MUNICIPAL ROSE-GARDENS 151 



three hundred different varieties of roses and about fifteen 

 hundred separate plants, and the cost, both for construction 

 and maintenance, in eleven years has been $0.0173 per visitor. 

 But as for its influence upon, and value to, the people who 

 have come to see it, no money estimates can be made. If any 

 reader feels inchned to doubt this last statement, permit us to 

 suggest that he submit his feelings to the test of a visit. 



There are many American cities which have roses in their 

 parks, and these cities are extending their plantings; but as 

 yet only a limited number have definitely set apart, and regu- 

 larly arranged for, a real rose-garden. 



If any of our readers have the opportunity to visit Portland, 

 Ore., certainly one of the sights of that city of wonderful 

 promise is the municipal rose-garden. It is larger, perhaps, 

 than that of Hartford, a sunken garden with rose-covered 

 terraces; a fountain-centered system of walks and a large amount 

 of growth; and, as nearly every rose-lover knows, a gratify- 

 ingly long season of bloom. It is, we believe, true of Portland, 

 as of no other city, that the commercial men have long realized 

 the value of the rose and its exploitation as an indirect, though 

 very definite, means of spreading world-wide the fame of that 

 rose-favored corner of the earth. This is a reason why there is 

 enthusiasm in Portland back of the conception to establish in 

 another part of the city another municipal rose-garden that 

 shall outclass any other in America. And why should Portland 

 not do so? The author would enjoy telling his readers much 

 more about the magnificent hedges of roses in Portland; of 

 the great annual rose-festivals, with electrical displays; of 

 many different parades; of automobiles; of the Royal Rosarians 

 and their Queen of the Roses with her attendants — all doing 

 homage to the rose. 



In 1919, at Cleveland, Ohio, for the first time there ap- 

 peared, on display, a most creditable municipal rose-garden, 

 its success being due in large measure, doubtless, to the able 

 hand of their superintendent of parks. No climbing roses 

 surrounded it when the author enjoyed its rich June bloom, 

 but the varieties had been well chosen for that locality, and 

 arranged in good taste. All were bush roses and were grouped 

 in beds, with an arrangement of walks making the annually 



