62 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



The addition to the grounds of the space formerly occupied by the 

 canal has been filled, drained, and graded to correspond with the gen- 

 eral design. This extension will be fully occupied by additional genera 

 to the groups of trees in that section, particularly the willow family, 

 which is now xery full, numbering over two hundred species and varie- 

 ties. 



In improving that portion of the grounds formerly occupied by the 

 canal, advantage was taken of the position to construct a small lake, 

 mainly for the purpose of introducing a collection of native water- 

 plants. 



The ornamental as well as the picturesque effects of this class of plants 

 are mostly quite neglected in modern landscape-gardening. It is not 

 uncommon to fiud artificial lakes in parks and pleasure-grouuds wholly 

 destitute of this class of vegetation, and although water-surface is sel- 

 dom uninteresting in scenery , there is no reason why it should not possess 

 all the attractions and sanitary effects which can bo imparted by the 

 introduction of suitable flowering-plants. 



No flower in the garden border can excel, either in beauty of form or in 

 delicacy of fragrance, the white water-lily, Xymphcea odorata ; the large 

 cup-shaped yellowish flowers, boldly projected out of the water on long 

 foot-stalks, of the NelumHum luteiim; and the less showy blossoms of 

 the yellow pond-lily, N'uphar advena, in connection with the massive 

 spread of the large leaves, especially those of the Xelumhium, which 

 are frequently 18 inches in diameter, produce an effect equal to the 

 best efforts of the most distinguished artist in that popular formation of 

 "foliage" plants known as "carpet-bedding." 



In addition to the water-lilies, various other interesting species of 

 water-i)lants have been introdued, and are spreading rapidly in the 

 lake. Several of the curiously-horned seeds of the Trapa natans were 

 thrown in, and in due time the small triangular-shaped leaves made 

 their appearance on the surface, neatly arranged in roseate form. Sev- 

 eral plauts of a tropical Limnocharis spread rapidly during summer, and 

 produced abundantly of its yellow flowers. The duck-weed, Lemna, 

 thrown in a sheltered cove, speedily covered the surface with its dimin- 

 utive greenery. In deeper water, plants of the eel-grass, Vallisneria 

 spiralis^ were planted, and in shallow recesses various species were intro- 

 duced, as, Potamogetan, Calla^ Foiitederia, Cnltha, Acorus, Polygonum, 

 &c. On prominent points, tall, reedy plants will be disposed, such as 

 Typhas and iSparaganiuvis, with Cyperns, Jiinciis, and smaller growths, 

 as marginal plants to the taller central groups. 



A small island was formed, having its surface raised about six inches 

 above the water-level with spagnum,in which various low-growing bog- 

 plants were inserted, such as the pitcher-plant, tbarracenia purpurea, the 

 horse-tail grasses, Uquisetums, with Habenarias, and similar low-growing 

 forms thnt are to be found in woody swamps and wet meadows. 



The effective arrangement of water and bog plants in and on the mar- 

 gin of lakes should be as much a subject of artistic study as is the 

 arrangement of trees aud shrubs in park scenery. This branch of land- 

 scape decoration is wholly neglected, but it is destined to become pop- 

 ular, aud it will awaken an interest in an extensive class of plants that 

 are but little known and that possess a characteristic individuality of 

 form and beauty, which, when received in connection with their natural 

 surroundings, cannot fail to recall pleasant associations to the mind, 

 compared to which the landscape-effect produced by a group of flowering 

 shrubs will appear exceedingly tame and uninteresting. 



Another feature connected with the lake is the rhododendron island. 



