1885. 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



191 



In fact, there has been no flagging of interest or 

 attraction in the fruit display since the first 

 opening to visitors. In the early part of the 

 season came the Northern fruits, later the Citrus 

 and Tropical. 



At the present moment these fruit displays are 

 not the only attraction at Horticultural Hall. The 

 fine collection of Orchids, Cacti, and Agaves in 

 bloom are largely attracting attention. An almost 

 regal display of Fuchsias in magnificent bloom, 

 occupies the benches. I very much doubt if the 

 collections of Geraniums in bloom, exhibited by 

 E. Baiter and S. Eblin, of New Orleans, have ever 

 been equalled in an exhibit at the South. Very 

 many of the trusses will measure four to five 

 inches across, and of almost every tint of color. 

 In the Mexican Government exhibit are some fine 

 specimens of Palms — Oreodoxa regia (Royal 

 Palm) ChamEerops humilis, Cocos nucifera (Co- 

 coanut Palm). Florida made fine exhibits of 

 Phoenix dactylifera. California's exhibit of Palms 

 was worthy of much credit for their healthy ap- 

 pearance. There were in their exhibit specimens 

 of Latania borbonica, Chamaerops humilis, 

 Livistonia altissima. In the exhibit were also 

 Arecas, Sabals, Phoenix, &c. Maitre & Cook, of 

 New Orleans, had also a nice display and fine 

 assortment of Palms — Areca lutescens, Phoenico- 

 phorium Sechellarum, Calamus asperimmus, C. 

 Louisiamus. 



The Rose display in the grounds around Horti- 

 cultural Hall is worthy of attention. Florists of 

 the City have contributed the greater portion. 

 Maitre & Cook have over two hundred different 

 varieties. Jules Fortu about one hundred. J. 

 Eblin also has specimens. The Dingee & Conard 

 Co., of Pa., Gabriel Marc, of N. Y., have displays. 

 The selections are of the choicest varieties of Tea 

 and everblooming varieties. 



New Orleans, April so, iSSj. 



FLORAL NOTES FROM THE NEW ORLEANS 

 EXHIBITION. 



BY W. H. BOOMKAMP. 



Under the above heading Mr. M. H. Lester 

 says a few words about the Horticultural Depart- 

 ment of the New Orleans exhibition in the May num- 

 ber of the Gardeners' Monthly. I was greatly 

 surprised to find the following remark in it : " The 

 Universal Bulb Co. make a good display in the 

 grounds, but as none of their exhibits are labeled, 

 it is not one in a thousand that knows what they 

 are," etc. 



In reply to this, writer would say that Mr. Lester 

 is greatly mistaken. " The General (not the Uni- 

 versal) Bulb Co." of Holland had all their colleclive 

 exhibits properly labelled. They exhibited no 

 varieties of Hyacinths, 150 varieties of Tulips, 25 

 varieties of crocuses, and 50 of Narcissi, which 

 were all named when writer left New Orleans, in 

 the latter part of March. It would have been 

 entirely out of place to label the different designs 

 made of bulbs, as some of the beds contained as 

 many as ten or more varieties. 



Mr. Lester undoubtedly knows that the grounds 

 are almost left to take care of themselves. When I 

 left the grounds there were only two men to keep 

 them (an area of about 170 acres) in proper con- 

 dition. No wonder, then, that rose beds and other 

 designs almost disappear under the weeds. As 

 long as I could see personally that the General 

 Bulb Co's exhibit was properly taken care of the 

 labels were kept in place, but have no doubt that 

 after leaving, rain, wind and weeds soon played 

 havoc among the beds and made some names 

 disappear entirely. 



As a horticultural show this department of the 

 exposition certainly was a great failure. The 

 Fruit exhibit was very fine, but one would expect 

 something more interesting than a fruit exhibit in 

 such a magnificent structure as Horticultural Hall. 



It always was a puzzle to me why the City of 

 New Orleans wanted such an immense glass 

 building in a climate where the summer lasts nine 

 months, with practically no winter. A hall quarter 

 the size, to exhibit Orchids, Palms and Cacti would 

 have answered the purpose just as well, if not 

 better, and the money expended on this grand but 

 useless building could have made, in that climate, 

 a paradise of the grounds. 



What a pity it is that there was no plan in laying 

 out the grounds. Mr. Parker Earle and Professor 

 Tracy certainly deserve credit for what they have 

 done under the circumstances, and few can under- 

 stand how unenviable a position theirs was. Their 

 labors would have been materially lightened, if a 

 proper landscape gardener had been appointed ; if 

 the grounds had been worked after a plan made 

 by him ; and hundreds, if not thousands of dollars 

 would have been saved that way. The trouble 

 was, the director-general, Mr. Burke, undertook 

 too much ; instead of leaving the different depart- 

 ments in charge of the appointed heads, he would 

 make suggestions here and there ; alterations were 

 made to suit his caprice, even when entirely 

 against the principles and intentions of superin- 

 tendents. As it is Mr. Burke has attained what 



