490 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



A large circular mounded mass of bedding plants of 

 much richness, placed near the tennis court, arises 

 vividly to mind, containing as it did splendid Crotons 

 in the center, with yellow and red Coleus around this 

 in geometrical lines and masses, interspersed with 

 Geraniums and Achyranthes Brilliantissima. The ten- 

 nis court, situated laandily to the house, was distinct 

 in this, that it was of wood, covered with canvas and 

 painted a leaden-gray color. It appeared rather try- 

 ing to the eyes, which was the only objection to it 

 that one could observe, and certainly a fast game could 

 be played on this court. It was surrounded by a white- 

 painted ornamental trellis, with a broad top that gave 

 it the character, at first glance, of a pergola, and this 

 idea was enhanced by the burden of climbing plants 

 upon it. Large Orange trees in terra-cotta vases 

 were set along the edge of the court. 



Now we come to an all too brief description of the 

 Italian garden already mentioned, which is purely 

 formal, of course, of rectangular shape, reached by 

 steps from the southern side, having paths and outer 

 border surrounding it, and flagged paths bisecting 

 and crossing it except for a rectangular Water Lily 

 pool in the center. A hedge of Golden Arl:)orvitae has 

 been planted, and a broad border left for hardy flowers 

 and annuals. 



At the side furthest from the dwelling, that is to 

 say, the north side, there is a summer house with 

 pergolas carried out from it on either side. This banks 

 up the view as one advances over the lawns from the 

 house, and was necessary to give balance to the whole 

 plan, Even this year, the first since the planting was 

 done, a most attractive, jjleasing and restful display 

 resulted. Mr. Dodds has the true artist's eye so neces- 

 sary for success in flower gardening, and used his 

 plants in prodigal splendor — great masses of them, 

 such as Tiger Lilies, Lilium auratum and L. candidum, 

 of which a thousand bulbs alone had been planted ; 

 Snapdragons, Dahlias, Galtonia candicans, China As- 

 ters, the Scarlet Sage or Salvia, also Salvia Greggii, 

 dwarf Phloxes, Roses, Eupatorium perforata, together 

 with big clumps of hardy Peonies and other dwarfer 

 plants along the front. But more striking than all was 

 perhaps Celosia pyramidalis, which represented a 

 strain saved by the superintendent himself here. The 

 color and development of the plumes were very fine ; 

 and a brownish-crimson one called for special notice. 



At the corners of the flagged jjaths and elsewhere. 

 to give balance and dignity, as well as beauty and 

 interest to the garden, Avere planted shapely Junipers, 

 5 feet high, the central area, except for paths and the 

 Water Lily pool being of grass. Urns were also set 

 about, and specimen Blue Spruce at the four main 

 angles. A retaining wall in connection with this gar- 

 den was covered with Rambler Roses. 



Other evidences of the developments that were in 

 progress were seen in the huge evergreen trees which 

 had just arrived from the nurseries of Hicks and Son, 

 Westbury, L. I. 



There is a considerable amount of semi-woodland, 

 or woodland left somewhat in its natural condition 

 on the place, and here bulbs are naturalized. A col- 

 lection of choice kinds of Darwin and May-flowering 

 Tulips had also been planted in a sloping piece of lawn 

 directlv in front of the south entrance. 



Mr. bodds, unfortunately, at the time of the writer's 

 visit was convalescing after an illness. We trust that 

 he is now thoroughly re-established, and shall look 

 forward to re-visiting Lyndhurst if for nothing more 

 than to see the progress and the up-growth of that 

 Italian garden. He intends to go strongly in for hardy 



flowers, and is willing to hear of any subject suitable 

 to his needs in this direction. 



LYNWOOD ILVLL. 



If the outdoor gardens at the \\'anainaker place im- 

 pressed me most, it was the wonderful diversity and re- 

 markably high keeping and quality of the indoor crops at 

 ^Ir. Widener's Lynwood Hall, where Wm. Kleinheinz 

 has charge, that furnished the chief satisfaction. Yet 

 here, too, it seemed as though a new place was being 

 made, so extensive are the alterations out of doors. The 

 fine sunken garden remembered by so many visitors of 

 previous times has given place to a French garden, 

 laid out in geometrical Boxwood beds, which are filled 

 with the showier kinds of bedding plants like Coleus, 

 Geraniums, Achyranthes, and so forth. 



Another story is being built to the mansion itself, 

 and to conform ti.i the designs of the architecture, the 

 surrounding grounds are being altered. Very large 

 numbers of Rhododendrons, many of them quite large 

 specimens, brought direct from Holland, have been 

 planted, and as the work was most thoroughly done, 

 as would be expected from Mr. Kleinheinz, scarcely 

 one has shown the least sign of being any the worse 

 for its travels. 



Unfortunately, an established plantation of fine 

 bushy plants of Azalea amoena that bordered one of 

 the chief driveways, said plants being 2 feet high 

 and as much thrcmgh in most cases, have been nearly- 

 ruined this last summer by the Rhododendron lace 

 wing fly, a minute aphis-like insect that attaches itself 

 closely to the under sides of the leaves and extracts 

 every drop of juice from them, leaving them as brown 

 as parchment. Although sprayings twice a week were 

 tried, the little pest sticks so closely that it seems 

 almost impossible to dislodge him, or overcome him. 

 As a last resort Mr. Kleinheinz talked of lifting the 

 plants, dipping them in a tobacco solution, and replanting 

 them. 



Hardy Bamboos are missed, but a wonderful collec- 

 tion of the Reed family, such as Eulalia zebrina, E. 

 gracillima and others of the type, together with a 

 Giant Reed, Arundo Donax, all planted in colonies and 

 flowering profusely^ in the heavy soil, former quite a 

 tropical-looking scene in the heart of the grounds, 

 surrounded bv a rock garden formation and having 

 nearbv a rustic bridge almost completely enveloped in 

 the Kudzu vine. This latter grows anything up to 25 feet 

 in a single summer, although it gets killed back or 

 cut back almost to the ground every winter, but the 

 growth starts again from the crown of the plants in 

 early spring. The foliage always remains a lively 

 green, and this vine does not seem to be in the least 

 subject to any form of insect pest. 



In the making of one of the new roadways, long 

 hedges of the golden Thuya, "Geo. Peabody," each 

 plant 4 feet high, have been planted, these also having 

 been imported from Holland. The handsome, not to 

 say remarkable, eft'ect of this perennially "golden" 

 hedge may be imagined, and it is doubtful whether 

 a similar ornamental hedge could be found anywhere 

 in the United States. 



Owing to some road grading, a retaining wall had 

 to be built as part of the operations, and here choice 

 was made of tall evergreens in the planting behind, 

 while in order to furnish a quick efl:ect during the 

 summer. Petunias, Verbenas, Heliotropes, Begonia 

 semperflorens and other subjects had been planted. 

 Masses of Coleus VerschaiTeldti had also been used 

 most tellingly, the plants having been allowed to grow 

 into large straggling masses and calling for close in- 



