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MISSOURI 



BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



visitors to the initial group of plants, the Ranunculaccae, 

 from which a walk leads through the synopsis, returning 

 to near the starting point where it ends with the Pterido- 

 phytes. Pending the opening of this entrance, visitors are 

 admitted to the North American tract from the southern 

 end of the old arboretum, and pass along the eastern side 

 of the new part to the beginning, if they wish to follow the 

 indicated sequence of plant families. 



At the place of departure from the arboretum and flower 

 garden an enclosed experimental garden has been formed, 

 and around this in botanical order are compactly bedded 

 1,654 species of plants, chiefly hardy herbaceous perennials, 

 for most of which regular use has not yet been found in either 

 the synopsis or decorative beds. This trial ground is supple- 

 mented by small but instructive collections of forage plants, 

 farm crops, bee plants, and savory herbs. In the north- 

 eastern part of the park devoted otherwise to North American 

 plants, and not far from these testing and economic grounds, 

 a triangular space enclosed by shrubbery has been planted 

 to a collection of 325 medicinal plants, grouped according 

 to their reputed physiological properties. During the past 

 season the center of this area has been used for a small col- 

 lection of species and their varieties, showing in contrast the 

 presence or absence of certain characters —e. g., pubescence 

 and the absence of hairs, spines and their absence, colored 

 flowers and albinos, etc. All of these specifically instructive 

 additions to the primarily decorative parts of the Garden 

 are proving to possess an attractiveness to visitors nearly 

 equal to that of the more showy older features, which are 

 themselves so arranged and labeled as to give instruction 

 while affording pleasure. 



As in 1905, chrysanthemums were grown on a large scale 

 during the season, and for the fortnight ending with Novem- 

 ber 24th a collection cf 31G varieties, represented by about 

 4,000 well grown plants, was displayed under a tent nearly 

 100 feet in diameter which coverecl the larger part of the 

 parterre. The plants were artistically arranged, and so 

 grouped as to illustrate the principal types of blossom rec- 

 ognized by chr^^santhemum experts. According to an 



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