108 



ANKALS OP HORTICULTURE. 



made good shows of dahlias in plot 32. Plot 33 held a Belgian 

 display of azaleas. It also contained a glowing piece of carpet- 

 bedding in the form of the "Harp of Erin," contributed by 

 Eileen Donlan, of New York, under the auspices of the Gaelic 

 Society. The skeleton of the bed was made of house leeks 

 (Cotyledon secunda glauca and C. sempervivmri) and Alternanthera 

 paronijchioides, and the reliefs were furnished with "Shamrocks 

 from Erin's green hills." This Shamrock was Trifolium repens 

 (white clover). Beyond the outer walk at the south end of the 

 island (34), Fred Kelsey showed an interesting plantation of 

 imported evergreens,, kalmias and other ornamental specimen 

 plants. 



In general, the ornamental effect of the island was good, 

 considering the haste in which it was prepared, the poor soil 

 and the dry season. It was a matter of surprise that so many 

 of the exhibitors were foreigners, who must have taken great 

 pains to accomplish so much at such distance from home. It 

 was gratifying to find that great prominence had been given to 

 native plants in the floral effects. Some of the most conspicu- 

 ous exhibits upon the island will now be described, with inci- 

 dental references to collections of similar kind in other parts 

 of the Fair grounds. 



Azaleas. — The early shows upon the island were the 

 azaleas and rhododendrons, which were a source of astonish- 

 ment to most visitors. During the third and fourth weeks of 

 May, azaleas excited more comment than any other portion of 

 the floricultural exhibits. The number of varieties shown, 

 both indoors and in the open, was very large, and the flames 

 of color quite eclipsed the less showy plants. Azaleas have 

 never won wide popularity in America, especially the Ghent 

 varieties, which are adapted to outdoor cultivation. This scar- 

 city of azaleas in lawn planting is commonly attributed to the 

 severity of our climate, and it is true that many of the imported 

 varieties are not adapted to our circumstances ; but this very 

 lack of adaptation is, no doubt, due to the almost indiscriminate 

 importations of foreign kinds. Among all the azaleas upon 

 exhibition at Jackson Park only one lot was American grown. 

 This was from the Parsons' nurseries on Long Island. If 

 greater attention were given to the propagation of hardy kinds 

 by our own nurserymen, the time could not be far distant 

 when sufficient varieties for all purposes should be obtained. 

 If one may judge from the almost unanimous surprise and 

 interest which the beds of hardy azaleas elicted from the thou- 

 sands of visitors at the World's Fair, the market for successful 

 varieties could be easily extended. 



Among the outdoor azaleas, the largest collection was one 

 of 116 varieties, by the Boskoop Holland Nursery Association, 



