THB GRBENING LANDSCAPE 



EXPOSITION GROUNDS 



This is a view of grounds in Forest Park, St. Louis, during 

 the Louisiana Exposition. It is not generally known that nursery 

 and floral exhibitors are invited to participate in the work of 

 decorative planting and install their exhibits, long before the 

 manufacturers of shelf goods are assigned their space. Often 

 this work is in progress for two or three years before the gates 

 are formally opened to the public. 



The laying out of grounds for a county fair is not a very 

 serious problem; but the laying out of grounds for a World's 

 Fair becomes a gigantic proposition, for the reason that it is 

 international in its scope and all sorts of temperamental moods 

 must be humored. Next to the buildings there is no one feature 

 that attracts as much attention and comment as the decorative 

 planting, and fair commissioners have need of the best talent in 

 landscape construction work. The writer has frequently been 

 called in consultation on the arrangement of large exposition 

 grounds, and knows from experience the kaleidoscopic diversity 

 of artistic tastes; and he also knows that art is such an intangible, 

 fugitive thing that in it lies a subtle spirit of vagabondage, differ- 

 ently idealized by the various races of men. At the same time 

 the great size of fair grounds makes it possible to introduce much 

 variety in composition, depending on the inventive fertility of the 

 designer. 



WELL-PLANNED FLOWER GARDEN 



Example of a well-planned flower garden showing Pasonies 

 in the foreground and beds of Phlox, Delphinium, Pyrethrum, 

 Shasta Daisy, Boltonia, Columbine, Poppy, Gaillardia and many 

 others. Note the sun-dial in the middle of the garden. The trees 

 in the background are Maples. 



Such a garden should not be attempted unless there is a 

 good supply of water to tide over the midsummer drought, for, 

 of course, with such thick planting cultivation is impossible. 

 It is also important to enrich the soil with a good dressing of 

 well-rotted stable manure every spring, hoeing it in carefully 

 with a garden rake before the plants start growing. This may 

 sound like an Irishman's advice, but the fact remains that a rake 

 can be used as a hoe and will not cut the roots. It is surprising 

 how much the mechanical condition of the soil can be improved 

 by the use of stable manure. The decaying fiber known as humus 

 make it porous and retentive of water. 



NY, MONROE, MICHIGAN 



81 



Plate 93. I^^xiiosition GroiiiKls 



Plate 94. Well-Planiit'«l Flo»ver Ciai'iU-u 



