262 



GARDENING. 



May 15, 



pond, would hardly need comment. Hut 

 where the supply is scarce and the bottom 

 and sides of the pond are of a porous 

 nature, the latterwould have to be either 

 "puddled" or covered with concrete to 

 prevent waste. Concreting on a large 

 scale is always expensive work, and clay 

 puddle, especially on the sides of banks, 

 is very apt to be injured by water rats, 

 to crumble away after a severe frost, or be 

 washed away by the ripples of water 

 moved by wind. Sometimes it so happens 

 that the sub- soil consists at a certain 

 depth of a tough clay which no water 

 could penetrate, but that the soil at the 

 required water level is of so porous a 

 nature that it would not hold water. 

 Naturally the first impulse in such a case 

 would be to excavate the pond to the 

 depth of the natural layer of clay, and 

 then form banks of clay puddle at the 

 sides. But there is a much cheaper and 

 more simple plan. Instead of excavating 

 to the clay, excavate only to a depth 

 sufficient for growing aquatics (say two 

 or three feet), and instead of piling 

 up clay against the sides leave the 

 sides untouched as much as possible, pre- 

 ferring the natural slope of the ground to 

 dip below the water line. To prevent 

 waste percolation surround the whole 

 pond by a trench about eighteen inches 

 wide excavated beyond the depth of the 

 natural clay sub-soil. The whole of this 

 trench should then be filled with clay- 

 puddle to a height extending slightly 

 above the water level, filling up the re- 

 mainder with ordinary soil, so that the 

 whole is completely hidden. The trench 

 should not be close to the shore line, 

 neither need it follow the curves of the 

 shore, but, as it would be invisible when 

 finished, it might even be perfectly straight 

 in some places if this would be a saving 

 in distance. The advantages of this 

 system are obvious. The water-tight 

 puddle would be situated where it would 

 neither wash nor crumble away. But 

 the greatest advantage is that the ground 

 intervening between the trench and the 

 actual outline of the pond would be con- 

 tinuously soaked, and a natural bog for 

 plants that love the waterside is thus 

 formed without much trouble. 



Very frequently a pond most suitable 

 for a water garden can be formed by 

 throwing a dam across a valley traversed 

 by some streamlet. Generally this is 

 effected by a straight or slightly curved 

 wall, which is afterwards covered with 

 soil, turf and plants with an opening 

 from which the overflow water may 

 emerge as a waterfall. As a rule such an 

 opening is left near the middle of the dam 

 and looks most unnatural, because the 

 overflow emerges from what would be 

 the broadest side of the pond. In nature 

 this could scarcely ever occur. If we 

 observe the natural formation of ponds, 

 we find almost invariably that a stream- 

 let becomes gradually wider and wider 

 till a lake-like expanse is formed; it then 

 almost just as gradually contracts, and 

 finally emerges again as a narrow 

 streamlet. Ii the dam has to be made 

 it would, therefore, be much more natural 

 to have two walls gradully contracting 

 till the desired outlet or overflow is pro- 

 vided. Any formal edging of stones or 

 any other material around a pond w> >uld 

 at once deprive the latter of all natural 

 appearance, however carefully it might 

 have been constructed. The best way of 

 securing the shore line against crumbling 

 and washing is to round off all edges till 

 they form a gentle slope, and then lay 

 down long pieces of good tough turf, 

 which should be continued quite .1 foot 

 below the water mark, and should be 



further secured by long sticks driven 

 firmly through them and into the bank. 

 Islands in ponds should be arranged 

 with due regard to such formations in 

 nature. In natural lakes we find them 

 not often in the middle, but generally just 

 beyond a promontory, where they would 

 justify the idea of having been severed 

 from the mainland by the breaking 

 through of the water, or if they are of a 

 rocky nature by upheavals from the 

 bottom. A circular mound of soil in the 

 middle of the pond generally looks as 

 ugly as can be, and most unnatural — 

 F. W. Meyer, in The (hardeners' Magazine. 



PARK AND OUTDOOR ART ASSOCIATION. 



We have received the preliminary an- 

 nouncement of the Minneapolis meeting, 

 to be held June 22, 23 and 24. Head- 

 quarters of the association will be at the 

 West Hotel, at which the rates are $3 per 

 day and upward. Minneapolis is readily 

 accessible from all points by rail. Eastern 

 visitors can take advantage of the fine 

 boat ride through the great lakes from 

 Buffalo to Duluth via the Great Northern 

 Steamship Line. Such special hotel and 

 railroad rates as are secured will be an- 

 nounced later. Mornings of the 22d 

 (Wednesday), the 23d, and the entire day 

 of the 24th will be given up to business, 

 papers and discussion. 



The retiring president will address the 

 meeting and the following papers have 

 been promised: W. W. Polwell, "Play- 

 grounds and Plazas"; Jno. H. Patterson, 

 "Landscape Gardening," illustrated by 

 thestereopticon; Fred Kanst, "Plant Pro- 

 pagation for Parks"; B. E. Fernow, 

 ".^Esthetic Forestry"; Chas. M. Loring, 

 "Tree Planting on Public Streets' '; 

 0. C. Simonds, "Appreciation of Natural 

 Beauty"; Orlando B. Douglas, "The Re- 

 lation of Public Parks to Public Health"; 

 Chas. N. Lowrie, "Small City Parks and 

 Open Air Breathing Spaces"; J. A. Petti- 

 grew, "Park Woodlands and Planta- 

 tions"; A. C. Clas, "The Architect and 

 the Landscape Architect"; C. Wahl, "The 

 Duties of Park Commissioners." 



It is exoected that Mrs. Robert Pratt 

 will present the work of children in im- 

 proving the surroundings of their home 

 and school grounds, and that she will 

 have the assistance of ladies and gentle- 

 men of other sections of the country who 

 have taken an active interest in this 

 work. A more complete list of authors, 

 papers and titles will be sent to members 

 before the date of the meeting. 



At some time during the afternoons or 

 evenings of the 22d and 23d a banquet 

 is to be given by the citizens; an oppor- 

 tunity is to be given for an examination of 

 the park system, and the invitation of 

 Mr. F. H. Peavey to visit his estate upon 

 the shores of Lake Minnetonka and to 

 take a boat ride upon the lake will be 

 accepted. At the close of the meeting 

 arrangements are to be made for an ex- 

 cursion to the Interstate Park at the 

 Dalles of the St. Croix. Warren II . Man- 

 ning, of Boston, Mass., is secretary and 

 treasurer. 



TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPOSITION. 



The Trans- Mississippi Exposition, 

 which will open at Omaha June 1, is now 

 well under way. Even'thingbids fair for 

 a grand display so far as the horticul- 

 tural exhibits are concerned. The space 

 in the horticultural department is all well 

 taken, and nearly every Trans-Mississippi 

 state, and a number of others, will be 

 well represented. One of the best features 

 is to be the "Fruit Davs." The authori- 



ties have set aside six or more days when 

 various fruits will be shown in great 

 quantities and given out to all visitors. 

 So far as arranged for, these days will be 

 be "Peach Day," "Strawberry Day," 

 "Grape Day." "Apple Day" and "Melon 

 Day." It is expected that two or three 

 other days will be arranged for additional 

 fruits. On the lawn and about the hor- 

 ticultural building will be bedding exhib- 

 its by about twenty of the very best 

 growers of such stock in the United 

 States, including the very best growers 

 of Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois and 

 elsewhere. The grounds are ample to 

 accommodate the best arrangements of 

 the most extensive growers in every 

 department of horticulture and floricul- 

 ture. Present indications point to the 

 conclusion that every one visiting the 

 exposition will be well satisfied with the 

 arrangements which have been made in 

 every department. 



THE HORTICULTURAL BUILDING. 



Placed in the Bluff tract, the horticul- 

 tural building is a magnificent central 

 feature, around which are clustered the 

 various state buildings and some amuse- 

 ment buildings. It is 130x310 feet in 

 dimensions and 160 feet to the top of the 

 belfry, which will contain the chimes. 

 The building is to house the floral, fruit 

 and forestry exhibits and is admirably 

 adapted for the purpose, the high dome, 

 covered with glass, permitting the exhi- 

 bition of the tallest ornamental plants. 

 In the center of the dome will be placed 

 the crystal cave in a pyramid of rocks 

 covered with mosses and flowers and 

 down the sides of which will trickle count- 

 less little streams to the pool below. 

 This pool will be surrounded by a double- 

 colonnade with vaulted arches, forming a 

 grand circle. Unrestricted as to motive, 

 or form and surroundings, the architect 

 has succeeded in producing a building 

 singularly striking in its effective features. 

 While a classic motive has been adopted, 

 it has been handled with an unconven- 

 tional freedom that gives to the whole a 

 rich oriental effect. The basis of design 

 is the chaste Ionic. The details are mod- 

 eled from flowers, fruits and foliage. On 

 either side of the stately central entrance 

 are towers, or rather mosque-like mina- 

 rets. This feature is reproduced on four 

 sides, forming an octagon from which 

 springs the dome. Between these mina- 

 rets are placed circular colonnades, sur- 

 rounded by statuary emblematical of the 

 seasons. Above the dome is an open 

 observatory balcony from which can be 

 obtained a grand view, not only of the 

 exposition grounds but of the city and 

 adjacent lakes, the picturesque vallej' of 

 the mighty Missouri, and the lovely city 

 of Council Bluffs five miles away. Above 

 this open balcony is the belfry. At the 

 ends of the wings are octagonal-roofed 

 pavilions in harmony with and empha- 

 sizing the general form of design. The 

 wide frieze is beautiful^' ornamented with 

 cupidS, in riotous reveling amid fruits 

 and flowers. On either side of the main 

 entrance, on high stylobate, are placed 

 groups of statuary representing "Night" 

 and "Morning," festooned, the one with 

 morning glory and the other with night 

 blooming cereus. The building will be 

 profusely decorated with flower urns, 

 hanging baskets, and ornamental plants 

 of every description from semi-tropic 

 climes. The execution of the design and 

 scheme is original and the grouping of 

 features, with their exquisite detail, will 

 make this one of the finest buildings of 

 its character ever erected. The design is 

 the- work of Architect Charles F. Ikin- 

 dorff. Omaha. 



