The Newtown bee., 1880-11-17
Flowers at the White House.

Until 8 comparatively recent time, says the Washington correspondent of the New York Post, little attention was been Iaid Cy the families occupying the White House to the culture of flowers. Prior to PIcrce's administration small conservatory stood between the home of the President and the treasury building, adjoining the quarters of those persons who made up his domestic establish ment. President Pierce began the present series of buildings to the west of the White House by removing the old conservatory to its new position and adding to it's accommodations. These are now eight in number, aud, with their outiaying gardens, occupy about an acre and half of ground. Three of the eight have been erected during the present administration. The first con- servatory is chiefly composed of mate rials brought hitlier, as has been said, by direction of President Pierce. It is used for propagsting purposes. No. 2, adicuEcd it on the west, is devoted more to Sc forcing "plants and to the cul- tivaticn Of tropical exotics requiring a high temperature. In this house are many varieties Ci the delicate maiden hair fern and few choice orchids. Conservatory No. 3 is still warmer. Here are grown several sensitive tropi- cal plants, to whose health an abiding "hot wave" is necessary. Here also are placed a fine collection of thirty eight varieties of Croton plants, one of the finest in the country. Building No. 4 is used for propagating geraniums, be- gonias and other common but attractive and serviceable plants. Some very beau tiful clim ping ferns are trained on the walls and ceiling, and in !" lean-to |" hotbed outside violets are cultivated. {. Entering the main building the visitor finds himself in large apartment where eamellias arc grown in great abundance. A thicket of these shrubs occupies the center of the building, while on either side of the aisles, toward the sloping roof and walls, are many choice flowers in pots. Here is the wax plant with it's morning drop of honey, the curious ar tillery plant whose ny blossoms explode with . wee puff when touched by water, a splendid collection of begonias scomprehending some yare and lovely varieties, a collection of thirty six varieties of cineraria hy bredia, the best perhaps in the country, and another collection equally fine of calceolaria hybredia, comprising fifty varieties. Adjacent to this conservatory is the grapery, where choice grapes are culti vated, principally Black Hamburg S Here also are some aquatic plants, a fine collection of the bletla or nun flow CT, a choice terrestrial orchid and a large collection c ealladiums. No. ', the rose house, IS mainly devoted, as the name denotes, to the cultivation of this queen Of flowers. Less regard is paid, how eyer, to rare and expensive varieties than to those which are prolific in buds and produce flowers held in popular es- teem. But ten or twelve varieties, therefore, are grown under cover, though in the gardens outside there are perhaps D hundred of tue common hardy de- scriptions. In addition to the roses, here is also D large bed of smilax, and upon the posts, walls and ceiling num- bei or rare creeping vines. conspicuous among them the superb Allamanda Henderson,, with it's rich yellow bios soms, some of which attain n diameter of four inches. Here again is the beauti- tul trumpet flower adanocalyma comosa and another the quisquallis yillosl, whose blossom changes as it natures from pure white to deep maroon.
 There remains to be noticed the general show conservatory, opened of late to the public on reception days. The conservatory is l64 feet long by thirty two wide, or, in the wings, forty ghi and sixty-four feet, and is divided into three parts. The house wing is to be devoted to palms, the west wing to tropica plants, and the central part to aztleas and miscellaneous plants. The direction is vested in head gardener who Is assisted by twelve under gardeners.
 From the stock of flowers on hand tho gardeners daily cull and form into bouquets supply for the dinner tabI, of the Presidents family and for the decoration of the reception parlors Applications from fair committees officers of government and persona friends low in in stream, and are com piled with so far as is possible. Mrs Hayes is not only extremely fond O flowers herself but is sdispnsed to gratif, the same love in others, and does wha she can to satisfy the calls upon her con sideration in this regard and so at publi festivals and festive social gatherings, il the sick room and the hushed cham be of death, may often be found these Tar and lovely flowers of the nation.
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