Copyright, 1899, by 

 FL.ORI8TS' PUBUIStlllNG CO., 520-535 Caxton Building, CniCAGO. 



Vol. m. 



CHICAGO AND NEW YORK, MAY 4, <899. 



No. 75. 



RUSTIC VASES, 



The accompanying engraving is 

 from a pliotograpli of one of tlie rustic 

 vases, of wliichi large numbers are seen 

 eacli summer in Lincoln Park, Chi- 

 cago. 



The handsome pyramidal form is se- 

 cured by two boxes, one smaller and 

 raised above the other. The boxes are 

 either six or eight sided, the lower 

 one 3 feet in diameter at the top, 26 

 inches at the bottom and 12 inches 

 deep. This rests upon a 6-foot cedar 



post with the bark on, which is set 

 3 feet in the ground and carries the 

 box 3 feet above it. The lower 

 box is braced to the post by rustic 

 branches, and the box is faced with 

 cedar bark and trimmed with other 

 bits of rustic work. This part of the 

 vase is permanent and remains in 

 position all the year around. 



Inside of the lower box is placed 

 a cross madte of planks that carries the 

 upper box 14 inches above the bottom 

 of the lower one. This upper box is 

 18 inches in diameter at the top, 12 



inches at the bottom and 12 inches 

 deep. The boxes are made of pine 

 plank but the insides are charred be- 

 fore using, which greatly increases 

 the lasting qualities of the boxes. 

 The charring is accomplished by ap- 

 plying a coat of kerosene to the in- 

 side of the box with a brush, thix)w- 

 ing a few shavings inside and apply- 

 ing a match to them, being careful to 

 extinguish the flames before they have 

 taken too secure a hold. 



Head-Gardener Stromback is now 

 preparing the compost for these vases. 

 To three barrows full of good sod 

 compost he adds one barrow full of 

 thoroughly rotted and pulverized horse 

 manure, a little torpeao sand and a 

 4-inoh pot full of bone meal. He finds 

 this compost will carry the plants 

 through the season. He has under his 

 care in the park 50 wooden and 16 

 terra cotta vases and they always look 

 well to the end of the season. 



The plants he uses for vase work are 

 as follows: Geraniums, petunias, 

 cupheas, verbenas, marguerites (both 

 white and yellow). Calceolaria annua, 

 Lophospermum scandens, Maurandya 

 Barclayana, tropaeolums (the single 

 running), variegated vinca, feverfew 

 and lobelia. The shorter vines are 

 used in the upper box and the longer 

 ones in the lovrer box. Generally old 

 plants of geraniums carried over from 

 the preceding year are used in the cen- 

 ter and other places where height is 

 required and occasionally cannas are 

 used. 



For a while after planting the water- 

 ing of these vases is not a serious task 

 but when the boxes have become well 

 filled with roots, in 3 or 4 weeks after 

 planting, they have to be well soaked 

 every morning. 



Rustic Vase at Lincoln Park, Chicago. 



THE LILY QUESTION. 



Mr. E. Buettner, Park Ridge, 111., has 

 no specially vigorous kick to register 

 regarding lilies for the late Easter. 

 He had 8,000 longiflorum that were 

 practically all in on time and from 



