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THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



GROWING INTEREST IN PUBLIC ROSE 

 GARDENS. 



_ The recent rose show held in Syracuse breaks all pre- 

 vious records for attendance, interest and merit of ex- 

 hibit. Imagine over two hundred varietiees of the queen 

 of flowers skillfully staged. They made the spacious hall 

 a bower of beauty and fragrance. Mr. Robert Pyle, 

 vice-president of the American Rose Society, gave a 

 beautifully illustrated address the first night of the show 

 on "Famous Rose Gardens I Have Visited." Two suc- 

 cessive years Mr. Pyle has delivered the annual address 

 and acted as judge. Rev. Dr. Edmund M. Mills, the 

 president of the society, is a Methodist, but a poll of the 

 members would show the Methodists in a decided mi- 

 nority. People of all faiths are found in this society, 

 which has in four years grown to have an active mem- 

 bership of nearly three hundred. Mr. James M. Gilbert, 

 a prominent member of the First Church, took first hon- 

 ors in winning the silver medal offered by the American 

 Rose Society for the best exhibit. Every village of any 

 considerable size, except one. within thirty miles of Syra- 

 cuse, has members in this organization. Through the 

 inspiration of this society hundreds of new rose gardens 

 haz'e sprung up. and many already in existence have 

 been greatly enlarged and improi'ed. Among the direct 

 results of the work of the year Syracuse is to have a 

 municipal rose garden, and Syracuse University is plan- 

 ning for a rose garden which will probably be located in 

 front of the Carnegie Universit\- Library building. — 

 Extract from Northern Christian .Idz'ocate, of Xew 

 York. 



THE SMITH MEMORIAL. 



As the committee ( appointed at the Chicago conven- 

 tion, with regard to the erection of a suitable memorial 

 to the late William Robertson Smith in the National Cap- 

 ital) has been continuously at work, since appointment, 

 and has decided that the monument should take a form 

 useful as well as ornamental in tlie sha]je of a memorial 

 building to the father of the S. A. V . charter. 



The committee is very desirous of obtaining subscrip- 

 tions. The chairman of the committee will be pleased 

 to receive them, no matter how small, and will give proper 

 receipt for the same and place it in bank at 4 per cent, 

 interest until such time that the memorial can be erected 

 or contract awarded. The committee has hopes of re- 

 ceiving some large subscriptions, but feels that the flor- 

 ists of the United -States should show their interest first 

 before the large contributions are called for. 



The committee, therefore, asks that you now send in 

 your subscriptions addressed to Mr. ^\'illiam F. Gude, 

 Chairman, 1214 F. street, N. ^^'.. Washington, D. C, so 

 that the memorial may take tangilile form at the earliest 

 possible date. 



During the week just previous to Decoration Day, the 

 lot and graves in beatutiful Rock Creek Cemetery, con- 

 taining the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. \^'illiam Robertson 

 Smith, were nicely trimmed and planted through the 

 courtesy of Air. George W. Hess, superintendent of the 

 United States Bontanic Gardens, under the direction of 

 Mr. W. F. Gude. Washington representative of S. A. F. 

 and O. H. 



On top of both graves are planted some Wichuriana 

 roses, as Mr. Smith had often expressed a desire of hav- 

 ing memorial roses planted on his grave. At the head of 

 each grave a nice specimen of Anthericum \'ariegatum 

 Scotch heather is planted, and at the foot Colluna \'n\- 

 garis". Each grave is outlined with a border of nice 

 plants of Anthericum \'ariegatum, Aphipogon Jaburan 



Variegata. The whole makes a very effective setting 

 and quite a contrast to the long neglected spot. No 

 doubt the Memorial Committee, which met in Chicago 

 in 1912, will do what they can to erect some suitable 

 stone on this beautiful lot, which is located in one of 

 the most notable cemeteries in the United States. Just 

 a short distance from the Smith section is the world's 

 famous St. Gauden's masterpiece, the Statute of Grief; 

 also the quaint old Episcopal Church, the brick of which 

 was brought from England more than a hundred years 

 ago, and still used daily, stands but a short distance in 

 front of this spot. Manv of the notable families of the 

 United States have mausdleums nearby. 



Friitti }\'iisJiiut/tun Pout, 



William Fv. Sniitli. tliu lati' su]iei-inteiicleiit of the United States 

 Hotaiiic Gaiilen. and "the dean of American horticulture," who 

 died in 1012, lived again last niglit at a bnsiness session and lawn 

 party given in honor of the Florists' Club of Washington and 

 their guests by William F. (iude. at his home. .3000 New Hamp- 

 shire avenue northwest. Nearly 500 gniests, in(duding many in 

 official life, attended the gathering. 



In tribute to Mr. Smith, who for 4.^ years was in the service 

 of the Ignited States Botanic (iarden, and who was characterized 

 as "one who had done more than any other to make Washington 

 a "city beautiful'," it was proposed to erect a nienuirial in tliis 

 city to Ins memory. It was suggested that the memorial be in 

 the form of a conservatory, adajitable to the meetings of local 

 and national florists' societies, and designed as a school for 

 young men, where they could learn the science of horticulture, 



Richard Vincent, .Tr.. of White ilarsh, Md,, former president of 

 tlie Society of American Florists, paid a tribute to Mr, Smith, in y 

 recalling liim as one of the greatest authorities on Kobert Burn.s '**>. 

 that ever lived. 



At a business session preceding the party, it was decided by the 

 executive board of the Florists' Club of Washington to hold a 

 flower show November 2 to 8 at the Masonic Temple, to contain 

 exhibits from all over the country. It will be known as the 

 Washington idirysanthemum show, undei- the auspices of the 

 Florists' Club of Washington. 



WHERE BRAINS ARE NEEDED. 



"T claim it takes more l)rains to farm," said Ebenezer 

 Brown, 



"Than what it does to git ahead and make a splash in 

 town : 



Why, I know six or seven chaps from this here neigh- 

 borhood 



Who went away to cities, where they're busy makin' 

 good. 



"You take Chicago and New York — size up the big 

 men there — 



The lawyer, doctor, merchant and the multimillion- 

 aire — 



You'll find they've all been farmer boys, or li\ed in 

 towns, at least. 



Where they could ha\e a chance to learn the wa^'S of 

 bird and beast, 



"Now take these city cha])s who come to cultivate the 

 land — 



I don't mean millionaires who farm for fun, ynu un- 

 derstand — 



But take the common city folks wht) try to farm, and 

 say ! 



It's pitiful the way they try to make their farmin" ])ay. 



"I've saw a dozen of 'em fail; I never seen one vet. 

 Who managed to be prominent or not get into debt ; 

 .^nd so I claim a man may make an awful splash in 



town 

 .And not have l;rains enough to farm," said Ebenezer 



Brown. — S. E. Riser. 



