1887. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



169 



from 15 to 20 feet apart, and Maples and Horse- 

 chestnuts at from 10 to 15 feet apart, when in 

 each case they should be fully twice these 

 distances for developing that grandeur of 

 growth which is always to be sought in orna- 

 mental trees. There may be excuse for allow- 

 ing trees to stand close when young, but 

 after some size is reached it is a gi-ievous mis- 

 take to not reduce their number in good 

 time for assuring a majestic development 

 natural to the kinds usually employed in these 

 places. One large and noble Elm or Maple 

 that has had ample room in which to spread is 

 worth, in every way, a dozen smaller and poorly 

 shaped trees showing a cramped style of growth. 

 The people of this stirring city are at present 

 enthusiastic over the prospects of a grand 



PARK AND BOnLEVABD SYSTEM 



now approaching its early stages of comple- 

 tion. The main park comprises the ample 

 and attractive territory known as Belle Isle, 

 situated in Detroit River, opposite the north- 

 em part of the city. The writer was not 

 able to visit the place, but from all reports the 

 work of improvement is being rapidly pushed 

 and is already giving a finished and park-Uke 

 appearance to many parts of the island. At 

 present this new park is accessible only by one 

 or more lines of boats, but the system of public 

 improvements embraces a plan for connecting 

 the island with the mainland by a bridge. 

 This will be constructed at a point where the 

 system of parkways that skirt the city termi- 

 nates at the river's edge. From this it may be 

 inferred that Michigan's first city will soon be 

 in line with the foremost in matters of public 

 horticultural improvements. 



From Detroit the writer proceeded, by a few 

 hours' ride, to Lansing, the capital of the State. 

 Our object was a visit to the famous 



MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 

 at this place. Arriving at the grounds, which, 

 to the extent of about 700 acres, occupy a pic- 

 turesque locality some thi'ee miles east of Lans- 

 ing, we were cordially received by Prof. L. H. 

 Baily, Jr., the able horticidturist, landscape 

 gardener, and author, who has done so much to 

 earn for this institution the fame which it justly 

 enjoys. Besides being professor in the College 

 department of horticulture and landscape art, 

 Mr. Baily is Superintendent of the extensive 

 horticultural operations and experiments of the 

 place, a position for which his practical knowl- 

 eilge well qualifies him. 



It was a treat to pass, in charge of Professor 

 Baily, throughout the extensive gardens, or- 

 chards, and ornamental grounds, and note the 

 work in progress. Here is an 



APPLE ORCHARD OF NINE ACRES, 



embracing, besides :i50 trees in its older part, 

 some two acres of Russian Apples that were 

 planted this year. This orchard is but a begin- 

 ning in the direction of growing and testing 

 Apples at the State farm, and heavy plantings 

 will follow year after year. 



W& noted also a trial orchard of Chickasaw 

 Plums embracing some 50 varieties. Here, two 

 years from planting, the Marianna Plum was 

 growing a iierfect picture of health and vigor. 

 Although a native of Texas, Mr. Baily has no 

 doubt whatever of its entire hardiness. The 

 vineyard of the farm at present consists of one 

 acre, on which are growing some .50 varieties, 

 with additions annually being made. 



To show the practical character of this insti- 

 tution as a school for young nurserymen it 

 may be remarked that some 



5,000 ROOT GRAFTS WERE MADE 

 by difi'erent modes during the past season, all 

 of which are now occupying nursery rows. 

 All work in this department is performed by 

 the students. 



A considerable extent of area is devoted to 

 the small fruits, not only in the way of testing 

 all promising sorts, but also in raising fruit for 

 market. In StrawbeiTies the favorite varieties 

 are Sharpless, Miner, Black Defiance and a 

 new Michigan seedling known as the Lower, 



raised at Mount Pleasant. It has not been grown 

 elsewhere than on this farm and by the origin- 

 ator, but Mr. Baily is of the opinion that for 

 use in his region it is the best variety in culti. 

 vation. The College people object to the Jewell 

 on account of hearing its fruit very low, and 

 because of its lack in quality and color. 



IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



the operations aie on a no less striking scale- 

 Aside from growing a general assortment of 

 culinary vegetables, by student labor, for the 

 use of the College, as well as for market, elabor- 

 ate experiments are made from 3ear to year 



A SMALL TOWN SQUARE, 

 with particular kinds. For example, ICO so- 

 called varieties of Tomatoes are being grown at 

 the present time, and this will be repeated for 

 a period of 10 years, with a view to determining 

 absolutely the comparative quality of different 

 varieties. In Onions 54 true varieties and 

 species, besides Leeks, Garlics, Chives, etc., 

 are similarly on trial. 

 Passing to 



THE ORNAMENTAL GROUNDS 

 of the farm an area of near 100 acres is mot. 

 This is diversified by a somewhat rolling sur- 

 face, river scenery and a large assortment of 

 woody growths, native and planted, that 

 together afford a wide scope for the landscape 

 gardener's art. Throughout this department 

 are situated the College buildings, including the 

 homes of the professore. There is also found 

 within its limits the Botanic Garden, and the 

 Arboretum proper, under charge of Dr. W. J. 

 Beal, professor of the Department of Botany 

 and Forestry. The Arboretum covers some 

 two acres, and includes about 300 species. 



Among the more striking growths of an 

 ornamental character met on the grounds 

 may be noted the following : A clump of the 

 Gray Pine, also known as Banks' Pine {Pinus 

 Banksiana). This is of dwarf and somewhat 

 straggling, picturesque growth, the long flexi- 

 ble branches reminding one of the more irregu- 

 lar forms of the European Larch. It possesses, 

 without doubt, value for ornamental planting 

 where evergreens of moderate size and very 

 hardy character me desired. Some specimens 

 of the Red Pine (P. rcsinus) seen here are also 

 very satisfactory as ornamental trees. A Yel- 

 low Wood or Cladastris (CTadasiris tincforia), 

 some ten or twelve years old is as fine a specimen 

 of this desirable flowering tree as one is 

 likely, for its size, to meet. The Venetian 

 Sumach or Smoke Tree (Elms cotinus) is one 

 of the most ornamental shrubs in the grounds, 

 and hard to find looking as well elsewhere. 

 A favorite among the Spiraeas is S. lobtifa. 

 Along Red Cedar River, which in part forms 

 the boundary of the grounds, we saw some 

 magnificent specimens of native Beeches. In the 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT 

 Dr. Beal pointed out with special interest two 

 native ornamental plants which are deserving 



of dissemination. These were Saxifraga peltata, 

 a strong growing Rocky Mountain plant some 

 three feet high, covered with a great profusion 

 of rose-colored flowers, and Panicum virgatum, 

 a gra.ss that here assumes a beautiful bold, 

 rounded form of growth, as effective as it is 

 uncommon among ornamental grasses. 

 In the line of 



PRACTICAL LANDSCAPE GARDENING 

 some work is most of the time had in hand by 

 the students. At the present time a new 

 driveway and rustic bridge are in coui-se of 

 construction in the picturesque parts which lie 

 adjacent to the river's edge. It is to be hoped 

 that the work of improvement in the future 

 will embrace some alterations in the rather 

 faulty original arrangement of drives in the 

 ornamental grounds, as well as in improving 

 the tree grouping system here. As to drives, 

 the easily effected change in certain ones from 

 the prevailing tameness of course, with angular 

 intersections, to that of increased boldness, 

 variety and gracefulness in the curves with 

 rounded intersections, would aid immeasurably 

 in imparting a park-like air to the grounds, and 

 at a trifling cost. If in addition some attempt 

 was made to relieve the peculiar same- 

 ness which appears in the size, character and 

 location of many of the older tree groups, by 

 enlarging some to several times their present 

 size, or by introducing a few new and bold 

 ones, and then by lessening, and in some instan- 

 ces entirelj- removing, certain others, the effect 

 would be gi'eatly enhanced. Under the present 

 management of Professor Baily no doubt 

 these and similar desirable changes will in due 

 season receive the attention they need. With 

 some such improvements accomplished, the 

 State of Michigan might soon be congratulated 

 on having in her farm grounds one of the 

 handsomest ornamental parks in America. 



A Town Square Bennett Park of 

 Buffalo. 



Let a prosperous, growing town but once 

 enter boldly and judiciously upon the work of 

 establishing public parks, squares and boule- 

 vards, and the reflex benefits derived in time 

 from these wUl be such as to quite certainly 

 furnish the impetus for providing any further 

 desirable extensions in the same line. 



Such has been the history of the park sys- 

 tem in Buffalo. Inaugurated some 17 years 

 ago by the purchase and laying out of some 

 000 acres of land to public uses (not without a 

 great deal of opposition to the so-called "ex- 

 travagance " it is true), to-day finds our citizens 

 more willing than ever to invest in new areas 

 for park purposes at points here and there 

 about the city some distance away from the 

 older parks. Projects are now on foot or have 

 recently been commenced for the making of at 

 least tlyee new parks and squares, besides 

 greatly enlarging one of the older ones. The 

 boulevard system is also to be extended. 



The accompanying engraving we have had 

 made to show the plan of one of our new 

 squares, namely, Bennett Park. This is located 

 somewhat centrally, being seven squares to the 

 east of Main street, between Eagle and Clinton, 

 and itself occupies less than one full squai-e. 

 It has a frontage of 290 feet on the fu'st named 

 street and 363 feet on the latter. Located as 

 it is in the midst of a densely settled district, 

 this square is destined to become one of the 

 best appreciated park areas in the city. This 

 plan, simple and pleasing in design, is also one 

 suitable to be adopted in other towns where sim- 

 ilar squares are in the way of being improved. 



The land for this new park cost the city about 

 4^105,000, a sum which is looked upon by our 

 taxpayers as well spent. To this must be 

 added the cost of improvements, concerning 

 which we have heard of no estimate made, as 

 the work is in the hands of the Park Improve- 

 ment Board, and will be executed along with 

 the other improvements constantly going on 

 throughout oiu- enlarging park system. 



