, 1888-08-29
GROWING GRAPES.
The Fruit Cultivated by a Cheyenne
Gentleman.
Something About a Handsome East
End Lawn.
Wild Land Made a Magnificent
Flower Bed.

On east Seventeenth street. near that
smiling sheet of water called Minnehaha.
are the handsome and costly residences
of John B. Thomas, 7. w. Peters, G.. B.
Goodell, j. D. Freeborn, Col. A. t. Bah
bitt, Thos. Sturgis, VIM. Sturgis, Jr..
and several other prosperous citizens. In
front of each dwelling house is a lawn of
more or less beauty, according to the care
and attention bestowed upon it, and the
walks are shaded by healthy trees of
heavy foliage.
A vote on the beauty or costliness of
the residences would prove uncomfortably
close for the competitors, but IN tho mat
ter Of handsome grounds, magnificent
flower beds, pretty walks and tasteful ar
rangement of the lawn and its accessories
it must be admitted that the premises of
John B. Thomas rank above those of his
neighbors.
A reporter for THE LEADER visited the
place yesterday and was shown about by
John Morrison, the experienced and ar
tistic landscape gardener in charge. The
lawn alone, constructed in terraces, partly
sloping and partly level, dotted with flower
beds and divided by stone walks would be
considered almost perfect in any city In
the world. 1t is smooth and
regular as such a thing can be made and
as uniform in color as If just passed over
by the painter. The blue grass and clover
is allowed to appear Just above the surface
and no farther. This lawn, Mr.. Morrison
stated, had never been frozen out" for
the reason that he watered it several
times in winter and refrained from flood
ing it in summer.
Perhaps one of the most beautiful
things is the rock terrace, fronting the
east. 1t is an irregular line Of boulders
almost hidden from sight by thousands of
blossoms and creeping vines. The rock
terrace has a wild picturesqueness
which has been greatly admired.
In the vegetable garden, aspot enclosed
by high fences, are patches of peas, rad
ishes and caulihower. The latter attained
a remarkable growth this season and the
quality was prime.
The large conservatory is the browning
glory of the place. IL is located immedi-
ately west of the residence, and built In
conformance with modern plans. The
most attractive and interesting plants in
the hot house are three Black Hamburg
grape vines, with heavy punches of
the luscious fruit inviting the knife.
These are the first grapes ever successfully
cultivated in Cheyenne, and probably in
Wyoming. They are a delicate, thin
skinned variety, and fairly melt In ones
mouth. The vines are in the second year
of their growth, and while the present
yield is entirely satisfactory to Mr.. Nor
rison, he is positive that two years hence
the vines will be weighted down with
the delicious fruit. At his residence neal
Mr.. Thomas the gardener is successfully
cultivating a hardy, outdoor grape. In
the hot house several tomato vines
modestly exhibit smooth, red bulbs ready
for the table.
But a few years since the ground on
which Mr.. Thomas residence is located
the widest of wild land. A glimpse
of the premises and inspection of the hot
house will convince anyone that the posi-
bilities of the soil in this section are yet
unknown. One tree on the edge of the
street has not been watered this year. 1t
was girdled by cattle and left to die, but
fourished. There are hundreds OF roses,
geraniums, pansies, wild peas and other
delicate plants in bloom on the lawn, en-
tirely at the mercy of the reputed vegita,
ton destroying elements.