( J 99) 



group. It is to the great patience and care of the Japanese 

 that we are indebted for the great variety in color and 

 form of this truly charming flower. The first to bloom are 

 the rosebud cherry (Prunus subhirtella) and the weeping 

 cherry (the variety pendula), their rosy blossoms appearing 

 at about the same time, near the middle of April. Follow- 

 ing these some two or three weeks come the varieties of 

 Prunus serrulata, the earlier ones blossoming usually about 

 the first week in May, the flowering period being con- 

 tinued through the later varieties for two or three weeks. 

 The flowers are single in the variety known to the Japanese 

 as Yoshina, in others they are somewhat double, and quite 

 double in the variety classica, to the Japanese known as 

 Fugenzo, and elsewhere often as Jas. H. Veitch, under 

 which name it is usually offered in nursery catalogues. 

 The flowers of this variety are of a deep rose and the foliage 

 a bronzy hue, while in others the flowers are paler, and in 

 some varieties even white; the foliage varies from bronze 

 to bright green. This cherry bears little if any fruit, 

 the great effort of the plant being turned toward the crea- 

 tion of blossoms, of which there is a great abundance. 

 Individual trees, at the height of their season, are literally 

 covered with a mantle of charming flowers. It is no 

 wonder that the Japanese hold this flower in such great 

 esteem. 



13. The Rose Garden 



This is situated in a little valley east of the Bronx River, 

 and a short distance south of the Mansion. It is of ir- 

 regular shape, containing about an acre and a quarter, 

 and is about 350 feet long and 200 feet wide at its broadest 

 part. The beds outside of the intramarginal path are 

 planted mainly to such roses as have a short flowering 

 period, commonly known as June roses. Here will be 

 found the hybrid perpetual, the hybrid sweetbrier, the 

 Ramanas, the Bourbon, the moss, the China, and the 

 cabbage roses. Inside of the path above mentioned, 

 are many beds containing hybrid tea, Pernetiana, and dwarf 



