The elements of variety and expression do not appear to be well worked out. A greater variety in the style of the bridges and other structures, and of the material employed in their construction, might bo used with advantage. The surface of the ground is too much crowded with trees and shrubs, while there is a want of well-defined groups, suitably located, and properly connected by single trees, with wide stretches of open lawn.

Another feature in the planting that appeared faulty is, that the central parts are too much crowded, and the boundary planting is too thin and sparse, and does not sufficiently conceal the outer lines of the Park. Here it would seem proper to make the planting closer, and, by concealing the boundaries in some measure, to give more apparent breadth and extent to the Park.

The quality of the trees as good specimens of their kind, is, in many of them, not what it should be. As a permanent tree, no inferior specimen should be allowed to be planted upon these grounds.

A common fault in American attempts at Landscape Gardening is the close planting, and the contracted arrangement of the roads and walks, giving our grounds a crowded appearance, and making one feel, while visiting them, as if shut in and imprisoned. There is a want of breadth and freeness essential to the idea of a pleasure resort.

My visit was made at the close of a long dry time, the after part of the day closing with a severe shower, the first for several weeks previous. This showed, as I thought, two prominent defects. While the work upon the foundations of the roads and walks is very thorough and perfect, the covering material and shape of them are far from being what they should be. The material used for covering them either slacks and decomposes, or is so soft that it becomes finely pulverized by use, and the dust collects upon them to such an extent, that in a dry time it is exceedingly unpleasant walking upon those most in use, and when the wind blows the dust is carried over the grass upon the adjacent lawns, so as to entirely destroy their effect.

The roads being flat on their surface, the dust necessarily accumulates and remains upon them, rendering them muddy, and allowing the water to stand upon the surface on some portions of the roads and walks during severe rains. If the surface of these roads and walks were sufficiently rounding to carry off the water speedily to the sides, and they were well drained, it would, in some measure, remedy these evils by disposing of the surface water, and also, to some extent, wash off the dust that now accumulates upon them. But probably a better covering material will be necessary before the roads will show that degree of perfection the work demands. .

Where there are steep grades I observed the water in several instances running down the middle of the walks. A remedy here applied, that of paving the gutters at the sides, produces any thing but an agreeable effect, and with a proper construction of the walks (with sufficient side-drains) might be dispensed with. The almost universal desire to finish the working and planting of ornamental grounds in the least possible time, and the expectation of securing a speedy effect, lead constantly to errors. Traces of this kind of work are not unfrequent in almost all our best places.

While our periodicals furnish us with many well-compiled articles upon the general subject of Landscape Gardening, much of a more practical nature is omitted. What is greatly needed is well-prepared communications, pointing out what is defective, and how that which is erroneous in our present practice may be remedied.

It is in this light we look at the several articles you have recently given us upon the subject of the Central Park, and which, we trust, may still be followed by more of like character.

[The above, from a gentleman of intelligence and refined taste, and thoroughly familiar with the subject, is peculiarly acceptable. We shall from time to time publish other communications to the same effect. Viator's article is a fine example of what we have tried to impress upon our readers, that just criticism and courtesy are by no means incompatible. You are right, Viator; we love to be brought into communion with our readers just in the way you indicate. We like to feel that we have established something like a bond of sympathy with them, In our articles on the Central Park we have pointed out some grave errors, solely with the view that they might be corrected as far as possible, and at least avoided for the future. We have thought, too, that in pointing out errors in the composition of the Central Park, we might do something to prevent their repetition elsewhere; and we have the satisfaction of knowing that in this we have in some measure succeeded. How far the Commissioners of the Central Park will avail themselves of such well-meant offices remains to be seen. It is because they have ample means that we look for grand results. Viator's criticisms are well conceived, and to the point.

We agree with you, that in portions of Mr. Kelly's grounds there is a deficiency of evergreens, but he seems to have been governed .by a desire to avoid the common error of overdoing the subject; in this he has erred on the right side, and has at least secured an effective and beautiful simplicity. - We hope to give you soon our ideas of the Central Park lawns. The "three-day system" Ought to obtain in certain parts, and, as you suggest, would be desirable in all; but we should be satisfied with something less than this. - What a sight it would be to see the grand old trees of Montgomery Place removed bodily to the Central Park Mall! In order, however, to get rid of the mutilated Elms that now disfigure it, we could almost be content to see no trees at all there. A little more such planting on the Mall would justly win for it the appellation of Via Dolorosa. - Groups of similar foliage can, to a certain extent, be made pretty and effective; but beyond that it demands a sacrifice which we are loth to make. The Mall and the circles at the end of it would alone form the subject of an article. We agree with you in all you say of the crowded planting and grouping; they are very defective.

The quality of the trees we have made the subject of an article soon to appear: many of them should find their way to the wood-pile. In short, we commend the criticisms of Viator to the serious consideration of the Central Park Commissioners. They are well and kindly said, and should receive the attention they deserve. - Ed].