Then, with regard to the preservation of such of the natural beauties that do remain even quite near to busy town centres, surely it is of the greatest importance that they should be watched and protected and preserved.  Prof.  Geddes has contributed a portion of his practical work to that practical question at Dunfermline.  His charming volume on Dunfermline ("A Study in City Development”) shows what beautiful features there are near Dunfermline, and how much may be done to preserve and improve them in ways that are most interesting to study.  His use of photography in this matter is extraordinarily successful.  Prof.  Geddes has photographed a scene as it now is, with its background and distance and its squalid foreground, already ruined by the debris of the city—­old tin pots and every [Page:  129] kind of rubbish—­thrown down by the side of the stream, which is naturally beautiful.  By manipulating the photographic plates he wipes out that which he does not want and introduces other features, including a little waterfall; and you have, instead of a miserable suburb, a dignified park.  Well now, that is practical work.  It has in it that element which he has described by a question-mark in his diagram, the element of forecast.  You have the same idea in Manchester, in Mr. Horsfall’s work.  They have laid out their map of Manchester and shown in what way it may develop, so as not to spoil the beauty that remains on two sides of Manchester.  There is really exquisitely beautiful natural scenery close to Manchester, which may be entirely spoiled or preserved, according as a forecast is made and forethought taken.  This is not a question on which there is reason to think that people will disagree.  The difficulties are always supposed to be financial.  It is a sad thing that we should be so hampered by our methods of finance that we throw away opportunities to retain these actual beauties which undoubtedly add to the actual money value of a district.  I cannot suppose that the way in which cities are laid out with narrow streets really results in an increase of value.  The surroundings of our cities are undeveloped estates, which we have only to agree amongst ourselves how to lay out, and everybody would benefit by such joint action.  There is an excellent illustration in regard to that in Mr. Horsfall’s work in connection with Germany.  It must be said that from Germany there is a great deal to learn in civic matters.  In one of its towns the properties lie in extraordinarily long strips.  It is the final result of properties having been measured by the length of the plough’s run.  When that method is applied to town sites, it is not convenient for streets; and there are some quarters in this German town ruined in this way, and the people have agreed together to improve matters.  Every owner is to be given credit for his share in the total value of the improvement that is found to accrue from the re-arrangement of these undesirable divisions, and any difference of