204 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



dent of horticulture for through theiu he has been right- 

 fully styled "The Father of Horticulture." To him much 

 credit is due for the present beauty of the gardens — it 

 was his life's work ; he was successful and the gardens 

 themselves stand as a fitting memorial. 



The gardens, through their growth, soon became a 

 popular place for students, not only of our craft, but 

 those who assayed to become physicians, chemists, and 

 members of kindred professions, and they obtained much 

 knowledge of the science of botany. This interest is still 

 maintained with the possible exception of the medical 

 students, for less attention, it is said, is now paid to 

 botany in the medical colleges. Their places have well 

 been taken by high school students, the number of which 

 increases annually. 



Let us pass by the earlier days of the gardens' history 

 and call upon George W. Hess, the present superinten- 

 dent, for guidance through the grounds. Mr. Hess needs 

 no introduction to the craft, yet no article based upon this 

 subject would be complete without some reference lieing 

 made to him. 



Mr. Hess was born in the Capitol Citv about forty-nine 

 years ago. At the age of si.xteen he began the study ot 

 ;the business under the tutelage of the late Jolm Saul. 

 After that time he worked for a number of florists, was 

 -associated with Edward A. Mosely, of Kenilworth, D. C. 

 specializing in the production of violets and carnations, 

 and at that time the flowers of these varieties which they 

 sup])lied were the best to be had in this locality. During 

 the administration of President Harrison, Mr. Hess was 

 connected with the Department of Agriculture, and later 

 he connected himself with the late Mr. Doogue. when the 

 latter was in charge of the Public Gardens in Pioston, 

 Mass. 



Mr. Hess later specialized in Chinese and other foreign 

 vegetables, many of which are produced at the Garden-; 



today, and he is able to name each of them in pure Can- 

 tonese. A disastrous fire caused him to look for employ- 

 ment in other fields and being familiar with public parks 

 and their administration, and listening to the counsel of 

 friends, he took the civil service examination for employ- 

 ment under the Federal Government. Much to the sur- 

 prise of his examiners he obtained a rating of 100 per 

 cent, as a specialist in the growing of foreign plants and 

 98 per cent, in general gardening ; marks never before or 

 since equaled. 



Having met Mr. Hess, let us proceed through the gate 

 and into the reservation at the southern part. We must 

 stop to admire a fine specimen of the "Tall Cedars of Le- 

 banon," so often referred to, and to the left a magnificent 

 bed of grasses, containing about fifty varieties including 

 arundo dona.x and peimisetum, with a contrasting border 

 in which is contained a few coladiums. Nearby are the 

 geranium beds, with blooms of rich red and pink, which 

 must be seen to be appreciated. 



On the other side of the bed of grasses, and near the 

 center of the great conservatory, is the fiscus bed of about 

 twenty varieties, including ficus elastica, ficus panderatua, 

 and many other equally fine plants of this family. This is 

 Ijordered with hibiscus. 



Going down the walk towards the main conservatory 

 we find the exotic lily pond, at this time in full bloom, 

 with a specimen papyrus antiquorum, the grass from 

 which the ancient Egyptians made their parchment paper 

 and which was gathered from the waters of the Nile for 

 that purpose, in the center, (jold fish darting in and 

 around the plants add color to the scene, an<l this spot is 

 most popular with the juvenile visitors. 



As we approach the houses we come in view of the 

 rockery which contains all kinds of hardy herbaceous 

 plants, perennials and ferns that will live out of doors 

 iliiring the winter in this localitv. This in itself is worth 



A COLLECTIOX UF SE\ MK.M. WMJIETIES OF YUCC.\. BED OF GER.\.\IU.MS IX FUREt;KOl-XI> Wmi HLUU.MS OF RICH RED 



.\ND PINK. A CEDAR OF LEBANON TREE TO THE RIGHT. 



