San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-23
OUR BREATHING PLACES.
THE CITY PARKS AND HOT
HOUSES,
Their Care, the Amount OF Worl
Demanded and What is to
Be Done to Them
Next Year.

The city parks now are demanding
considerable attention OF the public
oark commissioner and his assistants
and for the past few weeks of the lat
Ger part of the fall and the first of De
cember these men have been the busi-
est in this city.
The early housing of the many
tropical foliage and Towering plants
demanded immediate attention and
good deal of hard work.
This to q great extent has now been
accomplished, as a LIGHT reporter
has been informed by Park Commits.
sioner Hettler. The flow er beds OF
the pretty park on Main plaza have
been plucked and the border plants.
which made such pretty, vari-colored
spots in the summer, have now been
denuded, and the cuttings have been
placed in the large hot house at San
Pedro park. OF these there are two
varieties, of which 10000 cuttings of
each are now under rapid and healthy
growth at this hot house. These will
supply all the city parks with fine
plants next summer, and will be econ.
omical ga we'll. as none need be order
ed from florists.
Alamo plaza roses have been trim
med and part of the big banana center
piece has been removed. a large
number of the bananas have been up
rooted and placed in the tool house in
the Alamo building for preservation
during the winter. A number of
stalks have been left standing,
as an experiment, to see if
they can stand the winter.
The other city parks, Milan, Nav
erick, Travis and Madison square,
that are partially under cultivation,
have not much to be attended to, ex-
cept the pruning of trees or replacing
of those that have died or shown a
poor growth. The fence around Travis
park will be removed next spring, as
the hedge will then be large enough
to trim and be beautiful.
In Maverick park, and in Milan
and Madison squares, some more trees
will be planted and probably q few
roses or foliage plants will be added
in the spring. With the limit
I'd number of lsbOrers and gar
dener, now at his command, and
not too large annual appropriation,
the park commissioner mustnot plant
more than he can till, though he has
ample supplies for all.
Washington square Is one of the
now barren parks he will improve
with trees and shrubbery next year.
San Pedro park needs atten ton.
A landscape gardener should be en-
ployed to lay this beautiful park out
in drives and pretty spots for flo wers,
trees and shrubs. 1t IS capable OF
great improvement. The little park,
now in the way in front of
the upper hall, could be placed
in more advantageous POSI-
ton and a broad approach to the
springs could then be made. Shell
walks and drives, pretty borders and
beds of foliage plants would also rem
der the place very beautiful. The
two hot houses, one of which is the
little old one, are how crowded with
thousands of the finest of plants,
some of which are very rare and, to
botanists, very valuable. A list of
them is not Obtainable, as it would
require complete botany and
several issues OF the LIGHT
to enumerate and describe them.
There are the tulips, for instance.
Mr.. Hettler has 200 plants in differ
ent colors and sweet bay, box, gerani.
ums, oleander, snake plant, Alocario
cape jessamines, daisies, pansies
agave, African banana, India rubber
night blooming cereus, hibiscus, etc.
etc.
These, beside the public parks, are
taken care of by two gardeners, al
the year round, and six laborers. Ii
their duties lies the care of Alamo
plaza, Main plaza, Franklin anC
Crockett squares, Santa Clara foun
tain place, Madison square, Travis
Park, Maverick square, Milan park
Washington square, and San Pedro
park. On an average there are three
hydrants, for the distribution of wate
In dry seasons, in each park.
Next year Alamo plaza will
contribute some of its rather over