26 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 204. 



cano, the crater of which is now occupied by a beautiful 

 lake, gives the name to the reservation. Most of the 

 tract is timbered, some of it densely, but on account of fre- 

 quent fires much of the young growth has been destroyed 

 and it is threatened with speedy denudation. If fire and 

 flocks were excluded the young growth would soon afford 

 a dense shade for the conservation of snow and moisture. 

 The deep snow-falls of winter linger in banks late into 

 the summer, and waters from these melting drifts form 

 the streams which flow in all directions from the region. 

 Senator Dolph introduced a bill for the reservation of this 

 tract in 1889, and his project is endorsed by many of 

 the prominent citizens of Oregon. 



There is little danger that the President will be too lib- 

 eral in the exercise of his power to set apart reservations, 

 and we have to confess the fact that after they are set apart 

 there is no way of defending them from invasion. Mr. 

 Fernow has suggested a plan for their management, and 

 although past experience does not encourage the belief that 

 any such elaborate system will be speedily adopted by 

 Congress, still it is the duty of all who are interested in 

 these matters to work as if all things were possible and to 

 trust in the growing enlightenment of the people of the 

 country on this important subject. We may be nearer a 

 rational forest-policy than we know, but until such a policy 

 is inaugurated it is worth while to take advantage of every 

 possible means to make the best of the situation. Mr. 

 French, in the address from which we quote elsewhere, 

 suggests that a school of forestry be established at West 

 Point, so that officers of the army shall be instructed in as 

 much of the science as is needed to make them competent 

 managers of these reservations. But even without such a 

 school it is to the army that we turn for the protection of 

 public property. Detachments have already been em- 

 ployed in protecting the Yellowstone and the Big Trees. 

 This is the one constabulary force in the country which is 

 thoroughly organized, which has esprit de corps, which is 

 free from political influence, and to which we can look for 

 the courage and trained ability to enforce obedience. It is 

 certainly worth while to consider whether the army is not 

 altogether the best means at hand, not only for the imme- 

 diate protection of these reservations, but for policing all 

 the public forests of the country until some permanent 

 forest-policy is established. 



An Appropriate Decoration. 



THE plant of Helianthus orgyalis, growing against the 

 wall of a house, as represented in the accompanying 

 figure (page 32), is a charming example of the pleasing 

 effect produced by placing herbage directly in contact with 

 a building to link it to the ground. 



This tall Sunflower, with its lanceolate leaves and small 

 single blossoms, has a habit of growth that makes it singu- 

 larly appropriate and agreeable in such a situation, and 

 the lateness of its blossoming makes it a delightful adjunct 

 to a house in autumn, when earlier flowers have perished. 

 The dwelling in the figure is a long, low building, con- 

 structed of white plaster below, and of weather-darkened 

 shingles above. Everywhere it is tied to the broad green 

 lawn from which it springs by ropes and garlands of 

 vines, which climb above the roof of the one-storied 

 studio at one end, and drape the supports of a veranda at 

 the other, in a way which makes the house grow as natu- 

 rally from the velvet turf as a tree or shrub. 



Ivy and Virginia Creeper, the small-leaved flowering 

 Grape, and other graceful climbers weave over the build- 

 ing a drapery of foliage that flows in charming curves to 

 the ground, and adds to the picturesqueness of the whole 

 construction, which in itself has an air of shelter and sweet 

 home-likeness that make one eager to enter its arched door- 

 ways, or to linger under the roof of the wide outdoor room, 

 with its mosaic floor and vine-wreathed supports, which 

 forms so agreeable a feature of the dwelling. 



Branching overhead are stately Maples, and from be- 



tween their straight trunks and low-growing foliage are 

 beautiful glimpses of a bay, with boats and islands, and a | 

 stretch of Beverly shore. In the distance, across the lawn, 

 one catches sight of another white villa with patio and bal- 

 cony, supported by Moorish arches like a home in Spain. 



The little Sunflowers by the window, with their lance- 

 like leaves and golden shields, stand like gallant sentinels, 

 ready to protect the household. The rough surface of the 

 plaster bears soft, waving shadows on its snowy surface, 

 and throws the foliage into high-relief. More shadows are 

 thrown by the overhanging eaves over vi'hich the blossoms 

 tower, nodding gallantly in the v\'ind, while some of them 

 shine under the gutters, or peep in at the windows, where 

 the irregular panes are set in leaden curves, representing 

 the shape of the Fire Lil)'-, the totem of this artistic home. 

 On the opposite front of the house is the entrance, where I 

 on either side and above the shadowy door-way are bas- | 

 reliefs modeled in the plaster, some of them representing 

 the same Lily in majestic hues. Here against a curve of 

 the white wall shine the glossy leaves of an Orange-tree, 

 laden with its golden fruit, again suggestive of summer 

 climes, and softer skies than these. 



Thus, by vine and herbage, flower and fruit, the dwell- 

 ing is made to seem a growth rather than a construction, 

 and the value of such connection of house and land is made 

 emphatic. By such means hardness of contrast is ban- 

 ished, and sharpness of outline toned into agreeable mys- 

 tery, and true picturesque effect obtained. 



To produce this unity should be the effort of every one , j 

 who has even a few feet of land around his dwelling avail- ' | 

 able for planting green things to cling about the founda- 

 tions, and mask their rigid lines from view. Vines and 

 plants for summer, low-growing evergreens for winter 

 effect, are all beautiful and appropriate, and their use 

 should never be neglected by those who would make their 

 homes attractive and graceful at all seasons. 



The Jubilee Year of Kew Gardens. 



THE first number of the Gardeners' Chronicle for 1892 

 contains an article on the Royal Gardens at Kew, 

 which have just entered u])on their second half-century of 

 useful life. After noting with justifiable self-gratulation 

 that Dr. Lindley, the first editor of the paper, and Sir 

 Joseph Paxton, one of its founders, were largely instru- 

 mental in the reorganization of the gardens, the article 

 gives an instructive account of the character of the work 

 of this great establishment. Just now, when an effort is 

 being made to secure a botanic garden for this cit)', the 

 subject has a special interest for American readers, who 

 ought to have clear ideas about the scope of such an estab- 

 lishment and of the experience and attainments which 

 must be possessed by its directors if it attains anything 

 like a reasonable measure of success. We therefore repro- 

 duce the greater part of the article below : 



Lindley, in his report to the Government of the day in 1838, 

 said : " A national garden ought to be the centre round which 

 all minor establishments of the same nature should be ar- 

 ranged ; they should all be under the control of the chief of 

 that garden, acting in concert with him, and through him witli 

 one another, reporting constantly their proceedings, e.xplaining 

 their wants, receiving their supplies, and aiding the mother 

 country in everything that is useful in the vegetable kingdom. 

 Medicine, commerce, agriculture, horticulture, and many valu- 

 able branches of manufacture would derive benefit from the 

 adoption of such a system. From a garden of this kind Gov- 

 ernment would be able to obtain authentic and official infor- 

 mation on points connected with the founding of new colonies; 

 it would afford the plants there required without its being 

 necessary, as now, to apply to the officers of private establish- 

 ments for advice and assistance." 



Sir W. Hooker's appointment dated from April ist, 1841. 

 By his energy, knowledge and courtesy he speedily effected 

 much-needed' reforms. His large correspondence with all 

 quarters of the globe, and which had been formerly turned to 

 good account when in Glasgow, were even more fruitful at 

 Kew. On August 9th, 1841, the sub-editor of this journal visited 



