142 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



method of disseminating botanical knowledge used by tlie garden, is by 

 means of floral shows, the principal one being the chrysanthemum show 

 which is held in early November There are also the cyclamen and lily 

 shows. 



When Heniy Shaw died, he lett nearly all of Ills estate to the endow- 

 ment of the garden, under the care of the board of trustees, fifteen in 

 number. The value of the estate is estimated at about $3,000,000 and it 

 consists mainly of real estate. The interest is alone sufficient to maint^ain 

 the garden. Part of this money is used iu sciesitific research and the 

 rest, which is the greater part, in gardening proper. The garden main- 

 tains a staff of three to five botanists, one of whom is the director 

 of the garden. Five fellowships are granted to young botanists 

 of prominence in order that they may make advanced research in 

 botany and horticulture. The wcrk and results of this scientific staff is 

 published in the annual report of the garden. The gardening work proper 

 is under the supervision of an able foreman who is aided by seven sub- 

 foremen, each one having charge of a department. 



Mr. Shaw's purpose to provide pleasure with incidental instruction 

 to the public, to train gardeners and disseminate botanical and horticul- 

 tural knowledge has led to and necessitated a large collection of plant?, 

 representing 12,000 species. A library and herbarium were also needed. 

 The libraiy at present is the greatest of its liind in the world and con- 

 tains about 100,000 volumes of botanical knowledge valued at $110,000,000. 

 The herbarium contains 680,000 specimens and is valued at $100,000. The 

 area of the garden is 110 acres, 60 acres of which is undeveloped. There 

 are a number of plant houses each devoted to a special class of plants. 

 The new range which is now under construction will have a frontage of 

 nearly 400 feet and one section will have a iieight of 60 feet to take care 

 of the tall growing palms and musas. 



It will be The purpose of the rest of this paper to treat with horti- 

 culture p.t the garden and this resolves itself into a discussion of plants. 

 T will speak briefly of the greenhouse plants, bedding plants, trees, 

 shrubs, perennials and water plants. 



At present the main house of the garden is devoted to plants re- 

 quiring only moderate temperature in winter. In this house is the Mon 

 stera deliciosa which grows up on the wall to the glass. Most people 

 marvel at this plant owing to the fact that they think it is an air plant, 

 but its roots are under the bench. The Musas or bananas are extremely 

 tall growing plants and will grow as high as any greenhouse is built. 

 Here one can also find beauiiful spei imens of the Ilhapis flabelli-formis; 

 and the Livistonia chenensis which we call Latania Barbonica. This 

 house has also been used for display of flowering plants. In winter the 

 Azaleas, Cyclamens, Cinerarias and Primulas are exhibited. These are 

 followed by the lilies. In the spring an excellent collection of Torcnias, 

 Hydrangea, Fuchsia and Gloxinias is shown. When I saw these beautiful 

 flowers I wondered why the florists of Nebraska did not use or make more 

 usr of t1i'>so plants, especially Gloxinias and Fuchsias. Following thesa 



