New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-01
VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT,
IF Should Not Be Undertaken With
ont a Settled Plan.
= Frederick ~ oImsted.l

+,sz-a in mind an improved village com
mon which was in its uuregenerate state, q III
angular plot having short cut paths leadlhs III
rectIv from one much frequenJed point 10 al
other. all but two Of which had been planted
z-frb rows Of trees. though most OF them had
become broken and discontinuous- The oder
trees were all elns, and along one side OF the
common there was a double row sufficiently
-o-nnIete to form q fine mall: but ''improvers
Of the last generation, seeking for variety, had
renlaced gaps among the elms with naples
They interrupted the sweep Of the arched ale
nue. Of elnls, and weakened it, without removing
The impression that an avenue Of elT1s was n
tended Inape-fection. not variety. was sug-
gested BY the NAPLES, because they were IL
1roduced in a composition the chief charaHterlS-
tic Of which WAS the ordered continuity Of re-
Ueated forms.
The rough turf on the common was unsystenl-
a+icauv and occasionally moved. for the alb
ssnoe Of COWS formerly allowed TO Craze here
left the grass weedy and rank Considerable
stcheg were worn III the grass where the boys
OF the neighboring school played ball good
deal of litter lay about the grass, and IN one
low corner water frequently stood in q sragnant
pool. There was also a wooden pump, but the
water had become Of doubtful quality
Now came an energetic spasm Of village i'm
D-ovement. First and best litter and paper
were set out unfortunately Of a bad COLOR
lawns were systematically moved and the peo-
PIE persstentIy educated in neatness.
Next the areas worn bare were seeded, but
the boys promptly wore them out again, diff
Guilty that might perhaps have been met ny re
quently shifting the diamonds. 10 distribute ths
wear. without closing the common to ball play
ing. as strongly urged by some OF the in
provers.
The next year distinct establishment was
undertaken by excavating the objectionable wet
spot, supplementing the uncertain natural
water supply by & pipe discharging through
bowIder rockery ar one side Of the pond; the
rocks very prettily covered with ferns and mas
turtfuns with water lilies planted IN the pond
let with shores enlivened by iris and other
aquatic plants. all surrounded by q curving
path. and & wire fence to keep the dogs away
from the flowers. Another year Towering
shrubs were introduced back Of the rockery,
making & strfkingly picturesque. If somewhat
'iEardenesque." composition.
The well having been condemned. wealthy
summer resident gave drinking fountain, the
design for which was made by a clever Boston
architect. based on an italian fountain Of which
the donor gave him a photograph. This. 100.
very pretty thing, although its character
had no more connection with that OF the COM
mon at large than had the picturesque water
garden The architect. feeling the need for
some appropriate setting. prevailed upon the
committee to grade a little terrace about the
fountain and border it with q privet hedge. pro-
viding also q straight walk leading in at right
angles from the nearest path. and continuing in
the game line TO the path the opposite side.
Tbs two old paths TO the pump had led in
sianttngiy from the most convenient points. and
another piece Of fence had to be put up 10 keep
peopis from breaking through the hedge and
rsVerttng 10 one Of the old path lines. The old
lines had looked reasonable enough with the
eli pump. but the architect was certainly right