PARK AND CEMETERY. 
263 
are the simple in and out on different lines, and the 
straight drive finishing in a circle. Both these lend 
themselves readily to a formal treatment, and trees 
planted regularly, hedges, or walls give an element of 
style to the simplest of plans. The kitchen approach 
is even more utilitarian, the chief object being to keep 
it separate from the master’s approach and screened 
from view. The most direct approach, the simplest of 
turns, privacy obtained by walls, fences, hedges; or, in 
the case of basement offices, by sinking the road below 
the general grade: these are essentials. 
The formal planning of the early seventeenth century 
which had developed the H. and E. plans suggested 
enclosing, partially or wholly, the two approaches. It 
reproduced in more regular form the early forecourt 
and the base-court. The former name is still generally 
in use, the latter is generally referred to as kitchen- 
court. The forecourt became at once an interesting 
feature of the plan, but never lost its true status. It 
was always the approach and never a place to idle or 
take pleasure in. Its beauties are such as can be 
readily apprehended at a glance. One finds none of 
those hidden nooks and unsuspected beauties which 
are incidental to the garden. A simple piece of green- 
sward, a few trees, possibly statuary or vases such as 
will tell at a comparative distance and can be compre- 
hended in a glance, such are the general features of 
forecourts. Sometimes, but rarely, one finds paved 
forecourts, but this is unusual, and the English are more 
apt to reduce their pavement or gravel to the smallest 
dimensions rather than increase it unnecessarily. 
{To be Continued). 
GARDEN PLANTS — THEIR GEO- 
GRAPHY, LXI.— PODOSTEMALES. 
THE TRISTICHA, PODOSTEMON AND 
IIVDROSTACHVS ALLIANCE. 
This is a singular small alliance 
of fresh water river weeds, of no 
importance to the landscape, perhaps 
never in cultivation and only in- 
serted here for the sake of com- 
pleteness. There are 4 tribes, 21 
genera and 116 species in the group, 
which is sometimes called ‘'Miilti- 
ovulatce aquaticce ’’ — presumably in- 
tended to be descriptive. 
They are found in many parts of 
the tropical and warm regions grow- 
ing on stones by the sides of rivers, 
rapids and waterfalls. They seem 
to have rarely been collected from 
the Malayan islands or Oceanica, 
but in India several, and in the drier 
parts of Africa a few have been 
found, which leads one to wonder 
whether they can survive the dry 
seasons, which must often leave 
cXTrA&iX;,) them stranded. Sixteen of the 
twenty-one genera are. peculiar to fluvial tropical 
America, where fish, cattle and even mankind have 
been reported to feed upon some of them. 
Podostenion is in 20 species in India, Madagas- 
car, and Brazil. P. ceratophyllus is not uncom- 
mon in North America. I suppose it might grow 
in a shallow pond with a gravelled bottom, through 
which suitable water could be run by means of a 
runway or piping. The plants attach themselves 
to stones by means of disk-like growths in the 
manner of Algae which some kinds resemble. 
Others are more like mosses in habit, but w ith 
inconspicuous axillary or terminal, bracted flowers. 
I have never seen them in botanic gardens and 
don’t know if success would attend the removal of 
stones and plants to an aquarium of live water. 
The group is a possible survival of generations 
which may have been abundant during the deluge 
or deluges. 
James MacPliei so 7 i. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
Rhododindrocs. 
Mr. McPherson's queries in reference to Rhodendrons are 
of such a nature that an intelligent answer will take up more 
room than is avaible ia “P.ark and Cemetery”, but I may 
try with a few words to bring light into this matter. 
That Rhododendrons are sensitive to heavy or limy soil is 
conceded. The difference in climate, considering that 
temperature will fall as low in either instances between the 
■Vtlanticand Prairie state, is great. New England and Canada 
have on one side the .Atlantic ocean and on the other the 
Alleghanies, the great lakes and the Waschish mountains, 
each in their way influencing the climatic conditions in these 
localities. How different it is with us in the Prairie statesl 
Where does our protection come in? Where are the mountains, 
the forests and the great lakes to protect us from north and 
west. Or where is the ocean to moisten our dry atmosphere 
Did Mr. McPherson ever feel our burning, scalding winds in 
midsummrr, not very much unlike a Sirocco of Northern 
.Africa and Southern E trope, or did he cross our prairie, where 
a stiff north-wester w'aistled across them with the temperature 
10. to 20 below zero and not a flurry of snow on the ground? 
Such exposure indeed is very trying to man and beast as well 
as friends of the vegetable kingdom. 
Thus we find that Rhododendron and many other plants 
h ive been planted by nature, close to the borders on these 
great prairies but no further. As Mr. McPherson says: R. 
nudiflorum is found in Southern Illinois. Here we have a 
hilly country, once covered with dense forests, this luxurious 
vegetation encouraged by the beneficient Ohio valle}-. Then 
again on account of the more southern latitude the climate is 
considerably milder than in the Northern part of the state. 
But after the forest beca ne extinct, I would rather predict the 
Rhododendron to disappear with them. Rhododendron nudi- 
florum was found in the low forest lands of Calumet lake 
Southeast of Chicago up to 1887, as recorded by the Academy 
