New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-19
PROSPECT PARK FLORA.
Il Descriptive Directory of Its Trees
and Shrubs.

TREES AND SHRUBS OF PROSPECT p, PAk IN
BY Louis Hartman Peet- WITH maps American
Printing House
rsrooklxn's great Measure ground has long
been congnicuously noted among the urban
marks of the world. 1t is OF ample size II l.
conveniently situated 1t occupies ste io'
only Of great historic interest hut also VI "A
ceutionai natural beauty and fitness TOT the pun
poses TO which il is now devoted In ITS Lohe
Meadow il possesses a feature of unique chari'i-
From its lofty hilltop it commands an uiisur
.assed prospect over city and suburbs anu
beach and omen ocean In its ravines and glens
and natural watercourses it has picturesque
,,ess which art would vainiy strive to equal
Tpon its rich soil il supports reinaTkapie
wealth and variety of vegetation
This last named feature is the theme OF the
present volume. which may freely say mis-
the proverbial long felt want Prospect PARK
without protesting to be such. is Verltaoie
arboreturn with d bewildering variety OF nauNe
and exotic trees and shrubs. English oaks,
Austrian pines. cedars of Lebanon, japanese
expresses. Indial deodars, Spanish chestnuts,
African cedars, Swiss pines. Chinese cork trees.
I.ombardy poplsrs, Norway spruces. Russian
mulberry. Scotch pine Oriental plane trees
every land and cline contribute delegates to
the arboreal congress. The trouble has been,
hitherto to identify the members. He who
knows merely our native trees is quite lost in
the wilderness of foreigners. Even he who is
fairly well versed in botanical lore is at a loss
name half of the trees and shrubs he sees.
But 10 see the trees without knowing their
names is e lose great deal of the pleasure
and instruction which the park should afford
We have hitherto urged the equipment of the
most conspicuous and typical trees and shrubs
with labels. giving their botanical and popular
names. and this we are pleased to observe. is
now being done in tasteful and effective man.
ner.
Such labelling and such a book as Mr.. Poets
are &C mirable compliments of each other. The
book is designed to enable the reader who visits
the ps r to identify the trees and shrubs. partly
by their situation in relation to each other and
to other landmarks. and partly by their APP
pearance. Thus the park, or the major portion
of it. is infinitely and accurately portrayed in
4 series of sectional maps and each tree or
shrub IS. indicated and numbered. Thus by
finding any tree the map and observing its
number and referring to the index, one can
instantly ascertain its name If in addition he
reads the alphabetically written text he will
find a brief but sufficient description of the
plant to enable him TO recognize it by sight
when next he sees It We can imagine few more
profitable exercises in field botany than to wan
der through the park with this book in hand,
observing tree after tree as it describes them.
Such an exercise will give much pleasure and
information. and il will, by suggestion, greatly
quicken the faculties OF observation. The COM
Pact and handy little volume is really letter
Of introduction Of the park TO its visitors which
every appreciative visitor will find of value,