8 



Garden and Forest. 



[February 29, 1S88. 



Artificial Water. 



ONE of the most difficult parts of a landscape gardener's 

 work is the treatment of what our grandfathers called 

 "pieces of water" in scenes where a purely natural effect 

 is desired. The task is especially hard when the stream, pond 

 or lake has been artificially formed ; for then Nature's pro- 

 cesses must be simulated not only in the planting but in the 

 shaping of the shores. Our illustration partially reveals a suc- 

 cessful effort of this sort — a pond on a country-seat near Boston. 

 It was formed by excavating a piece of swamp and damming 

 a small stream which flowed through it. In the distance 

 towards tlie right the land lies low by the water and gradually 

 rises as it recedes. Opposite us it forms little wooded promon- 

 tories with grassy stretches between. Where we stand it is 

 higher, and beyond the limits of the picture to the left it forms 



suited to their place and in harmony with each otlier ; and all 

 the contours of the shore are gently modulated and softly con- 

 nected with the water by luxuriant growths of water plants. 

 The witness of the eye alone would persuade us that Nature 

 unassisted had achieved the whole result. But beauty of so 

 suave and perfect a sort as this is never a natural product. 

 Nature's beauty is wilder if only because it includes traces 

 of mutation and decay which here are carefully effaced. Na- 

 ture suggests the ideal beauty, and the artist realizes it by faith- 

 fully working out her suggestions. • 



Some New Roses. 



THE following list comprises most of the newer Roses that 

 have been on trial to any extent in and about Philadelphia 

 during the present winter: 



A Piece u£ 



a high, steep bank rising to the lawn, on the furthei side of 

 which stands the house." The base of these elevated banks 

 and the promontories opposite are planted with thick masses 

 of rhododendrons, which flourish superbly in the moist, peaty 

 soil, protected, as they are, from drying winds by the trees and 

 high ground. Near the low meadow a long stretch of shore is 

 occupied by thickets of hardy azaleas. Beautiful at all seasons, 

 the pond is most beautiful in June, when the rliododendrons are 

 ablaze with crimson and ]iurple and white, and when the yel- 

 low of tlie azalea-beds — discreetly separated from the rho- 

 dodendrons by a great clump of low-growing willows — finds 

 delicate continuation in the buttercups which fringe the 

 daisied meadov\'. The lifted banks then afford particularly 

 fortunate points of view ; for as we look down upon the rho- 

 dodendrons, we see the opposite shore and the water with its 

 rich rertected colors as over the edge ol a splendid frame. No 

 accent of artificialitv disturbs the eye despite the luuvonteil 

 piofu.^iiin of bloom and variety ol coloi'. .Ml llie plants are 



ArtiHcial Water. 



Puritan (H. T.) is one of Mr. Henry Bennett's seedlings, and 

 perhaps excites more interest than any other. It is a 

 cross between Mabel Morrison and Devoniensis, creamy 

 white in color and a perpetual bloomer. Its flowers have not 

 opened satisfactorily this winter. The general opinion seems 

 to be that it requires more heat than is needed for other forc- 

 ing varieties. Further trial will be required to establish its merit. 



' Meteor (H. T., Bennett.)— Some cultivators will not agree 

 witli me in classing this among hybrid Teas. In its manner of 

 growth it resembles some Tea Roses, but its coloring and 

 scantv production of buds in winter are indications that there is 

 Hybrid Remontant blood in it. It retains its crimson color 

 after being cut longer than any Rose we have, and rarely shows 

 a tendency to become pvn-ple with age, as other varieties of 

 this color are apt to tlo. For summer blooming under glass 

 it will i)rove satisfactory. In winter its coloring is a rich 

 velvety crimson, but as die sun gets stronger it .-rssunies a 

 more li\ elv shade. 



