El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-20

ANDSCAPE gardening as a pro-
fession is one Of the newer call
1ngs in America, but during the
past decade it has progressed faster
/ than any other. In communities where
the appearance Of the landscape has
never before been considered, beautiful
picturesque effects viii be achieved
during the coming summer After an
American business man has acquired a
comfortable competence his mind nat
uraIly turns towards securing beauti-
ful environments for himself The
American landscape gardener is pre-
pared to meet these demands SO that
all who are able to employ high skill
IN outofdoor art, can find plenty of
their own countrymen competent to
produce the required effects America
now rivals Europe both in the number
and beauty of its large landed estates.
Must Be Scientist and Artist.
The competent landscape gardener
must be both a scientist and an artist.
He must have a scientific education
enabling him quickly to determine the
chemical composition Of soil, the rela-
tive heat and cold of a locality from
its exposure to the sun. as well as the
climatic conditions required for the
growth of the various trees, plants and
shrubbery. Then, in addition to pos
sessing the eye of an artist, he should
have the ingenuity of an inventor for
he must be ever ready to suggest orig
inal designs in. compliance with some
idea, perhaps absolutely homogeneous,
of his employer.
Landscape gardening includes every
thing pertaining to the improvement of
the appearance of the country as a
whole. In the city it is rapidly
achieving Importance. In the older
cities, the beautifying of squares and
streets, the enlargement of public
parkings and the cultivation of trees
and shrubs wherever possible, will this
year give employment to much larger
number of men than ever before. In
the newer cities, landscape gardeners
are being consulted in the arrange
ment of the town. The best utilization
of natural resources. the consideration
of future growth in the laying out of
the streets and the preservation of
every possible piece of natural beauty
results from this precaution.
Has a Physical Value.
The work of a skilled landscape
gardener may be felt in its practical
commercial value in year or two.
A progressive real estate firm in a
New England village two years ago
employed a landscape gardener to i'm
prove the appearance of three blocks
of ground for the site of several apart
ment houses. The situation was care
fully studied, a practical plan laid out
in which certain hardy trees and
shrubs were suitably placed. Proper
attention was given to the parking
and some plain, comfortable apartment
houses were erected. Although these
were much less expensive and elabor-
houses in adjoining squares they were
Immediately taken at much higher
rent. the rental value in a single apart
ment averaging from SIS TO $50 a
month higher, all because of the at
tractive surroundings
The value Of the landscape garden
er's work is being recognized by the
municipal authorities and in conse
quence the present season is showing
more active results along this line.
Shelton. Ia. appropriated $4,000 to be
utilized this spring by a newly ap
pointed gardener to provide the proper
of three open squares
which have been neglected eyesores in
the town for years. This is the be-
ginning of movement towards Secur- |
ing a larger public park The land !
scape gardener in every city should /
affiliate with the local Improvement |
organizations and endeavor to unity |
the efforts in town identifying already !
under way.
Tree Planting Does Good.
The tree planting activities inaugur- /
ated by the public school arbor day /
movement have been spasmodic in |
many towns and do not always pro- |
luce good effects If the town land
;cape gardener cooperates with the |
public school. giving advice upon the /
selection of trees for certain locali-
les and their care after being planted,
great benefit will result When the
school arbor day is under the direc-
ion Of city landscape gardener who
las delivered a few lectures regarding
he care of trees, the civic pride of
he school is generally aroused. The
boys learn to watch for each new
growth, If a dr. season comes and |
here is no provision by the .own for
prinkling, school children quently
lct as volunteer water carriers and
hus provide the trees with the re-
Iuired moisture
In the high schools in many of the
titles landscape gardening forms sup
Elementary part of the manual train
ng course. Illustrated lectures are