PARK AND CEMETERY. 
190 
the same conditions as the preceding year — when 
they were a success, failed to make any standing, 
yet seedlings of the latter variety that started in 
the same pond and never disturbed made most sat- 
isfactory growth and flowered on the 24th of Aug- 
ust and had leaves 3 ft. 6 in. to 4 feet in diameter, 
without taking the rim into account. The plants 
in St. Louis, — in Tower Grove park and in the 
Botanic gardens had leaves that measured 5 ft- 6 
in., diameter. Also the plants at Riverton, N. J. 
In the latter case, no artificial heat was used after 
the latter part of June. At St. Louis and Benning 
none whatever, and the plants were planted out 
the first week in June. I noticed that we had a 
spell of warm weather early in June at planting out 
time followed by a cool spell. This cool spell may 
have proved a check and where phuits had been 
subjected to a change, undergone a journey and 
confinement for two or three days just previous, 
the effect may have been due to such cau-es. Fol- 
lowing precisely the method of growing Victoria 
Tricken as described in Park and CEMETERY of 
October, 1898, it has been most satisfactory. Out of 
door seedlings havealso growm and flowered and the 
last flower on my largest plant was produced Oc- 
tober 20th. last. I also had flowers of the ten- 
der Nymphteas later than this, and hardy Pygmea 
type this 2nd. day of November. 
There is in some of the older plantations of 
Aquatics a tendency to let the plants continue from 
year to year, and I have seen ponds overcrowded, 
the result was that much foliage was crowded out 
of the water, numerous flov/ers hidden from view 
and the leaves above water destroyed by red spider; 
the flowers were small and the color pale and dull 
compared to healthy vigorous plants. It may ap- 
pear wasteful to thow away good plants but better 
to do this than to spoil all; it has to be done in 
other branches, and must be done where ponds are 
overstocked regardless of the disposal of such 
plants, such conditions as above will bring the cul- 
ture of Aquatics into disrepute. 
Again there is an error committed in planting 
small ponds. The man in charge wants to grow all 
he can and too many varieties and plants are crowded 
into one small pond, the result is not one does 
satisfactorily; the plants are in small pots instead 
of large boxes or tubs, and cannot present anything 
but a starved condition and their true character not 
seen and some one gets blamed and very likely the 
vendor of such plants. 
It must be borne in mind that all Aquatic plants 
are voracious feeders, they require a large propor- 
tion of rich soil below, and ample space for devel- 
opment of their leaves on the surface of the water. 
Wni. Trickcr. 
THE ROCHESTER, N. Y. PARKS. 
The public park system of Rochester was origin- 
ated in 1888. At present it comprises three large 
parks and a number ofsmall squares throughout the 
interior of the city; nearly seven hundred acres in 
extent. 
Genesee Valley park, which contains three hun- 
dred and forty-three acres, is on the south-east side 
of the city. It is intersected by the Genesee river. 
Its general effect is pastoral. 
Seneca park is on the north side of the city, and 
contains two hundred and twelve acres. It is inter- 
sected by the famous Genesee river gorge. The 
general eftect of this park is picturesque. 
Highland park is on the south side of the city, 
and contains seventy-five acres. It occupies part 
of a moraine which runs east and west, and the 
northern and southern slopes are diversified by a 
contour of small ravines, hollows and glades which 
present a rather unique aspect. The view from the 
highest point sweeps a circle throughout the Gene- 
see Valley of fifty or sixty miles. Twenty acres of 
land included in this park were donated by Ellwan- 
ger dr Barry, the famous nursery firm. The late 
Mr. Patrick Barry, of respected memory, and the 
present venerable Mr. Ellwanger, suggested using 
Highland park as an arboretum, but on the ground 
being looked over with that object in view it was 
deemed advisable, on account of the space being too 
limited for thatpurpose, to exclude all arborescent, 
deciduous, plants, and devote the southern slope of 
the park to a shrub collection, that is, a collection 
of shrubs, hardy or nearly so in this latitude, of 
ornamental and cultural value and botanical inter- 
est, and indigenous throughout the temperate re- 
gions of the globe. The northern slope or side of 
the park to be devoted to a pinetum or collection 
of coniferous trees and shrubs, hardy or nearly so, 
and indigenous throughout the temperate regions of 
the world. 
The ground was prepared and the nucleus of 
the shrub collection was planted in 1890, with con- 
stant accessions ever since, as they could be pro- 
cured either by exchange or purchase. 
The ordinal or family sequence of planting has 
been adhered to amongst the shrubs. Of course 
there have been modifications somewhat, in order 
to suit the natural adaptations of diflferent plants. 
We can see to-day that in many cases it would have 
been better for us to have departed more from fam- 
ily affiliations than we have done so as to obtain the 
proper conditions of plant growth. We are careful 
now in our accessions to place the plants in the con- 
ditions best adapted to their growth, if the ground 
in the family order is unsuitable. 
The shrub collection embraces about sixty fam- 
