IMPROVEMENTS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH MAINTENANCE; THE MAKING OF
EXISTING FEATURES BETTER OF THEIR KIND
As previously indicated, no sharp line can be drawn between maintenance
of the sort which ensures progressive improvement (as a result of the
controlled growth of long-lived plants and associations of plants),
and, on the other hand, improvements of detail which are not strictly
maintenance but which, although not very notable individually, are
important because of their collective and cumulative effect.
There are many opportunities for this sort of improvement of detail
in the Botanical Garden, as would be almost inevitable where past
improvements and maintenance have been carried on under the handicap of
insufficient funds, and with the recurring temptation to undertake an
improvement under circumstances adverse to the best results.
Merely as examples we will mention a few such opportunities which have
thrust themselves upon us as important. The making of such improvements
is so bound up with improved maintenance that while the cost of them
might properly be met either out of increased maintenance funds or out
of special improvement funds, the work should be done mainly by the
maintenance personnel.
1. _Fruticetum._ What might be called the general scenic quality of
the areas devoted to the systematic collection of shrubs could be
greatly improved, together with its instructiveness as to the esthetic
value of many species as elements in landscape composition, by a
patient, laborious and discriminating study of the entire collection,
acre by acre and plant by plant, followed by a great deal of minor
shifting of the position of individual plants, by the elimination of
some and by the addition of others, so as to make more agreeable and
interesting compositions--all without in the least impairing the prime
function of the Fruticetum as a systematic collection of specimens
of representative shrubby plants. From the esthetic point of view
this job would be very much like the job of a sculptor in perfecting
a model in clay; sometimes pressing back here and building out there
without addition or subtraction of material, sometimes adding a little,
sometimes taking away a little. The details can no more be embodied in
a specification or a plan than can the touches of the sculptor which
determine the final quality of his work. But because the Fruticetum
is not solely or even primarily intended as a work of fine art, but
primarily as a living botanical museum, whoever is charged with the
artistic responsibility for such an improvement would have to keep the
Director-in-Chief closely informed of his intentions in advance and
work under his supervision and with his continuing approval as to the
effect of the changes on the value of the collection from the botanical
standpoint.
2. _Herbaceous Grounds._ There is opportunity for similar improvement,
probably far less general and far less notable in its effect, in the
area devoted to the synoptic collection of herbaceous plants, known as
the Herbaceous Garden. Incidentally it has occurred to us that the name
“Herbaceous Grounds,” which is applied at Kew to an area having similar
purposes, would be better than “Herbaceous Garden;” because the latter
is so apt to suggest to visitors the idea of a garden of herbaceous
flowering plants selected and arranged primarily for esthetic effects,
as so-called “herbaceous borders” ordinarily are, and to cause some
disappointment on finding quite a different sort of thing.
We do not want to imply that the area devoted to this collection is
not now esthetically agreeable. It is among the pleasantest of the
sophisticated features of the Botanical Garden grounds. But without
changing its function as a synoptic collection of herbaceous plants,
which necessarily contains many specimens selected and assigned to
certain localities for reasons quite other than esthetic, we believe
that the existing pleasant landscape qualities of the scene could
be appreciably heightened and refined by minor adjustments in the
positions of the plants and outlines of beds and by the addition of
certain “background” and “filler” plants not part of the exhibit
proper, but serving functions not unlike those of frames and cases and
backgrounds and partitions in an indoor museum.
3. _Border Plantations._ The strengthening, extension and refinement
of screening and background plantations on the borders of the Garden
land is a very important matter for the sake of future effect, because
the outlooks into the surrounding city are generally most inharmonious,
distracting and unpleasant, and it takes a long time to grow trees
large enough to screen them.
4. _Cherry Garden._ The area devoted to Japanese flowering cherries,
which is interesting in topography, contains good specimens and has an
attractive memorial shelter, Japanese in spirit, could be made very
much more lovely by carefully studied shifting of some of the specimens
so as to secure better artistic composition, taking better advantage
of the topography, by the addition of appropriate subordinate elements
for enrichment, and by readjustment of the paths so as to lead people
conveniently and easily to just the right points of view and at the
same time fit into place as appropriate parts of the scene. It could be
made, and ought to be made, a notably exquisite piece of landscape.
5. _Means of circulation as related to the improvement of existing
plantations._ The mention of paths in connection with the Cherry
Garden brings us to a very perplexing and very important matter. In
a botanical garden resorted to by great numbers of people, it is a
fact, as frequently pointed out by the Director-in-Chief, that an
adequate and convenient path system is very important for handling the
crowds without destruction of the more essential element--which is
the vegetation. It is also important that it should lead the people
conveniently, agreeably, and without a sense either of confusion, or
unpleasant compulsion, or of disappointment, through those places
where they can best see and enjoy what is prepared for their benefit.
It is a further fact that the topography of the Garden is in parts so
intricate and peculiar as to have made the design and construction
of such a system of circulation, in a thoroughly satisfactory way,
extremely difficult, especially under the conditions of piecemeal
construction with funds available in limited amounts from time to time.
In places the existing path system is excellent. But in other places,
in face of these topographical difficulties, it seems to us extremely
unsatisfactory, confusing, arduous and uninviting to follow, failing
to lead to the best points of view and neither conforming pleasantly
to the natural topography nor accompanied by a bold and skilful
modification of the topography so as to conform to the exigencies of
proper circulation.
We believe, therefore, that there should be a very careful and thorough
study of the whole system of circulation, existing and prospective,
with a view to determining, _first_, all those areas in the Garden
within which the existing means of circulation can reasonably be
regarded as permanently satisfactory, so that improvements and
refinements to the plantations can there be undertaken without danger
that things will have to be seriously upset by subsequent changes in
or additions to the path and road system. This will clear the way for
perfecting the landscape beauty of those areas by refinements in the
vegetation to the utmost degree that the available means and skill
will permit. Concentration on that sort of improvement will make more
showing, esthetically, per dollar expended than where costly structural
changes are needed, and for that reason should probably receive
preference in the earlier part of the program of improvement.
But in preparation for a _second_ step in the program of improving
the existing features, those areas within which the existing means of
circulation can not be regarded as permanently satisfactory should be
studied in detail, section by section, and detailed plans prepared
for successive sections to determine the precise locations and grades
of the permanent paths and roads; the sometimes radical changes in
grading required in connection therewith; and at least the general
nature of the treatment of vegetation contemplated. This will show what
improvements in detail of vegetation within these areas can safely be
undertaken pending the expected changes in paths, etc., and open the
way for undertaking these improvements without serious risk of waste.
And then, as a _third_ step in the program, the more costly structural
changes can themselves be undertaken, section by section, accompanied
by perfecting the vegetation in direct connection therewith.
Throughout this program of improvement of existing features, the paths
and roads and grading should be considered solely as a necessary
means to the end of developing and maintaining in the most beautiful
manner possible, those features of scientific and horticultural and
landscape interest for the sake of which the Botanical Garden exists,
and of making them conveniently and pleasurably accessible to the
public without their destruction by public use; while at the same time
recognizing that this mechanism of good circulation for crowds _is_
a necessary means to such an end and in some cases can be properly
provided for on such topography only by radical surgical operations the
scars of which must be made and healed before the final esthetic and
scientific end can be attained.
For example: in a number of places important lines of path circulation
are needed running transversely to sharp ridges and hollows. This is
a very difficult situation, in which a half-hearted compromise may
be easy but is most deplorable. Every effort should be made to find
a satisfactory way of really solving the problem without violence to
the natural topography, as by seeking a more circuitous route which
will not seem disagreeably indirect and which will fully accomplish
the purposes that need to be served. But where this can not be
satisfactorily done--and there are places where it can not--a bold
course, which pierces through a rocky ridge in a narrow ravine-like
passage artificially made but not unnatural in appearance, or even by a
short tunnel, or which spans a narrow ravine on an arched bridge at the
level of the flanking ridges, may not merely produce a more convenient
path system and one which leaves its users free to appreciate what
they see instead of focussing their attention on the inconvenience
and discomfort of the path, but it may also make nine-tenths of the
path fit naturally and pleasantly to the surface of the ground it
traverses instead of its _all_ looking somewhat forced and unnatural as
it climbs and drops over ground obviously uninviting for a main path.
Again, in view of the necessity, in so large an area, of permanent
means of circulation for automobiles, and of the increasing danger and
annoyance of innumerable crossings of this traffic by crowds of people
on foot, it is important to provide for the ultimate separation of the
grades of main paths and main automobile roads where crossings are
inevitable, much as was done in Central Park at a time when the danger
and annoyance of such crossings were infinitely less than in these days
of motor traffic.
All this sort of thing is of very great ultimate importance, can
not sensibly be ignored and should be planned for, in a courageous,
far-sighted, uncompromising way. But, as previously pointed out,
this does not mean that the _construction_ of a first-rate system of
circulation should take precedence over refining and perfecting details
of planting and planting maintenance. Preference should be given, in
this improvement of the vegetation, to areas the least likely to be
upset by such construction. On the other hand, in areas that are likely
to be upset by such construction, improvements in the vegetation should
be undertaken only when the desirable changes in the paths and roads
seem, because of lack of funds, unlikely to be made for so long a time
that the value of the temporary improvement in the vegetation would, in
the meantime, justify the money and effort expended on it.
6. _Qualities generally to be sought in improving the vegetation
through better maintenance._ The esthetic qualities to be sought and
developed in the care of the vegetation must of course vary widely.
Anything approaching a stereotyped effect, which one seeing elsewhere
would at once recognize as the “Botanic Garden style” is to be avoided
at almost any cost. But some qualities are desirable nearly everywhere,
qualities now too often lacking. The plants should look well-nourished
and vigorous. No pains should be spared, of the kind a good plantsman
best knows how to give, in building up the fertility of the soil in
those respects necessary for the healthy typical growth of each kind
of vegetation in its place, in adjusting different kinds of plants
to the places most favorable for their healthy continued growth, and
in fighting their enemies. One of the agents destructive to this
quality is the public; in its careless or wanton injury of plants by
trampling, breaking and deliberate picking. Both constant watchfulness
by a sufficient number of maintenance men and the promptest possible
restoration of injuries when they occur are essential to keeping up a
good standard in this quality. Nothing encourages depredations so much
as the evidence of previous depredations supinely accepted.
Hence there is no question but that the Garden should be so planned
as to be closed at night and that there should be uniformed guards on
duty when it is open; not merely a few City Police temporarily assigned
to duty here, but special Botanical Garden Guards forming part of the
Garden’s maintenance force, carefully selected and trained for the
double purpose, first, of guiding and assisting the public to get the
greatest legitimate benefit out of what the Garden has to offer, and,
second, of preventing those individually trifling abuses of the Garden
which in cumulative effect tend so greatly to make it shabby.
An important quality, hard to describe in positive terms, is one which
is the reverse of “weediness.” It is not necessarily “tidiness.” That
may be highly appropriate in some sophisticated places: on clipped
lawns, among garden beds of a frankly artificial man-made sort, on
paths and roads and picnic grounds; but for most of the Botanical
Garden, where a natural-seeming aspect should be sedulously sought,
the word “tidiness” suggests a smug and artificial quality quite too
sophisticated. Yet weediness with its connotation of neglect, ought
everywhere to be avoided; and there is a good deal of it today. It
comes from the presence of plants--whether classed in common parlance
as “weeds” or not--which look out of place in their surroundings;
often plants much coarser of texture or ranker in growth than their
neighbors, and always suggestive of encroachment on something that
would be pleasanter without them. Millions of volunteer seedlings
spring up every year and many of them, if not systematically repressed,
are able to survive in places where they look distinctly weedy.
The avoidance of shabbiness and weediness is the negative aspect of the
problem. The positive aspect, in addition to securing healthy vigorous
growth of all vegetation that is not to be suppressed as weedy, lies
in the progressive, appropriate enrichment not merely of the regular
“collections” but of the incidental or background flora.
The latter may in some places involve the introduction of more kinds of
plants, especially of the more delicate native flowering plants, but is
perhaps more likely to mean simply the multiplication in certain places
of a limited number of species peculiarly and charmingly characteristic
of distinctive types of flora, at the expense of those species which
are less characteristic.