The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-23
MAY Be MADE
BOWER OF BEAUTY
LANDSCAPES GARDNER TELLS OF
RICHNoND'S WONDERFUL
POSSIBILITIES.

Richmond. according to Mr. Ma
/ than T.. Barrett, an eminent land
scape architect. of New Rochelle. n.
Y. is spendidly located climatically
and otherwise for the practice of the
very best landscape work.
At the Mechanics Institute last
night, In speaking to engineers and
architects of Richmond, he advised
that the city go slowly in the eXpen-
diture of large sums for scuipturat
display, and to be careful to look to
! its future needs.
He said IL would be entirely in
congruous for a man TO erect bur-
galow in the city limits, with the
! idea that it would he a number Of
years before the city really grew out
to the bungalow, and the line of ar
/ chitecture would be destroyed and
/ the plan az proposed and worked out
would become defective.
Mr. Barrett said Richmond had the
advantage of many cities. because Of
| its climatic location. There are many
! plants growing in Florida which cam
| not grow in Virginia and there are
many which grow in Virginia that
cannot live in Florida-because Of
| the fact that they would have TO
| work too hard in keeping up all
the year.
Perfect Bower OF Beauty.
Richmond can produce everything
that Maine can produce, and nearly
everything that comes from Florida. q"
said Mr.. Barrett, and the banks of
the James may be made perfect bow
ers of beauty, and luxurious gardens"
Some architects are handicapped,
said the speaker. by the client whose
taste" IL at variance with that of
the architect.
This variance" said Mr.. Barrett,
frequently ends in ruin for the work
of the architect. When an architect
is engaged to do certain piece of
work. he should be given the right Of
finality, just as In anything else.
las a matter of fact" continued
the speaker. lit is not taste which
causes the grotesque in architecture.
| 1t is preference. Some clients en-
gage an architect, and then spoil the
whole scheme by interfering with the
plans of a man who has given his
| life to the work, simply through
taste. or rather preference.
Should Get Busy Now.
1.-The men OF Richmond should get
| busy now and see that the landscape
architecture OF the greater city cor
responds with what the city may be
in years to come. And in doing this,
| be certain to secure the services of a
| good man, one who knows the bust
ness. and whose experience would in
dicate that he is capable Of handling
this question.
, II would not advise the city 10
make fabulous expenditure in scuIp-
| tural work. Simplicity with beauty,
and a hint OF the old fashioned Vir
ginia garden. would appear to suit
| the conditions I have taken a trip
lover the city. and ] find that the
! smaller parks and corners can take
care of themselves. Some care must
/ he taken In improving the larger
parks, and the utmost precaution
| should be exercised in laying out the
streets and parks and gardens OF the
new territory" ss tstt1
/ Mr.. Barrett exhibited a large mum
Der Of stereopticon slides. showing
favorite gardens and walkways anc
architecture of this as well as the
Did world. Among them were many
| gardens designed by Mr.. Barrett him
| SELF in various cities including Jack
sonville Dayton, New Rochelle and
Pullman.
Mr.. Barrett was introduced by Mr.,
D.. Ernst w. Farley a we'll known engi.
neer OF the Northside.