ORNAMENTAL PLANTING FOR PARKS, ETC. 181 



" The floral exhibits from early spring to the middle of No- 

 vember, both in the open borders and during the midsummer and 

 fall exhibits' in the Lake House, have afforded the public an 

 oyjportunity of seeing a large range of decorative plants, with a 

 number of recent introductions of merit. The June display of 

 hardy roses was worthy of especial mention, covering a range of 

 one hundred or more varieties, and embracing more than two thou- 

 sand specimens. The exhibition of border plants, supplemented 

 by special exhibits of specimen palms of many varieties, agaves, 

 and tender stove plants, utilized in some localities especially 

 adapted for their display, makes the exhibit in Washington Park 

 somewhat exceptional in character, and particularly attractive to 

 plant lovers." 



" The midsummer exhibit of caladiums and other foliage 

 plants was largel}' attended. This exhibit gave striking proof 

 of the fact that the love of color and form in foliage is as attrac- 

 tive to many as flowers." 



I add also the following from the " Country Gentleman : " 



" The third annual exhibition of chrysanthemums grown in the 

 Washington Park greenhouses was held in the Lake House, No- 

 vember fourth to eighth, and marked a steady advance. Just 

 how many plants were shown it would be hard to say, additions 

 being made from time to time as new blooms developed ; but 

 there Avere over two hundred varieties, against one hundred and 

 forty last year and eighty the year before. There were three 

 collections — the main one being " selections from stock of lead- 

 ing growers ; " the smaller ones, " Washington Park seedlings " 

 and " Japanese Seedlings.'' These two are of special interest, 

 both as to form and color. One of the most vigorous of the Park 

 seedlings — seed sown last January — has been trained on a 

 fan-shaped trellis, and bore over four hundred white blooms ! In 

 richness of color, delicacy and variety of form and tint of petal, 

 the Japanese seedlings were preeminent. They formed a com- 

 plete flower garden in themselves, an effect never produced before, 

 Ave think, by any single flower except the chrysanthemum." 



The term " sub-tropical " is popularly given to flower gardens 

 embellished by plants having large and handsome leaves, noble 

 habit, or graceful outlines. It simply means the introduction of 

 a ricli and varied vegetation, chiefly distinguished by Ijeauty of 



