New-York tribune., 1899-09-03
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS.
A PROFESSION TOO LITTLE KNOWN OR
UNDERSTOOD.

WORK OF ANDREW JACKSON DOWNING,
CALVERT vAUX AND FREDERICK LAW
OLMSTED-A NATIONAL AsSoCI-
ALTON FORMED
ret the architect make the plans for your
house but not until the landscape architect has
told him where to build it"
That is the advice which people give VINO
look upon landscape architecture as indispensa-
hle 70 good architectural results
The landscape architects calling vas not cor
,octlv understood for many years, and he vas
conrounded with the nurseryman the gardener
and the florist by some, and with the architect
nv others The men who are in the profession
saw that they are all of these combined. and
more. one prominent man J." INV P''
said:
.I, is y Iandscape architects business 20 make
the best possible use Of the material "hlcn
nature has given him in finishing the picture
which is to be produced. Nature is the outline
sketch and the landscape architect fills II in
and in doing so he must remember tha' ne Is
dealing with living and not with dead ma
terial that the plants and trees with which he
ornaments the grounds will change with the
seasons. and in order TO preserve the beauty
Of the picture the trees and shrubs must be
so selected that the place will never look cold
and bare. II cannot be expected that the archi-
tect should have the knowledge TO accomplish
all this because In his profession he deals WIN
dead material wall remains wall and all
limos and curves made according 10 his plans
are supposed to remain as long as the building
stands.
THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED.
plans he takes into consideration the fact that
the trees will grow, that in time their increased
size and more dense foliage will change the
character Of the picture. He must even antici-
nate the winter season and arrange his plants
.o that in their leafless condition they may stl
contribute to the harmony Of the picture. Every
rock must be considered in the scheme as Wei.
az rills and pools which under proper treat
ren, often add much 20 the beauty Of the
,rounds There are hundreds Of o"ners OF
handsome country houses Who live IN the city
civ months every year, who care little how ther
nlaces look in the winter months, and places OF
that kind are often designed by architects VINO
nroduce only summer or foliage results know
| ING well that the uns ighty aspect Of the place
IN tho leaHess season will never become known
70 tho owner The man who wants his place
N ne beautiful all the year around must nave
II laid out by one who has Kho"''Se "a
p,ants and who has an eye 70 the beaut'iI ana
its nroper arran cement. Work produced nnder
the direction of such a person viii not appear
well in one season and badly in another but the
nic,ure will change with the seasons, ana each
one will present new features TO attract the
observer. .
Having made his plans the lands ape archi-
tect calls in the help Of the engineer The nursery
man and the gardener and under their COM
bined efforts small places are made to look
large, distant points are brought nearer oy the
proper application Of plants OF certain eoIofs'
while other colors are used TO create distance
objectionable places are screened or oblterated,
the beautiful points are made conspicuous anu
this is all the result OF the landscape architecrs
suggestions"
A. ]. DOWNING'S WORK
The subject OF Landscape arch'e' 'ure
America had as its first great champion AHuIe"
Jackson Downing, who was the Editor ot AHe
Horticulturist" in 1S40-jo. y prominent men''
Der of the profession sad Of him:
HE possessed go much magnetism ana en-
thusiasm FOR Landscape gardening ud' he az
complished much in inspiring an interest II 'ne
subject among owners Of country places N0'.
of these were in those days on the u"""' "
the Hudson. He was welcome guest "' 'N'
summer homes, and undertook ~ many -
stances TO advise his hosts how 70 ia! '"' 'H>
grounds in broader and more artsu- "hoS '''l'
| those that would be suggested by uie S"'N'N
/ Under his direction many OF the p'"''s
| Transformed and their real beauties
out. Seeing a future in work Of that A4hu' NN1
| knowing that association with = 5000 u'S'F"'