OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS 87 



fringe of trees along the edge of the bank and to the canoe trail, a water-course that 

 was formed at the base of the banks, partly to secure material to fill the marshes, form 

 islands, and avoid all dangers of mosquitos from this source. 



The "War Path," corresponding to the "Pike," the "Midway Plaisance," the "Trail" 

 of other expositions, was first located near the shore; then, with the re-location of the 

 State buildings, was pushed back to the center of the grounds. The "Inside Inn" was 

 located at the shore near the northwesterly corner. In the location of all these buildings 

 regard was had for the existing vegetation. It happened that on the site of nearly all 

 the main buildings were open fields, or coppice growth of little value. Where there were 

 good trees they were moved into our streets. An old apple orchard on the site of one of 

 the larger buildings was moved around the parade-ground. 



At an early period, as soon as the town plan was accepted, and before much advance 

 had been made on the detailed study, plans for water, sewers, and drains were prepared, 

 with the assistance of Mr. Brooks, the City Engineer of Norfolk. These plans were very 

 promptly accepted, and the systems promptly and quickly installed, because it was recog- 

 nized that they would be absolutely necessary, as the ground was so wet in places as to 

 make it at times impassible; second, because water would be required as soon as building 

 operations were begun. 



Main roads were also graded at an early period; but, before any of this was done, 

 over one thousand acres of ground adjacent to the exposition was drained by open ditches 

 in order to obtain the best possible sanitary conditions. In one place a pond nearly one 

 hundred acres in extent was drained at a cost of about $500. Previous owners had expended 

 about $15,000 in an attempt to fill it, on the assumption that it could not be drained. 

 Another pond of twenty acres was drained, and in this a cart-load of big fish was found, 

 showing that it had been in existence for many years. Many small pools, clogged ditches, 

 rain-water barrels, and other mosquito-breeding places were drained or filled at the same 

 time. 



The planting was also taken up early. In the region it was found that a large variety 

 of native plants could be collected at low cost, and it was determined to use these almost 

 exclusively; first, because this use would lead the people of the South to recognize the 

 beauty and value of the plants about them; second, because it would be possible to secure 

 effective results at less cost than they could be secured in any other way, because larger 

 plants than could possibly be secured in quantity from nurseries were thus made available. 



In the town plan planting spaces were arranged everywhere between the sidewalks 

 and the street, and in some of the wider streets through the center. Knowing the difficulty 

 of establishing grass successfully, it was determined to fill these planting spaces completely 

 with native plants, using one variety of tree in each street, and making a very few varieties 

 predominate in the planting spaces of each street, these varieties to be so selected, how- 

 ever, as to give attractive flowers, foliage, and fruit in their season. For example, we 

 used on one street the evergreen bayberry (Myrica pumila), on another the French mul- 

 berry, on another the dogwood, on others the wild rose, mountain laurel, and wild plum.. 

 With these we used such herbs as the goldenrod, the marsh mallow, sneezewort, pentstemon^ 

 and similar plants, in long lines throughout the length of the street, to give a succession 

 of flowers, and outside of these a ground-cover of periwinkle, strawberries from old straw- 

 berry fields near-by, ferns, and the like. 



Calliopsis, petunias, Drummond's phlox, and other annuals, were seeded in all open 



