38 
HOUSE & GARDEN 
Where space is available one can simulate the luxuriant surroundings of a tropical pool. Here Victoria Regias spread their huge 
leaves on the surface of the ivater, Cyperus rises above, palms fringe the banks, and Nepenthes and various vines complete the re¬ 
semblance to their native site 
AMERICA FIRST IN CONSERVATORIES 
The Possibilities of Plant Growing Under Glass the 
Year Around — Tropical Gardens for Northern Winters 
ROYAL DIXON 
A t this time, when we are being told by 
foreign critics of the many ways in 
which our country lags behind European 
nations in the higher arts, it is comforting 
to know that in the floral field, at least, 
America stands among the leaders of the 
world. This position has been attained, 
however, very recently. Only a few years 
ago the greenhouses of Europe were the 
despair of American lovers of plants and 
flowers. But today we are not only ranked 
high in the list with these same countries, 
but we are second only to England in the va¬ 
riety and practicability of floral cultivation. 
We are becoming a nation of gardeners. 
The greenhouse and conservatory idea in 
America is far from being a passing fad; it 
has come to stay. It fills a very definite need 
in American life, especially in the great 
centers of industry. It provides an ideal 
refuge for the tired business man or woman 
who loves nature, and who finds in the con¬ 
templation of the wonders and beauties of 
plant life recreation from city cares. If you 
wish to find concrete proof of the place of 
greenhouses in American life, visit some 
public one any day and see the interested 
throngs which are there. 
Recently I had the pleasure of spending a 
day in the greenhouses of Mr. Samuel 
Untermeyer at Greystone on the Hudson. 
This magnificent establishment is among the 
largest and most perfect of any in America, 
and compares favorably with anything Eu¬ 
rope can boast. There are twenty-two 
buildings in all, covering an area of many 
acres. In number and variety of plants each 
represents almost a tropical country. 
I had intended asking Mrs. Untermeyer 
many questions about the plans of the 
buildings, methods of securing specimens 
and competent gardeners, and other practi¬ 
cal matters of vast importance in an estab¬ 
lishment of such proportions, but the count¬ 
less strange and unusual plants on every 
side drew my thoughts far away from such 
sordid considerations. Once within those 
tropical walls and I forgot everything else 
in the world but the beauty around me. 
A Tropical Paradise 
The air was moist and laden with the 
mingled perfume of many flowers, so that 
one really felt suddenly transferred to the 
tropics. Everywhere' were flowers in daz¬ 
zling luxuriance, in masses, aisles, vistas, in 
miniature hedges, hanging from the walls 
amidst the foliage of climbing vines. Long 
strands of the Spanish red Passion flowers 
swung gracefully fi'om the glass walls over¬ 
head ; clusters of weird looking orchids, 
some of which so closely resemble spiders, 
beetles, butterflies, and even lizards, stared 
at us from various positions, as though 
through all ages they had grown there, and 
we were intruders upon their sanctuary. 
These, I was told, were Mr. Untermeyer’s 
favorite plants. He always keeps a rare 
one in a vase on his table. 
The pool for aquatic specimens reminded 
me of a pond I had seen in South America. 
Huge Victoria Regias spread their boat¬ 
like leaves, several feet in diameter, over 
the surface of the still water, where myriads 
of tiny fishes played amongst the smaller 
water plants; above the surface stood im¬ 
mense pink and white blossoms from the 
Regias, while scattered here and there 
amongst the other lilies were clusters of 
blue and yellow. Palms and Cyperus bor¬ 
dered the edge, and tiny islands dotted the 
center, forming a little paradise indeed. 
Nature had not only been copied, but ac¬ 
tually improved upon. 
