luusanij square teet ot 



ass beJnK thought am- 



;"le for the purpose. The 



plants has been such 



four acres of glass are 



t\] r.i thfr .-iiltivation, these two plants being a leading specialty. 



\-, Je.i of the quantity of Palms now growing here may be 



PALMS ^;jinf J trom the fact that in July last, over one million plants were 



ready for sale and there were in stock a half million seedlings, the 



varieties being principally the Areca, Cocos, Kentia, Latania, Livistonia, 



and Phvnix. 



America has heretofore drawn upon Europe for supplies of this kind, 

 but this House decided that with its economies in growing plants, coupled 

 w ith favorable shipping facilities, they could be raised and distributed at 

 Riverton in successful competition with the foreign growe-s. Two Green- 

 houses were erected in iSqj and 1896, each covering an acre of ground, 

 both of which are now tilled to their utmost capacity w ith home grow n stocks 

 in all stages of development, thus practically proving the success of the 

 experiment. These two houses are heated by seven hot w ater tubular boilers, 

 from which hot water circulates through neariy nine miles of two inch 

 piping, extending beneath the benches. These houses are each capable of 

 holding 364,500 plants in three inch pots, or 54o,cx» in two inch pots. 



These, like the Palms, are raised from seeds wiiich are sown in 

 FERNS. puts, a houseful at a time, three to lour times in the season. 



The seedlings, when laif^e enough to handle, are picked off 

 into boxes, after which tiiey are transferred to small pots. About one 

 million ferns are handled annually, and tiiere are carried in stock about 

 500,000 in two and three inch pots, and over 1,000 boxes of transplanted 

 seedlings, as well as a houseful of specimen plants. 



are handled in lar^e quantities. Of the 

 ROSES AND AZALEAS latter over 30,000 plants were imported (roni 

 Belgium last Autumn. 



Araucanas, or Norfolk Island Pines, are grown in pots in two large 

 lath-roofed Summer Houses, which contain upwards of 4,000 of these 

 plants. Of Cycas Revoluta, or Sago Palms, over 2o,oco lbs. of dormant 

 stems were imported this season, in contrast to the 200 lbs. required a few 

 years ago. 



About 10,000 Cannas were planted out in the Held during the Summer 

 to be used for propagation, and presented, in the season, a mass of color 

 which was extremely beautiful. These comprised the best and most 

 desirable varieties. There were also planted along the edge of this field a 

 trial bed of Cannas, containing over two hundred sorts, including the latest 

 novelties. Here the test was made as to which to hold and which to 

 discard. 



About one acre is devoted to the Petunia for hybridizing, from which is 

 obtained the famous Dreer's Double Strain, in 1-oth seeds and plants. A 

 large portion of the one hundred acres cultivated by this establishment is 

 used in the growing of Hardy Perennials and Herbaceous Plants, Hardy 

 Climbers, Hardy Shrubs, Violets, Strawberry Plants, Vegetable Plants 

 and Asparagus Roots. 



The Water Garden, situated on the north-east side of the 

 AQUATICS. Nurseries and on the bank of the Delaware River, comprises 



an area of about five acres of ground, which was previously 

 a boggy piece of waste land, but containing several springs. The central 

 and largest part of the ground is surrounded by a dyke, laid out in 



