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PARK AND CEMETERY. 
FLORAL STEPS, CASCADE PARK, NEW CASTLE, PA. 
FLORAL STEPS. 
The illustration of what Mr. John S. Barker calls 
“Floral Steps,” is that of a feature of the improve- 
ments made under his charge in Cascade Park, New 
Castle, Pa., and of which an illustrated article was 
given in a previous number. 
It is a very suggestive method of overcoming a 
difficulty and one that met with much public favor. 
Owing to the conformation of the land a flight of 
steps was necessary to give easier access to the ris- 
ing ground that led up to the pavilion, and to subdue 
the harshness of the stone steps in the scene, the 
idea was conceived of constructing the buttresses 
to contain and grow plants and flowers during the 
season, making them answer the double purpose of 
buttresses and flower vases. 
They are so located that they are a feature of the 
views from a considerable distance. The end but- 
tresses are 2 feet 6 inches wide, and the center one 
5 feet wide. When in full growth they were very 
pretty and attracted much attention. 
Mr. Barker describes a treatment of steep banks 
in the park, of which he had a few impossible to 
avoid. Sodding was out of the question. He says: 
I procured some 200 good plants of Rosa Wich- 
uriana. I set them five feet apart, preparing large 
holes for each plant, and I did not lose more than 
six. They grew splendidly, many of them making 
shoots eight feet long, in the season, and if these 
shoots are pegged down in the open spaces on the 
bank they will root freely and make additional 
shoots, so that in two years they will cover the 
banks. For variety and for early spring flowering 
I used Ilepaticas, Violas, Houstonia, Saxifrages, 
etc. In such locations it would be nearly useless to 
lay sods, even if you could. It is true grass is 
seldom out of place, but where the banks back up 
to the natural woodland, would it be in keeping 
quite so well, as to treat it in the way suggested.” 
These are practical suggestions for overcoming 
some of the difficulties that so frequently present 
themselves in the improvement of the landscape 
for park purposes. 
FROM SWAMP TO WATER GARDEN. 
The accompanying illustration is really a trans- 
formation scene. The spot was a swamp, which 
last spring was cleaned out and afterward planted 
for a water garden. 
In the immediate foreground is a fine group of 
Nymphma Superba, the large hardy white lily, pro- 
nounced the most hardy nymphma, the flowers 
being^nearly one- third larger than any other, while it 
is the most vigorous grower and free bloomer of all. 
At the back of this is Nymphaea Devoniensis ; 
the large circular leaves are Eurale Fercx, and on 
FRO.M SWAMP TO WATER GARDEN. 
either side is a group of Water Hyacinths. A few 
Typhas, Eulalias, Saggetarias, etc., may be 
seen around the edges. Altogether it is a pretty 
piece of landscape gardening. Geo. B. Moulder. 
