DEPARTMENT KEPORTS. 81 



THE WILD GARDEN. 



For some years I liave been trying to get the time and the students' labor to 

 improve the bank west of the green honse and convert it into a wild garden, 

 a garden wliicli slionld contain our most beautiful wild plants. A beginning was 

 made last summer. The trees were thinned a little, taking care to leave one or 

 more of each kind. The grass and weeds were taken out. Some flat boulder 

 stones were placed on the bank in a manner to leave little open spaces or ])ocket8, 

 in each of which was set one species of plant. At the foot of the hank is a 

 small pond and near it a low strip for bog or marsh plants. 



Several students have shown a great interest in this work of preparing the 

 garden, collecting and arranging the plants. These are all plainly labelled. 

 Here we already have three hundred or more species, and expect soon to have 

 all of our liardy ferns, orchids, violets, lilies, buttercups, anemones, arisaemas. 

 We have a caltha, a calla, Jeffersonia, dicentra, mayilower, hibiscus, hepatica, 

 hydrastis, cardinal flower, several species of phlox, a bloodroot, Solomon's seal 

 and its allies, aquilegias, wild yam, ground nut, wild cucumber, sun dew, 

 lemna, gentians. We have some foreign species sent by Harvard University.' 

 In some cases, as of hepatica, I selected them on account of the deep blue or 

 the pink or the pure white of the flowers. Some flowers of the hepatica were 

 double. The pond contains some fish, plenty of frogs, and a good variety of 

 water plants. 



Our students agree with me in saying that this is becoming one of the most 

 attractive spots on the College grounds. Visitors also coincide with our views, 

 if we judge by their comments and the numbers who collect there. The wild 

 garden costs but little, much can be learned from it; it is one of the many 

 things which adds a charm to rural life. 



GREENHOUSE. * 



The plants are generally in good condition. Two hundred and thirty species 

 and varieties have been acquired during the year by purchase, donation, and 

 exchange, several of which are of particular interest. We now have about 

 9,000 plants of 1,180 species and varieties, many of Avhich are used for the 

 decoration of the grounds around the plant-houses and other college buildings, 

 during the summer. The Avant of more room is much felt owing to the yearly 

 increasing growth of many of the specimen plants, curtailing the space devoted 

 to the growing of plants for the trade, rendering very necessary the completion 

 of the proi)agating pits. If it be advisable to compete with the trade, I would 

 recommend the issuing of a catalogue and the finishing of these pits. The 

 expenses of the establishment would then be defrayed, largely, by the increase 

 sales of plants, flowers, and early vegetable plants. 



FLOWER GROUNDS. 



The bedding has been better than usual, owing partly to a. better supply of 

 water, and partly to the possession of better material for planting. The best bed 

 of fohage plants was circular in form, 14 feet in diameter; the plants were 

 disposed somewhat in the form of a maltese cross. The jdants em])loyed were 

 Salvia officinalis, Centauria candidia, and Achyranthus Lindeni, surrounded by 

 a circle each of golden pyrethrum, and Alternanthua axnantBa. This bed was 



* The part referring to greenliouse ami flower grounds was prepared by Mr. Cassidy. 

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