346 



THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY 



[November, 



highly pleased with the excellent appearance of 

 the Parks on the whole, and some of the bedding 

 in particular. We saw two very fine pieces of car- 

 pet bedding ; the principal features of each were 

 medallion portraits, one of Lincoln, the other of 

 Vashington. These were composed of Echeveria, 

 and the two medallions contain over 5,oooof these 

 plants. On either side of the head of Washington 

 were beds of different sorts of alternanthera ; and 

 here we saw, for the first tiifle, the new yellow al- 

 ternanthera, Aurea nana, in contrast with such 

 sorts as Amcena, Spectabilis and Aurea. Messrs. 

 Hamilton and Herron say they received a few 

 plants of this new sort from the originators, Messrs. 

 Woods, Beach & Co., New Brighton, Pa., on trial. 

 They have it planted in the most conspicuous po- 

 sition in the Parks. The chief merits of the plant 

 are its bright, yellow color, and dwarf, compact 

 habit. Mr. Hamilton says it is all that could be | 

 desired for a yellow-foliaged plant for carpet bed- 

 ding and borders. Although, on account of the 

 smoke from bituminous coal, some plants and trees 

 do not flourish in these grounds, yet the Parks are 

 the pride of the citizens of Allegheny City, who 

 are to be congratulated upon their possessions. 

 W^e passed hurriedly through the greenhouses, 

 and saw some fine specimens of rare and beautiful 

 palms, dracenas, crotons, orchids, etc. We would 

 have gladly lingered in these grounds and green- 

 houses, but our time was limited, and we were re- 

 luctantly compelled to depart. 



It was years since we had visited the Allegheny 

 Cemetery, now located in the Seventeenth Ward, 

 Pittsburg, so we concluded to go and see what 

 changes time had wrought. Having reached the 

 main entrance, on Butler Street, we passed 

 through the gate and rested for a few moments in 

 the large reception room. Their large, commo- 

 dious office building is built of cut stone, and pre- 

 sents a very imposing appearance. The tower, 

 containing the large clock, is octagonal in form, 

 and is nearly loo feet in height. L'pon making 

 inquiry for our friend John Chislett, Esq., Superin- 

 tendent, we were pained to learn that "he sleeps 

 the sleep that knows no waking." Though he has 

 departed, the improvements made under his care- 

 ful supervision still remain. Our next inquiry was 

 for Mr. David Woods, the Superintendent of the 

 floral and nursery department ; and were informed 

 that he had resigned to accept the superintendency 

 of the Hom^wood Cemetery, in the eastern part 

 of the city, a comparatively new cemetery, of 

 some 200 acres in size. We would gladly have 

 called to see him, but time would not permit. 



We found our old friends gone, with feelings akin 

 to those of the poet, when he wrote : 



" When 1 reuieuibtn' all 



The Iriends so linked togetlicr 

 I've seen around me fall. 



Like leaves in wintry weather, 

 I leel like one who treads alone 



Some liamiuet hall deseited ; 

 Whose lights are tied, whose jrai'lamls dead, 



And all )ml me dei)arted.'' 



We wandered through these grounds, our minds 

 intent upon the past and the prospects of the fu- 

 ture, and did not care to make notes of the 

 changes. When we next visit this great city of 

 the dead, we shall endeavor to picture it for the 

 readers of the Monthly to a greater extent. 



As a change of scene will cause a change of 

 minds, we then started for the hotel, intending 

 to have a good night's rest, preparatory to pro- 

 ceeding further upon our journey. On our travels 

 through the avenues of the Iron City we saw- 

 many fine residences, whose grounds displayed 

 taste and a large expenditure of money in the way 

 of floral ornamentation. 



The next morning we proceeded upon our 

 journey towards the city of Brotherly Love. 

 After securing quarters and lunch, we wended 

 our way to Laurel Hill Cemetery. Arriving at 

 the north entrance, we wandered through it, 

 and thence to the central division, and passing 

 through this portion, we then emerged into the 

 Southern portion, and were highly pleased with 

 the appearance of them, which were in perfect or- 

 der. The cemeteries of the East are progressing 

 fast, and fully up to the modern improvements of 

 the younger cemeteries of the West. We also had 

 the pleasure of visiting the greenhouses of David 

 Fergusson & Sons, just opposite the Cemetery, 

 where we found a very choice selection of plants, 

 in an " A i " condition. We were accompanied by 

 Mr. Fergusson, who pointed out to us all new va- 

 rieties, etc., which were quite numerous. After 

 seeing all that could be seen there, we then took a 

 short ride down the Schuylkill to Fairmount 

 Park, where we visited Horticultural Hall, and 

 saw some rare plants, and beautiful bedding 

 of alternanthera and echeveria, in artistic style, 

 which amply repaid us for our visit, as it 

 was grand, and impossible to describe on paper. 

 On our return to the city we stopped for a few mo- 

 ments at Girard College ; here we found what 

 we considered the finest bedding we had seen, ar- 

 ranged in the grandest possible style and new and 

 original designs; two of each kind opposite each 

 other, on the path leading to the main building. 

 These were planted with echeveria, alternanthera 

 of different varieties ; the different foliaged gera- 



