254 



HORTICULTURE 



August 13, 1910 



DUKE'S PARK, SOMERVILLE, N. J. 



We had the pleasure of a brief view 

 of some of the features of this won- 

 .derful estate recently under escort of 

 the accomplished gardener in charge 

 of the conservatories, Mr. A. A. Mc- 

 Donald. A new range of twenty-two 

 houses recently completed by Lord & 

 Burnham Co., is a model in the way of 

 compactness, utility and convenience. 

 The curved eave construction has been 



followed, giving a very pleasing out- 

 line. The absence of interior supports 

 makes for convenience and sightliness 

 and the contents are as to quality in 

 .full keeping with the splendid facilities 

 here placed at the gardeners' disposal. 



The fruit houses are especially inter- 

 esting at this season. Peaches, necta- 

 ■rines, figs and grapes are seen in tubs 

 and pots, loaded with luscious fruit. 

 A house of melons is planted regularly 

 ,once a month throughout the year, 

 •consequently these delicious products 

 are seen in all stages of development 

 ;and ripeness. Mr. McDonald has a va- 

 riety which is the result of a cross of 

 ,a variety, without name, which was 

 the best at the Shrewsbury Show last 

 year, upon Sutton's Emerald Gem, and 

 It has proved to be an early cropper 

 •and finely flavored fruit. These melon 

 houses are under the direct charge ot 

 'G. H. Penson, a contribution from 

 whose pen appeared in last week's is- 

 :sue of Horticulture. 



A house of seedling chrysanthe- 

 mums, singles, attracted our attention 

 from the luxuriant health it displays. 

 Mr. McDonald expects great things 

 from it. There are dwarf semi-stand- 

 ard specimens in 8-inch pots, 3 ft. high 

 •and 2 ft. in diameter which when in 

 bloom will make elegant conservatory 

 plants, lasting in bloom three or four 

 -weeks. Growers of pot chrysanthe- 

 mums for the florist trade should look 

 these over when they are about to 

 bloom. There's a promise of commer- 

 cial value m them. Another thing 

 that may contain a suggestion of value 

 to the flower grower is the holding of 

 gladiolus bulbs in cold storage and tak- 

 ing them out in August and Septem- 

 ber for winter flowering. There are, 

 too, long ranks of speciosum lilies in 

 pots — mostly rubrum magniflcum — 

 which at the present time afford proD- 

 ably the finest display of the kind in 

 the world. The bulbs are in G-inch 

 pots and bear from 10 to 25 buds on 

 ■each stalk. 



The orchid houses are filled with in- 

 teresting, beautiful and rare varieties. 



Greenhouse Property 

 To Lease 



I wish to find the right man to lease the greenhouses and the 

 adjoining necessary land and buildings on the estate of the Sidis' 

 Institute, Portsmouth, N. H., one mile from Portsmouth R. R. station. 



The plant consists of a large brick boiler house, containing 2 hori- 

 zontal boilers of ample capacity. There is a brick potting house, 

 12 by 180 feet. Connected with this house are several glass houses, 

 all with brick foundation and slate benches, giving a total of 12,000 

 square feet under glass.. There are also cold frames of brick with a 

 total area of 4500 square feet. There are two graperies with black 

 Hamburgs in fine condition. The necessary amount of land may also 

 be used. There is an ample water supply. 



The construction is first class. Everything is in excellent 

 condition. 



The right man can have a lease on favorable terms with a good 

 chance for immediate profit. 



5IDI5' institute:, 



PORTSMOUTH, - - - N. H. 



Just now Cattleyas Dowiana, gigas, 

 Harrissonae and crispa, with many 

 of the hybrids, are blooming. There 

 are sweet pea houses, American Beau- 

 ty houses, etc., and among the most 

 important and useful are the houses 

 devoted to the production of plants 

 for conservatory adornment. These 



places practically no limit on expendi- 

 tures. The cottages occupied by the 

 superintendents and employes are 

 models. 



It is stated that not less than half 

 a million dollars is being spent in the 

 development and building up of this 

 vast estate. A prodigious amount of 



The Oi-aoge House. 



cover a very large range of flowering 

 and decorative foliaged plants. An il- 

 lustration of the orange house is shown 

 herewith. Mr. McDonald carries easily 

 a great responsibility. He is a re- 

 sourceful gardener and manager and 

 is well supported by trustworthy as- 

 sistants and by a proprietor who 



grading is going on and steam derricks 

 and locomotives are working on all 

 sides. Water plays an important part 

 in the scheme. There are many water- 

 falls and fountains, one of the latter 

 requiring a 14-inch supply pipe. One 

 plantation of 30,000 Koster blue spruce 

 occupies nearly 20 acres of ground. 



