located either upon tidewater, lake or river, which afford cooling breezes during the heated portions of the summer. San Francisco has a bay park. Philadelphia's Fairmount Park is admirably situated along the Schuylkill river. The Federal government at Washington has reclaimed a considerable tract along the Potomac, and New York has added to its beautiful Riverside Park a few smaller parks along the East River. But New Orleans, St. Louis, Cincinnati, St. Paul, Buffalo and many other cities have not utilized the natural advantages which their locations give them. And New York needs ocean, river and sound parks, with connecting parkways to bind them all into a uniform system.

Trees in Streets.

Appropriate and effective street tree planting may be undertaken quite outside of park or parkway treatment. As tersely stated by one excellent authority, "the great want in modern cities is trees." The treeless condition of the residential portions of many of our American cities, the bare aspect of the streets is evidence of the truth of this observation.

The systematic use and care of trees on the public streets is more and more engaging attention. Climatic conditions cannot be changed, but suitable street trees remove many of the discomforts in summer and are nowise objectionable in winter. The heated term of the past summer afforded an excellent object lesson in this respect. The restful green and refreshing shade of the streets having trees as compared with those open to the glare of the unprotected sun rays were in marked contrast. The transformation produced by well-planted streets is always attractive. The favorable results in improved appearance, general attractiveness and comfort during the summer season are out of all proportion to the comparatively small cost. This is to be seen especially in Washington and Minneapolis, where a comprehensive system of street planting has, under municipal control, been carried into practical effect. Paris, Brussels and some of the other foreign cities also furnish striking examples. In Washington the magnificent lines of street and avenue trees have been planted and cared for by a commission, created as a branch of the district government, having full authority over all street planting matters in the city. In

Minneapolis and some other cities this power is vested in the park commission, with authority to plan, protect, prune and otherwise care for the trees, and in some cases to levy assessments against abutting property for other street improvements.

Under the Act of March 28, 1893, New Jersey has the requisite legislation enabling any city, township, borough or village to inaugurate a street tree planting system as a part of the city's function. The city of Passaic was one of the first cities to adopt the law, and about 6,000 trees have already been planted there by the commission appointed under the Act. One of the most favorable features of the law is that under its operation any or all streets can be planted uniformly, with a consistent, continuous treatment, rather than the incongruous planting usually carried out—owing to the diversified tastes and ideas of different property owners-in the absence of a comprehensive plan of dealing with a street as a whole.

Municipal Action Necessary.

A definite plan for all municipal improvements is necessary. In tree planting, as in the matter of water supply, sewage and other problems requiring the use of the streets, the best results obtain under a commission having full authority. Indeed, concentrated authority is requisite. No one would favor a plan by which each property owner would attempt to put down a sidewalk or pavement in front of his premises to conform to his particular notions. The "hit or miss" plan of street planting is open to similar objection. Some trees on a street are, however, unquestionably better than none, but where the work is undertaken by a competent commission uniformity, economy and other practical results follow for the benefit of all. When public sentiment in the various states crystalizes into law, empowering municipal authorities to carry out a system of street planting, as parks and other local improvements are now made, we shall have still more attractive cities with parks and parkway advantages enlarged and enhanced in every direction.

In Washington these important improvements have been inaugurated in reverse order. The beautiful lines of street planting are now being supplemented by the connecting parkway system, under plan of the architects and the committee of the Senate having the matter in charge. With these plans for the park system

carried out, Washington, with its broad planted avenues and shaded streets, will be one of the most delightful residence cities, and an object lesson in park and street planting matters for other cities of the country.

PLANT DECORATION.

BY KATHARINE C. BUDd.

[NOTE. The sketches used as illustrations in this article have been drawn by Miss Budd.-Editor.]

A walk through our city streets, between the uninteresting rows of brown-stone houses, reveals little variety and less good taste in the tiresome perspective of windows, commonplace "stoops," meaningless cornices stuck on at any convenient height and location. The new buildings replacing the old are generally well studied and artistic. By contrast, their neighbors look even worse. At first sight it seems hopeless to suggest any improvement short of tearing down the front. But if for a moment one glances at additions common in old continental cities, he will see how the love of the beautiful is manifested in picturesque changes in the plain old stone houses. The balcony, full of gay plants, the fountain at the corner of the street, the oriel window and graceful tower, in mass of color or variety of outline, improve the appearance of the town.

Any traveler fortunate enough to visit one of the quaint old Swiss or French towns, when en fête, will retain a lasting impression of the effect of floral decorations, both transient and permanent. In Bern and Thun, for example, the houses jut out beyond the street line, the sidewalk passing under the first story, a series of heavy arches supporting the buildings above. There is not an inch of greensward, not a tree in sight, but everywhere on the wide window sills and iron balconies rest boxes and pots, overflowing with flowers and climbing vines. A cold, lifeless sketch in black and white gives no idea of the beauty of the creamy greys of the stone, brightened by the vivid flecks of color.

Our unkindly climate discourages a display of this kind. In summer most of the city houses are closed, the short seasons of spring and fall are over before one has time to plant and enjoy his window gardens. In one case an early frost blighted the plants