470 
THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
steps and balusters arranged in unique fashion and still 
further accentuated by the various sculptured creations. 
(See cover illustration.) 
The natatorium which was built for the George J. 
Gould grounds, at Lakewood, N. J., is of another pat- 
tern, and yet it is no less noteworthy, and it is supported 
by marble columns that are fully as sightly and imposing. 
Many tons of marble have been set in place on the Gould 
property. It appears in the long stretches of railing and 
wall work, in the expansive sweep of the enclosures, in 
the arches and pillars of the bridge. On every hand is 
the subdued harmony that may be gained through in- 
telligent manipulation of natural stone. 
Among the many splendid residences of Long Island 
stands the Bourne residence at Oakdale. It rises in the 
midst of an estate of five hundred acres. Much has been 
said in commendation of this admirably planned home, 
an old Colonial mansion brought down to modern times, 
and many eyes have been drawn to the bridge on these 
premises, with its masses of brick and marble knit to- 
gether with a firmness and ingenuity that will defy all 
the batteries of the seasons that are yet to come. 
Of a somewhat similar cast, although placed amid less 
luxurious environment, is the new bridge at Proctor, 
Vt., a marble structure which spans the historic Otter 
Creek River at a point that was often traversed by Ethan 
Allen and his stalwart companions in arms. It stands 
on the site of a covered wooden bridge, a model that was 
once very common in this country. As one may learn 
from the bronze tablet, this Vermont landmark is dedi- 
cated to the memory of the late Governor Proctor. 
As it is with bridges, so it is with less pretentious at- 
tempts at decoration. In the sunken gardens of the Jen- 
nings estate at Fairfield, Conn., and on the grounds ad- 
joining the artificial lake at the Proctor Park, Utica, 
N. Y., there has been only a limited use of marble, but 
every piece has been wisely placed. The Proctor gar- 
dens have simply a few seats and vases of which to 
boast, and many other modest examples might be re- 
called wherein a little stone work has been made to 
serve big purposes. It is not true that marble is be- 
yond the reach of the small garden. Many a little plot 
might be turned into a richer and more beautiful en- 
closure through a judicious selection of the right kind 
of stone. 
Elaborate conceptions in marble will always be, more 
or less, expensive. They can never be cheap, for they 
represent a lavish amount of material and labor. But 
there are any number of simple, inexpensive pieces that 
are altogether worth while — a seat or a sun-dial, per- 
haps, or maybe nothing more than a plainly molded 
pedestal or vase. 
It was nearly a century and a half ago that the first 
marble quarries were opened in this country, and, in 
the years that have intervened, American machinery and 
methods have tended to standardize and give stability 
to the output. Nor is that all. The buyers of the nation 
have been brought to see the worth of their ov/n 
products ; they have learned that the Old World can 
give them nothing better than the stone which can be 
dug out of our own soil. It should be a matter of pride 
to all believers in the "Made in America" slogan, that 
the bulk of the marble described in this sketch was 
quarried in the mountains of Vermont. 
MISCELLANEOUS PLANTS FOR THE HOUSE. 
NLY plants of the same general character should 
be placed in window boxes, since plants of differ- 
o 
ent kinds require different treatment. Begonias are 
about the only plants that may be expected to flower 
in a window box. For the most part foliage alone must 
be depended upon as the contribution of the indoor 
plants to the attractiveness of the room. Among the 
plants which may be grown for foliage for window 
boxes are ferns, geraniums, Kenilworth ivy, smilax and 
aspidistra. The latter plant is especially valuable as a 
window box plant as it will thrive in spite of consider- 
able neglect, drought and dust. Direct sunlight also is 
not required by this adaptable plant. 
An advantage in growing plants in pots instead of in 
boxes is that a larger variety can be grown since differ- 
ent treatment may be given. In addition to the plants 
already mentioned for growing in window boxes, palms, 
rubber plants, and cacti may be grown in pots. It is 
advisable in growing all these plants to make use of 
regular florists' potting soil, made up of 1 part compost, 
1 part good loam and 1 part sand. It is well to add one- 
twentieth part bone meal to the mixture. 
From time to time examinations should be given to 
see whether the plants require repotting. This is done 
when the soil is moist by inverting the plants and tap- 
ping the pot until it can be lifted off. If the surface of 
the ball of earth is entirely covered with roots, the plants 
should be placed in a larger pot, soil being firmed into 
the spaces. 
It is possible sometimes to force potted geraniums to 
bloom indoors during the Winter. To accomplish this, 
it is necessary to pot them in a way to restrict root 
growth and to keep them fairly dry. 
Potted ferns require close care. They should be kept 
slightly moist at all times, but should not be over- 
watered. Occasionally the potted ferns should be placed 
in a tub and given a bath with weak suds made from a 
good grade of soap. Besides removing accumulations 
of dust from the fronds, the baths remove minute insect 
parasites. The suds must be rinsed off immediately. 
Potted palms should be regularly watered, but not 
kept moist. While small, the plants should be washed 
like ferns. When too large for such treatment, the tops 
should be sprayed frequently with clear water. Small 
quantities of bone meal and wood ashes should be stirred 
into the soil occasionally, or the plants may be watered 
now and then with manure water. 
Rubber plants should be treated much as are palms, 
but the soil should be kept somewhat more moist. Ole- 
anders may be treated practically like palms. Aspidistras 
require less attention than the other plants mentioned. 
They should be kept rather drier than palms and rubber 
plants. A dry, sandy soil is required for cacti. — United 
States Department of Agriculture Bulletin. 
A very good illustration of hardiness may be observed 
in the well known California Privet. This plant is say 
quite hardy as far north as New York, yet it is a well 
known fact that it will get winter killed in much more 
southern localities, especially if it is planted in heavy or 
undrained soil. Ripening of the wood has a very im- 
portant bearing on hardiness. If a plant continues to 
grow until very late in the fall the chances are that the 
branches will be tender and get killed back, whereas if 
the wood thoroughly ripens up before frost it will remain 
sound to the tips even during the most severe weather. 
Severe winter killing may be always expected after 
late warm fall that keeps the sap moving. 
