New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-13
SCBCRBAN GARDENS.

After mild winter the suburban gardens
near New-York are bright and ATTRACTIVE even
during the first fortnight OF April. Inc la"hs
have been green since November-an unusuai
phenomenon for these attitudes; and dande-
lions are already in blossom. Lawn-cutters
have been brought into use at least fortnight
earlier than usual and few warm, Danny
days like yesterday alone are needed to set all
the spring- towering shrubs in blossom. a
rainy March has its compcnsations. Aprll
yerdurc is brought forward, and there IS an
earlier and more scasonabIe spring in conSe-
oucncc of the inclcmcnt weather OF the plcVl-
GUS month. If rairy March has It's compchSa-
tons, so also has the variable ana huihid Gil
| mate of the northern temperate zone. Americans
habitualy complain of their climate WITHOUT
aDprcciating all tho advantages which are ue-
rived from inclement conditions and an atmos-
phcre ovcrstockcd with moisture. The lovely
grass swards to be seen all about New DIRK,
which can only be rivalled by the vcrdulc OF
English parks, are dependent for their fresh
ness and beauty upon the humid atmosphere
The grasses of the tOrrid zone and OF the
tropics are coarse and rank, and during great
part of the year they are parched ana urN'
4 traveller may 90 all around south America
without seeing a green sward which can be
| comuorod with the lawns to be found IN the
Ioost nrctcntious of the suburbs of this town. IL
j. only in the temperate zones that the finest
effects of landscape gardening can be pro-
duccd in unbIokcn levels Of closely cut grass.
There are. moreover, greater resources III
such climate as this for making suburban
residences attractive than are available III
lower ATTITUDES. There are no shade trees III
tho tropics which can be compared with the
oaks Gins hccchcS and naples OF the tenn
rcratc zone. In general shapclincSs and beauty
If LEAKAGE the trees of our Northern pleasure
grounds and private gardens are greatly SUI
pcrlOr to anything that can be seen III inc
public parks of a tropical city. NeH-to-do
! familic, IN south American cities all nave 'nolr
| 0untaS or country seats, IN the supufoS p"'
| their gardens are mainly filled with mangoeS
and pains. and there j. scant variety III the
display Of shrubhcry. II is only IN the tenn
! ncro,. zones that trees and shrubs which are
prc cmincrtly adapted for landscape chcctS
mo found in uroiusion. There is. perhaps no
rtv in the world which is more highly favored
hv climate and natural advantages in these re-
.pccis than Ncv-lorll In It's parks and ITS
| ~lIiiiiliidu -dlh'NN Il -l''l''i if'''7'
shade trees. shrubs, plants and flowers Is pos
| siblc than in lower attitudes.
II is TO he feared that the best use Is not al
way. made of these advantages by suburban
residents. Expensive houses are planned with
ON, reference to the grounds surrounding them.
| When the architect. masouS and carpenters
have done their work. paths are tagged To the
| front and side entrances. trees and shruhnery
are hccdic.,ly planted. conspicuous ilowcr-h beds
are marked out. ornamental vases arc uggcd
.n and lawns which should remain mhlokcn
,re Uttered and cut mp in various ways. lhcfe
ar, many suburban residents who have spent a
whole winter in planning their houses and only
, ,ingc morning in directing gardener To
'oy cut the grounds The consequence Is that
many suburban homes arc entirely out OF keep
mo with what may be called the landscape
| setting. No attempt j. made to produce har-
monious whoc-to bring the lawn. shubbery
vines and flowers into artistic relations with
! he house \ French or a Spanish garden may
lac, the variety of trees. shrubbery and flowers
which is displayed in IN American suburb
bu, il invariably forms Symmetrical setting
for the home House and garden belong to-
rcfhcr from natural affinity. Too often in ON
laiitudcs. from lack OF artistic sense, they are
broucht into unnatural and iDharmonous re-
lltioAs.