The Canadian Horticulturist. 



3*5 



his country was noted. How enterprising these Japanese people are ! Every- 

 where their nation is to the front with exhibits peculiar to their country, and 

 year by year they seem to approach nearer and nearer to European civilization. 



The Wooded Island and its surroundings are, to the landscape gardener, 

 the most attractive spot of the whole 650 acres, for at every turn the traces of 

 the master hand of xMr. 01 instead were evident. An island, with irregular coast 

 well covered with shrubbery to the waters' edge, and surrounded by lagoons of 

 varying width, which are crossed by several bridges, and specked with numerous 

 waterfowls ; its face crossed by tastefully disposed walks bordered by 

 beautiful floral exhibits, and on every side across the lagoons, the beautiful 

 architecture of the White City, all combine to make a picture charming enough 

 to form the subject of a description by the author of the famous " Arabian 

 Nights." 



Crossing the bridge from Alining we soon reach the Houdan, or Japanese 



building, which is really a group of 



three, each representing a different 

 period in Japanese history. They 

 are very clean and tidy, richly decor- 

 ated on wall and ceiling, but lacking 

 entirely in those easy chairs and 

 couches which our luxurious country 

 provides. Another bridge or two 

 and we pass the largest State build- 

 Fig. 579. -Japanese Houdas. ing on the grounds, that of Illinois. 



Its grand dome is so showy that many new comers suppose it to be the Admin- 

 istration Building. Inside it has many fine exhibits; especially those in 

 geology and entomology. In the latter was shown the average food of one 

 robin for one year, and the immense 1 

 number of larva, beetles, moths, etc., 

 which he destroys, has led us to 

 entertain a greater respect for the 

 robin than ever before. Some won 

 derfully beautiful fern decorations 

 ornament one part of this building, 

 which will repay inspection, and in 

 another part are cased the standards 

 of the Illinois volunteers, as brought 

 home from the Civil ^Yar. ^ig- dsu— Ilei.nois statu. Building. 



A little farther on, facing the lagoon, is the Art Palace, to many the most 

 attractive building on the grounds, for it contains the most magnificent collection 

 of paintings ever brought together in any one place. Of the most refined 

 classic architecture of Grecian-Ionic style, the building itself is a study for 



