PARK AND CEMETERY. 
165 
perhaps it is well to say especially so in regard to 
the young. And the parks have such excellent op- 
portunities of ministering to this result. As a 
rule the propagation and preparation of plants for 
the conservatories are in the hands of experienced 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS IN LINCOLN PARK. 
men, from whom we may generally expect the best 
of results, so that the people have the opportunity 
of studying the flowers in the best of condition and 
development. 
It would scarcely be reasonable to compare the 
flowers in the park displays with those at the per- 
iodical exhibitions; both the purposes and require- 
ments are different. Yet it is safe to say that the 
main differences are in size of individual blooms, 
while on the other hand the arrangement of plants 
and massing of colors in the park conservatories 
produce vastly better results in the aesthetic sense. 
* * * 
The arrangement of the building in the Douglas 
Park conservatories admits of an admirable view of 
the chrysanthemums from the upper step of the 
flight leading down to the floor of the house. The 
mass of color was fine in its gradations and har- 
monies, and the varieties and condition of the plants 
were worthy features. One suggestion we would 
make to Mr. Chas. T. Zapel, the chief gardener, is 
that of more distinctly marking the named varie- 
ties. It is not labor thrown away by any means; 
and to the majority of people it creates more inter- 
est in the individual plants and greater apprecia- 
tion of the whole. If any effort is made by the 
Douglas Park authorities to interest and attract the 
teachers and schoolchildi en of the locality, a grow- 
ing effort of the leading park officials of the country, 
the naming of the plants in a distinct manner is an 
absolute necessity. Douglas Park has a unique 
collection of tropical plants, many of them of 
recent importation, and all intensely interesting. 
The view of the Chrysanthemum house in Hum- 
boldt Park, speaks for itself. Perhaps not so large 
in number of varieties, but arranged carefully and 
with regard to the merits of the flowers, the display 
is an excellent one. Passing through the chrysan- 
themum house Mr. Jensen, the superintendent of 
the park introduced us to his fernery which although 
a work of only two years, is a revelation of refresh- 
ing beauty, and well worthy future special record. 
* * * 
Lincoln Park, has always been noted for certain 
features of its gardening, and since the erection of 
its commodious conservatory, this building has 
been one of particular interest. Here the display 
of chrysanthemums is perhaps larger than in either 
of the other Chicago paiks, and especially note- 
worthy is the fact that the side beds were composed 
chiefly of the pompon varieties. This class is com- 
ing to be more popular and deservedly so. The 
large centre bed was a rich show of the finest sorts, 
relieved by other plants. Mr. Strombach, the chief 
gardener, sent a large collection of plants to the 
Horticultural Society’s show, as before mentioned. 
* * * 
The new conservatory of Washington Park is 
admirably adapted to floral displays and as will be 
seen by the illustration the chrysanthemum was not 
overlooked. The banks of grand flowers on either 
hand of the central path were masses of beauty, 
containing the choicest of varieties, grown, as in all 
the parks to a high development adapted to main- 
taining the picture as long as possible in the time 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS IN WASHINGTON PARK. 
of year when flowers seem to be shy. No better 
way of passing a day can be imagined, than in en- 
joying the flowers freely offered in the admirable 
conservatories of the parks of Chicago to its citizens. 
