seem to
have been fine trees originally, but many of
them have been trimmed until they are little
more than bare poles. Mr.. Parsons should not
have permitted such butcheTy even il he had
been compelled to stand on guard in person
over every tree. This bar6arity is another
evidence that many of the subordinate garden
ers cannot be trusted with the details of the
simplest processes in their work. 1t Is PLAIN
that the system of subjectng the entire force
to a rigid examination was not begun day too
early.
The capital need of the Park plantations
now, is cOuragcousy thinning out. SO long as
ignorance welded the axe, every blow was
dreaded This apprehension has become SO
deeply seated that Mr. Wales has lately felt it
necessary to urge in defence of the Park policy
that no living tree bad been touched. 1t may
be that Messrs. Naux and Parsons have felt
some natural timidity in the face Of what
they must recognize as prevailing dread of
inconsiderate tree Strengthening. 1t may be that
they have not been confident of support by the
Commissioners. But certain it is that a yig0r-
Gus policy has been too long delayed and some
thing like heroic treatment is now demanded
In many portions of the Park fine trees are
suffering because they are Oyercrowded, and in
twenty years their symmetry will be destroyed
There is beauty in single trees and shrubs
quite distinct from their use in groups and
masses, and both effects are to be considered
and produced in treating a great work OF art
like Central Park. Prospect Park is suffering
from the same evil, and a good year of intelli
gent and energetic cutting Is needed to insure
its proper development in tho future. IgnOr-
ance is the one thing to be dreaded in the man
agement of oar pleasure grounds. But the
sins of ignorance should not be allowed to
cripple executive officers who know their duty
in their efforts to prosecute necessary reforms
with vigor during the winter which is ut hand.
---------------
THE AMERICAN ANTICHRIST.
EThere is not clergyman of any denomination