THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 
149 
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PARK 
SUPERINTENDENTS. 
(Continued from page 135) 
"It is wholly possible to sufficiently ornament playground areas 
so that they will not become barren wastes, but it is not possible. 
to place play features in purely ornamental sections, without 
utterly destroying the beautiful effects of the lawns, shrubbery 
anil flowers, so essential if we are to keep our present reputation 
of having beautiful parks." This is an observation that would 
have application at other places as well as Fall River. 
Massachusetts. — The twenty-fourth annual report of the Trus- 
tees of Public Reservations of Massachusetts shows that body to 
have 556 acres of area, in eight tracts, under its control. Preval- 
ence of the Gypsy Moth has been giving them considerable trouble. 
A reiteration from a previous report explains that a larger per- 
manent fund is desirable and without it no gift can be considered 
that is not accompanied by a special fund, the income of which 
will be sufficient to provide maintenance expense. A present fund 
of less than $25,000 seems too meager to do other than such tasks 
as are imperatively necessary. Boston is surely too keenly alive 
to the work of the trustees and the personnel of the corporation 
is such that it is unthinkable to presume that the good work will 
be stayed by lack of funds. 
Utica, N. Y. — The 11114 annual report of the Department of 
Parks and Boulevards of Utica gives illustration of that city 
being in the initial stage of park development, also that the neces- 
sary courage to proceed is clearly the attitude assumed by the 
present officials. About a quarter of a million dollars has been 
spent upon a parkway, and further sums will lie needed to bring 
the work to completion. A paragraph in the report of Superin- 
•tendent E. M. Swiggett recites tin' determination to leave the 
benches out of doors during the winter, rafter than incur the 
expense and wear and tear of removing them to shelter each 
autumn and then back to the park again in the spring. Evidently 
no permanent or fixed benches are used. It would enhance the 
report were it to list the separate park properties, giving their 
acreage, location, etc.. and still better if the distribution of the 
tracts were shown on a city map or plan. 
Niagara Falls. — The twenty-ninth annual report of the Com- 
missioners of Queen Victoria Park, Niagara Falls, Canada, speaks 
throughout that the Canadian side of the Niagara Park is in the 
hands of large calibred men from the commissioners and superin- 
tendent to the chief gardener. 
Hardly anything which could be done to the land in fitting 
it for park use. compares to the importance of the Falls. A dis- 
cussion of the negotiations with this country looking to a satis- 
factory, amicable ami just settlement of the power regulations 
and setting up a policy for the future, conveys the idea that 
it has not yet been settled, but that the commercial and aesthetic 
features of the task are appreciated. 
Intimation is that the heat, aspersion and untempered passion 
shown by champions of conducting the waters of the river over 
the Falls, rather than through power plants, is settling into a 
calm where the whole problem may lie considered in proper pro- 
portion to its real value. 
The whole country will continue to look upon the work of the 
commissioners and both federal governments with keen interest. 
Declaring the general public sentiment to be lax in realizing 
the intercommunication between commercial and aesthetic fea- 
tures, the commissioners state that "there is no doubt but what 
it was over-zealous in seeking to protect Niagara as a spectacle, 
etc." After noting the ludicrous extremes portrayed by advocates 
of scenery preservation, the report continues, "Time has followed 
on, however, and very few of the evil results have materialized 
from the use of the water, although in low water stages there is 
reason to believe that the effect may be detected by close observa- 
tion," Again the reports says: "Electrical energy is lice. mini: 
scarce, and the time is approaching when the demands will exceed 
the limitations placed by the International Boundary Waters 
Treaty. The. five-year period mentioned in the treaty will expire 
this year, and a twelve months' notice by either party will serve 
to terminate its provisions. The Burton lull limitation has ex- 
pired for want of re-enactment, although its limitations have not 
been exceeded materially, if at all." 
Park Institutes.— There will always be need of a national so- 
ciety which concerns itself with topics and affairs of nation-wide 
scope, and yet there is good reason I'm' more intensive study and 
closer co-operation between those of particular sections of tic 
country. 
Such a need is met by the Park Institute of New England, and 
a more complete report of its activities during its frequent ses- 
sions would be of general interest. Perhaps Secretary John W. 
Kcrnan. of Powell, will oblige with a report or contribution. 
GROWING STRING BEANS UNDER GLASS. 
Beans are not very easily forced. To produce pods, 
not plants, depends less on the grower's skill than on 
the condition of the house. The latter must have a 
great deal of light and air, and the indoor temperature 
must be watched closely, never being allowed to fall be- 
low sixty at night or to go higher than seventy degrees 
in the daytime. 
Sowings may be made every two weeks if a succession 
of beans is wanted. The seed pots should be specially 
prepared. In the bottom of each pot put a few leaves,, 
then fill the pot half full with a mixture of loam, sand 
and leaf mold ; firm this and then sow five or six beans, 
not too close to one another, and fill the pot up with 
good soil. Place the pots in the forcing house ami 
give them no further attention until the sprouts push 
through. 
From that time on, water the pots whenever the soil 
gets dry or cracked. Beans must have a moist soil in 
order to push forward to rapid growth. 
When the plants have attained a height of four inches 
transplant them into the larger fruiting pots. For fruit- 
ing, eight or nine-inch pots are used. They should be 
well drained. To facilitate this, place a layer of leaves 
over the drainage holes. A very rich soil is required 
for the plants if they are to bear pods. A mixture of 
the very richest loam and well-rotted manure, half and 
half, is used instead of sand and leaf mold to fill up 
the larger pots. Care should be taken with this re- 
potting. Water the pot very liberally at first, so that 
the soil is soaked clear down to the bottom; then with 
a garden trowel carefully take up each plant with plenty 
of soil adhering to the roots and place it in a cavity 
previously made in the soil of the fruiting pot by the 
use of a trowel. Repeat this three or four times so 
that the contents of three or four seeding pots are trans- 
ferred to one fruiting pot. 
The fruiting pot contains now, in a circle eight inches 
in diameter, a cluster of twelve to fifteen sturdy plants. 
Full-grown beans are worthless as a high-class product, 
and if left to ripen fully on the vines retard the forma- 
tion and growth of new pods, thus decreasing the bearing 
or the plant and exhausting its vitality very rapidly. 
The number of potfuls of seedlings used in filling one 
fruiting pot depends on the condition of the seedlings. 
When the potting is finished make the soil of the fruiting 
pots very firm ; this will push forward the growth, flower- 
ing and podding of the plants. The plants growing 
steadily from now on will soon fill the pots with a net- 
work of roots. Apply plenty of water at short intervals 
so as to create a moist atmosphere, which is essential in 
forcing this vegetable. 
If the proper condition of the house is maintained and 
the cultural requirements are skillfully executed, bean 
vines will lie in bloom in five to six weeks from time of 
sowing. 
In about two weeks after blooming the pods will com- 
mence to swell. Give plenty of water and continue 
this during the entire fruiting period. While the vines 
are in bloom take great care to keep the blossoms as dry 
as possible. Also be very careful not to permit the 
growing vines to fall over the sides of the pots, as this 
checks growth. 
Gathering the pods at the proper time is the most im- 
portant feature of the forcing operations. The beans- 
must be gathered young while the pods are perfectly 
smooth. — Exchange. 
