304 



The Horticalinrist and Journal 



Speaking of (Janiia reminds us of a massive 

 forest of bulbous-rooted flowers designed by 

 the writer on the grounds of a grand institu- 

 tion in Cincinnati. A gas work was in con- 

 tinual operation in close proximity. Soot and 

 smoke hovered above, all seemingly strictly 

 neutral towards the vegetation that abounded 

 plenteously on the beautiful grounds that 

 surrounded the institution although located in 

 the center of the city. 



A tall growing species, 6'. gigantea auran- 

 tica, attaining a height of ten feet was chosen 

 for the center of the grove, followed by the 

 following named varieties, each sort complet- 

 ing a row in the large oval-shaped bed : C. 

 sanguitiea ckatei, eight feet, flowers deep red, 

 dark green foliage ; C. limhata, seven feet, 

 flowers scarlet, fine foliage ; C. Marechal 

 Vaillant, six feet, orange, beautiful upright 

 green foliage ; C. zebriiia, five feet, scarlet, 

 striped foliage. Other bulbous-roots were 

 planted alternately, thus after Zebrina, a row 

 of Tritoma uvaria ; C. aurea oittata, four 

 feet, very ornamental, followed by a row of 

 Liliums auratum and lancifolium ; C. wars- 

 cewiczii, three feet, flowers brilliant red, 

 variegated foliage, followed by a row of Pom- 

 pon Dahlias ; C. museafolia hybrida, two feet, 

 red foliage, followed by Griadiolus, Tuberose 

 and Tigridia, one row of each kind ; C. an- 

 gusiifolia nana pallida, one foot and a half, 

 followed by the smaller sorts of variegated 

 Caladiums, making an ornamental edge for 

 the forest of foliage and blossoms. The gay 

 buds and large expanded petals of the 

 Gladiola, Tigridia, Auratum, etc., contrasted 

 finely in sublime harmony with the beautiful 

 leaves of the dwarfer Canna, giving the scene 

 a feature that baffled description. 



Grentlemen visitors from Philadelphia, New 

 York and Boston, pronounced this tropical 

 arrangement superior to anything they had 

 ever seen in the floral line. And we add as 

 an encouragement to young America, that the 

 designer had never seen those much boasted of 

 foreign gardens, nay, nor never received in- 

 structions from any one who graduated in 

 said gardens. 



Cincinnati, Ohio, 



Shade Trees. 



BY JOHN QUILL. 



THE Gardener's Monthly, for May, tries to 

 enlighten its readers on the most success- 

 ful modes of planting shade trees in the city. 

 It cautions us not to provide trees for our side- 

 walks except those that are easily moved, of 

 a strong and vigorous growth, and proof 

 against gas and worms. Trees possessing 

 these confined qualities are indeed suitable 

 for sidewalk planting, but The Gardeners 

 Monthly fails to satisfy us in the trees thus 

 qualified to grow rapid and strong, and resist 

 the effects of gas and the action of worms. 

 Gas, according to the theory of 'Ihe Gardener's 

 Monthly, kills thousands of street trees 

 annually. Gas, we will agree, is destructive 

 to vegetable life, if so confined as to be 

 directly under the influence of gas. It is now 

 a general belief among the more rational 

 scientific men, that gas, once it leaves its 

 confinement, makes its way swiftly, much 

 rapider than smoke to the upper regions ; 

 that the continual emanation of gas from the 

 various apparatuses mixes with the atmosphere 

 while moving in swift currents upward, it is 

 true. 



Gas, as every school boy knows, is com- 

 posed of aeriform fluid, with an mipatient 

 tendency to move upward, whether in a body 

 combined or disseminated. Advocates of city 

 trees would have us believe that gas in place 

 of rising to a lofty destination, hovers close to 

 the surface in a dewy vapor to be absorbed 

 by everything vegetable that has pores to 

 breathe. 



If critical Tom would honor Cincinnati 

 with his presence for a day or two, we would 

 convince him double quick that gas should 

 not be entirely blamed for the sickly appear- 

 ances of shade trees on city sidewalks. We 

 would show him to the gas works of a large 

 institution in the center of this city, where a 

 grove of various kinds of trees — trees that a 

 sidewalk forester would deem unsuitable for 

 the city, are growing and flourishing finely 

 around the tanks, meters, retorts and purifiers 

 of this gas structure. 



