The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-07-06
S%ALOONKEEPER SCIENTIST
A Trenton Man Who Has Won Ma
tiOnal Fame.

The metamorphosis of a saloonkeeper to
In archaeologist is SO novel a change that
when it occurs it is worthy of some con-
sideration. In Trenton there is a saloon
keeper who put aside his beer mugs and
began the study of the pre-historical men,
and now ENJOYS a national reputation as
a scientist. The room where he sold his
beer is now a museum. and his beer gar
den now blooms with the rarest of plan Is.
The ma who has so successfully changed
hts business is Ernest Volk, who is in the
employ of the Chicago University.
Ernest Volk lives in a little three-story
frame building, at Clinton and Jen-
ME. streets, Trenton, His garden is
is said to be wonderful. Its entire area
could perhaps be embraced by the 1evo-
luton of q ball upon a ~ffteen-foot string,
but IL contains more precious matter than
the average garden of nearly half an
acre. The love of botany was inherited
In Mr.. Volk. From childhood he has
shown an aptitude for plantfnvesLigation,
and the forest and meadow land OF New
jersey are an open book to hin. AS a re-
suit, he has gathered together a collection
of rare plants that is not equalled in the
city Of Trenton, many OF the specimens
DelDR AlmOSE priceless.
MIR. Volk recently exhibited the con-
tents of his garden, explaining the cir
cumstances which attended the procuring
Of each specimen.
RARE PLANTS.
Along the edge of the walk stand high
pomegranates and laurel bushes and
magnificent begonfas, which bear a bios
som of brilliant red and have a tuber for
a root. Then comes the stately Philo-
cactus, a leafy plant. PhiIo being the
Greek term for leaf. 1t is night bloom
ing and is soon expected to flower. Side
by side with the cactus stands another
nignt-blooming plant, in the shape of a
jasmine, which is at present in bloom.
and bears a light green flower.
"New jersey said Mr.. Volk. In re-
Spouse to a query, sis very rich In plants,
1reuton especially in that particular de-
serving mention, because of its poss ess-
ing peculiar strata of soil. Above the
Trenton Park and in that vicinity we
i hsys T floas. i We 'se dsssena the to hi sas
meadows between Trenton ana Bor-
dentown. and find the pine fora.
Both places are favorite spots. In each
spot / can find enough to keep me busily
at work. Trenton is by no means a dis
coun In botanical matters. You would
produces q cactus which we have named
'"The Jersey" yet 1t aces The majority
of its productions, however, are not SO
rare as they are important"
Mr.. Volk has devoted one side of his
yard to cacti, which are all in a healthy
and robust state. Among them are the
Echino cactus, the spidery cactus, the
old-man cact us. and a dozen other varie-
ties. Mr.. Volk pointed them all out, and
explained them carefully.
snow let me show you my rare plants
said ne. Here is a flower which has not
a dozen duplicates in che United States.
1t is a pink night-blooming cactus, aud
bears a flower thirty-six inches in cir
conference. It is very costly indeed.
Here is one from California, which is also
rare, and another from Mexico. ANY of
these are worth money"
ROSES AND RELICS.
Mr.. Volk possesses sevelty-two rose
bushes. thirty-ive Of them different. In
the center Of the garden are several large
tubs sunk In tie earth for the propaga-
ton OF his water plants. Here grow the
water hyacinth from the Amazon river,
the water poppy, the blue hyacinth and
the blue water lly from Zanzibar, the lat
ter blooming from August until frost.
For some time past Mr.. Volk has been
devoting his ttentio to unearLhing a
quantity of Indian relics in South Jer-
sey, in connection with Prof. Albeit.
When the latter was called to the Uni
versify of Pennsylvania his vacant chair
in the University at Chicago was offered
to Mr.. Volk.
MIR. Volk has recen thy unearthed a fine
specimen of an Indian chief near Borden
town. He has made u study of the
mounds in Ohio. aud has gathe ed an inn
mense amount of Indian relics in the
Delaware river valley. His s.6nds'' are to
be found in many of the prominent
museums throughout thec country. aud he
means to maze n special exhibit of his
rarities at the Chicago Exposition. sass