THE TREE DOCTOR 



163 



Photo 147 

 Cacti, Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburg, Pa. 



huge rubber-like leaves of Victoria Regina are so large that, by 

 placing boards on them and a chair, they have held up an ordi- 

 nary woman. In March they have the finest display of Cin- 

 erarias that I have ever beheld and the Calceolarias, a little later, 

 are equally as fine. 



Perhaps neither Mr* Phipps nor any of his friends have ever 

 been able to measure what seems like an immeasurable influence 

 for good that this bestowment has been to hundreds of thou- 

 sands of the people of that city. It is not only interesting, but 

 bordering on the pathetic, to watch the holy influence of the 

 flowers and plants, as mute messengers of Heaven, alike on child- 

 hood, youth and age ; on the poor as well as the rich ; on the il- 

 literate foreigner as effectually as on the American man of let- 

 ters. One of the "wings" of the conservatory is occupied with 

 Cacti. Photo 147 is a glimpse from one end of this department. 



