PARK AND CEMETERY, 
115 
from drought. The entrance to Metairie Cemetery, 
New Orleans, is a stone arch, rising from massive 
columns, and a stone wall extends on either side. 
The arch, the columns, and walls are densely cov- 
ered with the ficus repens. No vine clings so closely 
as this. The leaves are less than an inch in length, 
obvate and of a dark lustreless green. The num- 
berless rootlets, or tendrils, bury themselves in the 
solid bodies where possible, and on unyielding 
stone, spread flatly like they were glued to the 
surface. At a distance ficus repens looks like dark 
green paint, so compact is it, over the surface. On 
nearer inspection the tender branches of the vine 
will be seen, and are quite delicate in appearance. 
Ficus repens is hardy only in extreme southern 
limits, and was one of the vines, in New Orleans, 
killed by the unusual cold of February ’99 It was 
never before hurt by cold in Louisiana. As a con- 
servatory vine, few things can fill its place. For 
instance, in the Horticultural Hall, Mr. Fonta has 
it planted around the brick base, in places and 
trained in urn, palm-leaf and scroll forms. The 
rounded leaves lie so flat that each design looks as 
if done in metalic green paint. 
The receiving vault of Metairie cemetery is 
heavily draped with Boston ivy. The arches and 
columns at the side are perfectly green; not an inch 
of exposed surface left. The pointed roof, and 
front are also covered with the vine, that in this 
city is green for ten months of the year. 
In some positions and in some seasons, the 
leaves turn to scarlet in the autumn: but not always. 
as many seasons, the hue darkens, and the mar- 
gins of the leaves turn red before the fall of the 
leaf. In either case, it is a handsome vine. It was 
one of the first forms of vegetation to gladden the 
sight, after the destructive cold of the past winter. 
Its drapery of leaves put forth as 
early as March and at this writing 
the ampelopsis looks like a vine 
from the tropics so dense and 
luxuriant in green growth. 
These three vines not only 
climb, as all vines do, but cling so 
closely by their rootlets, or tend- 
rils, that no wind storms, heavy 
rains nor weight of snow ever 
displace or tear them down. 
G. T. Drenna7i. 
RUSSIAN OLIVE. 
(elaeagnus angstifolia.) 
When the Mennonites came to 
Nebraska from Russia, they 
brought many things of value, 
and among others this tree. 
It is a beautiful, hardy, 
thrifty, rapid growing tree, with 
silvery white leaves, which give a 
pleasing contrast with neighbor- 
ing green. 
Aside from the Berberis 
Repens of the Rockies, it is one of the most fragrant 
bloomers we have. It breathes its perfume on all 
the air — a delightful not a sickening fragrance. In 
the fall and winter it is covered with a white fruit 
about the size of a cherry, and for this reason it is 
called sometimes in catalogues the silver berry. The 
fruit is not edible, but it gives the tree a very striking 
and unique appearance, and hangs on till near 
spring time. 
When a committee of the Nebraska Horticul- 
tural Society were chosen to select a list of hardiest 
and best trees for parks and forests, they placed 
this at the head of the list. 
Franklin, Nebraska, is under the looth meridian 
in the western part of the state; I was there 8 years, 
having charge of an experiment station, 15 years 
ago I planted a lot of several species of Poplar — 
many kinds of Willow, Honey Locust, Black Lo- 
cust, Boxelder, Elm, Ash and many other trees, 
and among them a lot of Russian olives. Last 
winter I went out and visited the old place, taking 
careful note of the trees and their growth, and found 
to my amazement that the olive had outdone all 
the rest. While young it needs a little care to keep it 
straight, and then it grows into a fine shapely tree. 
For lawns, private grounds, parks and forests 
this tree should not be forgotten. In cemeteries it 
Entrance to Metairie Cemetery. New Orleans with Ficus Repens Covering the 
Arch, Pillars and, Walls. 
