New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-10
HORTICULTURAL HALL.

At the right of the Main Building and facing
picturesque stretch of lawn, spunkied with flowers
and shrubs. stands graceful Moorish palace, all
round arches. gintiug colors, and sparkling glass
This is the Horticultural Building, and fairy pali ce
il really is. Ii upon near inspection 1t hath CANDY
air the distant effect ~ certainly charming. The
main hall j. entered at each end by imposing door
ways. which also give access To smaller rooms on
either side This bali has rO0fof glass, aud a light
gallery with ratings of open fret work surrounds IT
inside large and beautiful fountain oc-
cupies the center, aad walks radIatng from
tlus. north. south, east, and west divide
the interior into beds containing rare and
uxurant tropical trees and shrubs. For this is the
paln-house. and i, to remain 20 as long the build
ing stands for tue delight of the citizens of Ph.la
dclphia. Here j., tie broad fan palm, with its sug-
ppetions If the Fourth Of July aud the warm circus
and sage and date and cocoa palms, all very bonny
creatures. Here ara orange aud lemon trees heavy
with their gold and the eamphor tree, with lts
sharply cut. abundant leaves and the eucalyptus
which the monks IN Rome are planting to keep oil
malaria; and a guava and ta-stemned ma
bogany and an lndIa-rubber tree, with leaves thick
and te,ly enough to broil. Here is banana too,
with it, fat and sturdy branch of fruit ard acaciaS
that keep up q continual shlSerng. la one OF the
greenhouses. which extend the whole length
of the building on either side, Is collection
of palms owned in South Amboy. y. j., and worth
10000. There are four species of American palms
in the palm-hou-e, and very dourshing they look.
There are other trees shrubs, and plants scattered
through this hall several angry-lookng cacti being
among them. The marble -tatuary which is 30 iiii
the central fountain basin is quaint design of chill
dren bathing from a reedy bank, and was scuptured
hv Miss Margaret Foley, now in Rome. one saucy
little scamp is blowing q shell, and another. half IT.
luctaut 10 touch the cold sine gazes down upon,
leans lightly on the dimpled shoulders Of third.
With its framework of trailing vines and water
plants nothing could be more appropriate.
One of the side Conservatives contains large col
Iec,on of tree ferns from different quarters of the
e,rtb and a collection Of still rlrer plants from
famous English greenhouse. These came carefully
bundld in moss and suffered little fom the voyage.
Here are Belgian azalias, Of pale cream Color ana
richly fragrant; here are pitcher plants from the
Soutb Sen Islands with their botched greensh cups
looking if they were made Tor hoes 10 dii"A
from: and here grows Japan maple with crliisoh
shadlngs in its fine leaves. Beside II Is Al i""
r;a HiHamsii or to speak after the manner OF the
nrofane hamingo plant The blossoms are II the
do.p.-t aud richest scarlet, and are IN form simply
/ one broad cured Leaf. Near their Brightness Is
Norfolk Island pine fit for fairies 10 climb III.
same Of the tree ferns from the Sandwich ISLANDS
are not yet in leaf, but VIII probably soon shade
| their plump brown stems with a branching green
/ umbrella One Of the trees exhibited Is sago
/ ,,lp which once belonged 10 that energetic genil1-
| man Robert Morris. 10 Is 10 feet IN hight ana Is
sad in all solemnity to be l2j to 100 years old Inc
| smaller ROOMS which occupy each end OF the builu-
/ jn ara filed with a variety Of horticultural ap-
! ,lances There are decorated tower-pots and wire
! stands of fanciful construction. and pohderous
| .alf-actiua fountains for the parlor, ana
quantity of artificial flowers which seem
wholly out Of place among the glowing