176 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



meat which a high wall gives in such a situation. 



In applying this design to a smaller area it would 

 probably be better to place the steps parallel with the 

 wall, thus leaving no apparent break in the line of the 

 balustrade and thus getting greater apparent width, or 

 but one flight of steps could be used. 



Large jars are used at either side of the flights of 

 steps at the terminations of the balustrade. 



The effect of this balustrade is greatly enhanced if a 

 group of cedar trees are placed a few feet back of it 

 near the steps on either side in the upper lawn. Nearer 

 the balustrade are groups of blood-red Japanese ^laples 

 and the effect is very charming. 



The breast of the wall is hung with X'irginia Creeper, 

 in Summer a restful green, in Autumn a glowing red. 

 In fact, the autumnal attractions of this garden are con- 

 spicuous. The wall is toward the sun and the space be- 

 tween the flights of stairs is warm and sunny. This spot 

 is protected from rough winds and the bright colors of 

 the maples and bilsteads used in the grove and elsewhere 

 make it warm with color in October. 



IMidway of the wall between the flights of stairs is a 

 wall fountain. A basin below catches the fall of water. 

 About its margin are planted pansies and sweet alys- 

 sum. This fountain-cooled space below the wall is fur- 

 nished with seats and is a charming rest-place. 



The overflow from the fountain is piped beneath the 

 garden's level to the grove on its opposite side. This 

 pipe runs down the middle of the garden to a basin at 

 the intersection of the paths. From thence it follows the 

 main path to its termination and then turns toward the 

 side of the garden. Beyond the formal portion of the 

 garden the water is released from its conveying pipe and 



flows over a gravelly bed where it ripples away among 

 the trees an apparently natural brook. 



In the middle of the garden is an elliptical portion 

 planted with flowering plants and shrubs and traversed 

 by paths at right angles. If these plantings are kept low, 

 the garden space will seem more expansive. 



At the sides of the garden no wall is used, but the 

 sloping bank on each side is rounded to a terrace-like 

 curve and inclines gracefully downward to the level of 

 the garden itself. Sixteen feet back of the side extremi- 

 ties of the elliptical portion and on the brow of the slope 

 on either side are planted a row of Lombardy poplars. 

 Before these on the inner sides next to garden a row 

 of Spircea Van Houttci is planted. This arrangement 

 carries out the idea of inclosure and yet breaks the 

 severity of its lines. 



Midway of the garden on either side, opposite the 

 transversing path, is an arbor overhung with a climbing 

 rose. 



The treatment of the opposite end of the garden is 

 informal. A grove of bilstead or sweet gum and swamp 

 riiaples, together with an evergreen group on either side, 

 form the boundary on this side of the garden. Two 

 specimens of the willow, Salix Babylonka, are also used. 



On the margin of the grove directly in vistal line with 

 the main garden path leading from the balustraded wall 

 is a statue. Ferns are planted in the space about its 

 base and there is a planting of Lobelia cardinalis and 

 another of German Iris. 



\\'here this design is applied to a location having a 

 dift'erenf exposure, the kinds of plants used will have 

 to be chosen according to the prevailing shade of the 

 wall and trees. 



Native Blue Gentians 



BERTHA BERBERT-HAMMOND 



T\\'( ) of the most beautiful of our native wild flowers 

 that appear to be but little known excepting by 

 name or poetical allusions, are the closed or bottle 

 gentian botanically known as Geitfiana Andrr^csii and 

 the fringed gentian (Gcntiana crinita). 



The closed or bottle gentian resembles somewhat in 

 shape and habit of growth, the Phol.v iiiacnlata. The 

 foliage is of a pleasing bright green and its flowers that 

 appear at the top of its tall erect stems in rosettes or 

 clusters are of the deepest blue at the top, blending to a 

 lighter blue at the base. These large bud-like flowers are 

 not only beautiful but extremely interesting because they 

 possess the unusual and peculiar characteristic of never 

 really opening; that is they remain closed like a bud. 

 or '"bottled up," hence probably the common name. The 

 closed gentian which may be found from August until 

 November, in marshes or along the borders of moist 

 meadows or woodlands, is a hardy perennial and endures 

 transplanting, but its less common and more beautiful 

 relation, the fringed gentian is not only more difflcult to 

 domesticate but is also less easy to find. Indeed, it is most 

 elusive as it actually changes its hiding place from year 

 to year. My "springy" meadow is a favored haunt : 

 still each Autumn must I tramp about this four acre 

 tract seeking to locate these shy blossoms that 1 know 

 are somewhere concealed. For ages, poets have ex- 

 tolled the violet, but for modesty, the fringed gentian is 

 its equal. 



In color this dainty retiring flower is of the purest 

 cerulean blue — truly not unlike a fragment of sky come 

 down to earth, and in form it is molded along perfect, 

 classical lines. The artist's "line of beauty" twice re- 



peated ( I I ) describes its vaselike outlines and correct- 

 ness of proportion. A more beautiful flower it would 

 be difficult to imagine. All those who know this rare 

 flower in its haunts, or have had the good fortune to 

 see specimens, are most enthusiastic in its praises. The 

 fringed gentian delights in rather moist meadows or 

 "w'Oodsy" locations and comes into bloom in this section 

 (southern New York) about the middle of September. 

 .\s \\'illiam Cullen Bryant so aptly and beautifully ex- 

 presses it in the following stanzas: 



Thou blossom bright with .\utumii dew, 



And colored with the Heaven's own blue, 



That openest when the quiet light 



Succeeds the keen and frosty night. 



Thou waitest late, and com'st alone. 

 When woods are bare and birds are flown, 

 And frost and shortening days portend 

 The aged year is near his end. 



Then doth thy sweet and quiet eye 

 Look through its fringes to the sky. 

 Blue— blue — as if that sky let fall 

 A flower from its cerulean wall. 



The pity of it is that this floral treasure is so rare and 

 appears to be less frequently seen than in former times, 

 also that most attempts to transplant it to perennial 

 gardens have proved unsuccessful. Then, too, with 

 the encroachment of civilization, this shy flower has 

 receded and so is seldom foimd anywhere near centers of 

 |-)opulation. Its late-blooming habit, which often prevents 

 its seed from reaching full maturity, is also a potent 

 factor in the threatened extermination of this exquisitely 

 lovelv W'ilding. whose habitat is over comparatively a 

 restricted area of North \merica. 



