XXI 



MRS. RUSSELL SAGE'S MILE OF RHODO- 

 DENDRONS IN CENTRAL PARK 



When Mrs. Russell Sage decided to give of 

 her bounty to Central Park, where she and her 

 husband had spent so many happy hours, she was 

 led to select as a suitable place for improvement 

 the barren and somewhat bare bank along the 

 East Drive commencing at 86th Street. 



It was suggested to her that the spot lent itself 

 well to rhododendrons. Surrounding conditions 

 resembled favored spots in the native woods where 

 rhododendrons grew. The place was sheltered 

 by a bank fifteen feet high and partially shaded 

 by large maples, elms, beeches, and plane-trees 

 standing at considerable distances apart. The 

 appearance of rhododendrons, both as to foliage 

 and flowers, seemed enhanced by this partial 

 seclusion. 



The theory followed in making this plantation 

 of rhododendrons was to mass the taller and 

 hardier ones (the maximums) at the back and 

 high up on the slope, and to keep the smaller ones, 

 fine-flowering hybrids, and Rhododendron cataw- 

 biense, in the front. The arrangement was con- 

 tinually varied by boldly Jba-eaking this rule at 

 certain points. For instance, on aidgher point of 



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