TASTE AND TAC7 IN ARRANGING HOME AND OTHER GROUNDS. 455 



and bark on which orchids are so frequently grown. 

 Cattleyas, Igelias, dendrobiums and other orchids of 

 spreading growth do well in the log form. Fig. 7 shows 

 the hopper, fig. 8 the manger form. These can be hung 

 to the walls and filled with orchids or other epiphytal 

 plants, such as aeschynanthus, ferns, etc. The pot forms 



specimen plants (10x15 inches and 12x18 inches), which 

 is especially adapted for large cattleyas and Iselias. 



Besides orchids, I grow other epiphytal plants in these 

 baskets. My aeschynanthus, several ferns, bromeliads 

 {TiUandsia splendens, T. Lindcni, some billbergias. 

 caraguatas, etc.), Anthurium Schcrzei'tanii?n and 



Fig. 7. 



Fig. 8. 



(figs. 9 and 10) render the cultivation of plants just as dif- 

 ficult as when they are grown in earthen pots. Espec- 

 ially desirable for specimens of large size is the cubiform 

 (fig. 11). These baskets can stand on the benches, only 

 requiring to be raised on their short legs. They can be 

 procured in large and small sizes, just as one may fancy. 

 Mr. Moninger constructs another basket for large 



9. Fig. 10. Fig. ii. 



others, grow exceedingly well in these cypress baskets, 

 converting the greenhouse, in company with orchids, into 

 a very charming apartment. These baskets should be 

 suspended from the roof, forming thus a pleasing addi- 

 tion to the greenhouse, the upper part of which is too 

 often bare of vegetation. 



MilzL'aiikce, Wisconsitt. H. N. 



TASTE AND TACT IN ARRANGING HOME AND OTHER 

 GROUNDS— XXII. 



TWO PLANS FOR A TEN-ACRE PARK. 



[ROM ONE of the farther western 

 states a subscriber sends us the 

 diagram, fig. i on next page, of a 

 ten-acre town lot, accompanied by 

 the following letter : 



" Being desirous of receiving criticism 

 by a competent judge on the enclosed 

 design for a ten-acre park, I mail the 

 same to you, respectfully requesting that 

 you give me your candid opinion of the 

 same, and any suggestions with a view 

 to its improvement that seem desirable. 

 I take a deep interest in all horticultural 

 matters, especially ornamental gardening. The instructions in 

 American Gardening relating to landscape gardening are very 

 valuable and entertaining. Beautiful homes, as a rule, make happy 

 homes." 



The diagram presented by our correspondent contains 

 many good qualities, and affords a great relief from the 

 plans of town squares so often laid out in a formal, geo- 

 metrical fashion, with straight tree-rows and regular 

 curves abounding. Much good taste and skill is evinced 

 by the designer in the formation of graceful curves, and 

 in the irregular grouping of trees and shrubs throughout 

 the area. The plan, if carried out, should prove quite 

 satisfactory in the main ; yet, in some respects it is sus- 

 ceptible to improvement. The suggestions requested by 

 our correspondent we hope may prove helpful to many 

 public-spirited persons who are interested in the impor- 



tant subject of village and town improvement by means 

 of squares and parks. 



The chief fault apparent in the diagram of fig. i is a 

 certain air of sameness in the size and general appearance 

 of the sections of the park, and in the grouping of the 

 trees and shrubs. If a visitor enters the park at the 

 lower right hand gate, turns to the left and makes a cir- 

 cuit of the walk defining the lower central section, leav- 

 ing the grounds again at the place entered, he may be 

 said to have, in a large measure, seen the park. Such a 

 stroll would, without question, be very pleasant ; but 

 would this arrangement yield the greatest degree of satis- 

 faction for the size of area and the outlay involved, as 

 compared with some other plan ? The very best plan, 

 suited in all respects to the grounds, should be the only 

 one considered worthy of use for permanently laying out 

 choice bits of public land as pleasure-gardens in the heart 

 of our towns and villages, Let us therefore consider 

 certain modifications of the present plan that would ren- 

 der this little park of ten acres somewhat handsomer. 



As sotting forth the changes suggested, the diagram of 

 fig. 2, page 457, is given. It will be seen that in general 

 there has been little variation made in the shape of the 

 sections at the outside of the park next to the boundary, 

 although the style of planting here is considerably altered. 

 The changes in the interior sections, walks and plantings 

 are more important, A marked characteristic of the new 



