New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-21
FLORA AT THE FAIR.
PREPARATIONS FOR 4 VAST AND VARIED
DISPLAY OF PLANT LIFE.

Chicago, April 1s-When the visitor to tn"
Exposition grows weary of walking around over
the hard floors of the great buildings, looking
only at the things which have been wrought py
human han1s opportunity will be ahOrdcd Tor
retirement to spot where nature is silently
contributing to the development Of the sweet and
the beautiful in the world of flowers. lIorti-
cultural Hall is destined to be rare point of
attraction. The building itself is OF magnificent
proportions being 900 feet long and $50 feet
wide 1t has a floor area OF G.G acres. In its
centre there is dome with glass roof set in
heavy castiron frame TIE height of the dome
from the floor is 1872 feet. and its diameter 80
feet The plan of the building is central
pavion with two end pavilions each connected
with the centre by trent and rear curtains form
ing two interior courts each IS by 210 feet.
The east front of tn, building is not many feet
from one of those beautiful waterways or lagoons
which add so much 70 the atractivencss Of thc
grounds Across a little stretch of water lies
Wooded Island, which contains sixteen acres
Most of this space will be used sor; Of annex
TO the horticultural department, and will be d.
voted TO Horticulture AMI pleasing arrangement of
shrubbcry and trees.
As one enters the central pavilion from the
north pavilion he will observe at his left an in
mense model OF 4 lion in d crouchlng POSITION
This particular department is allotted to Australia
and when one bcholds the great fern trees, the
elkhorn trees, the cacti and the expanding leaves
of the plant known as the birds nest, the IoA
does not soon altogether out of place. standing
around in different localities are stuci kangar1oS
and other small animals. and specimens OF the
larger wild birds of that country. Inc depart
ment of Horticulture is under the supervision OF
John Thorpe of Pearl River, y. L., who Is the
chief of that bureau. There is something about
NJ hos those
contact with him to address him by the alice
,ionate title Of Uncle" and he Is known all
around as Uncle Johnny" and his genial ana
oblcing ways TO all visitors surely entitlc nm
to this kindly tribute. The model of the hon ana
Mr. Thorpe are closely related to one another III
a little incident. Had it not been for Mr. Ihorp'
that lion would hot be occupying his command
ing position to-day. He is a plaster cast oil one
of the lions which adOrn the front oil liie Az
mnstraton Building. When ne had scrVe' .nt
uses of model, it was proposed to crack TINS
particular lion all TO pieces AMI to DO away WIN
him entirely Mr. Thorpc's emotions were touched
and his interest excited. He at oncc engaged
in struggle not with the lion. but for the hon, 10
insure the preservation of his existence lhis
was not done 10 much for tn" sake OF what was
in the beast because Mr.. Thorpe knew 'lia' "o
was only heartless mass OF plaster oil p"ii'' '"'
in obedience to an instructive appreclaton VI '"'
majestic, the sublime and the lifting. NY l"o'p
economical rho fact that the moiel of tLe animal
in The Australian section would add to the Schcr'i
effect He therefore, pettioned Tor inc "ihN'
of the model to his department; his app'ai was
granted and there the lion crouches TO-DAY ii'
will be done up in a nice coat oil pant oeio'o ''
Exposition opens, and cannot IAN vi "ci"S q"
object of admiration from that time ior""i''
The Australian section is interesting both IN 'he
II; nj, tied.
If their arrangement All these plants were ior-
warded to the department many months aso'
Tluev remain in the boxes in which they were IT,
ceived: but the earth is banked around them d.
they stand in their respective groups ana upon 'n'
soil have been painted other seels ana shruo"eiA'
the whole in their growth resembling a. hvdi d.
may be natural semi-tropical woodland bower
Directly south is the great rotunda or dome IN
the centre of this is veritablr mountain oil pants
consisting of ferns. palms and flowers OF various
kinds with here and there spaces representing no'
crown rocks, an effect which is produced by 60"
cred canvas Upon the completion of this cone 81
plants water Jets will play upon 1t from TN" rool'
causing a constant trickling of moisture over the
,paves 70 the bed of soil beneath From the ROOF
a,eo on two sides Of this mountain immense crates
containing century plants will hang, the crates
being formed of flexible wood grown IN Japan.
where the receptacles themselves were con-
structed A miniature Swiss chalet VIII DC con-
ssructed ON the rocks on one side, and log cabin
ON the other. This entire space within the rotunda
il occupied BY New-YOrk, Pennsylvania and New
Jersey.
An interesting feature in this locality VIII DE
the cavern beneath the mountain of green En-
cayations have been made to a considerable depth.
and cave has been constructed. rooted by heavy
timbers TO guard against all possible danger OF
of
cavern is designed to be q reproduction in mina-
ture OF certain rooms and galleries in the great
CRYSTAL Cave discovered few years ago within a
few miles of Dcadwood in the Black IIiNs country
This cave, SO far explored can be traversed Tor
a distance of thrty-three miles. The roofs and
sides are one continuous stretch OF crystals OF great
varieties, and productive of the most magnificent
scenic effect. 1t already contains, so far a. en-
plored 400 rooms chambers, every one OF
which is of crystallzed formation. Some OF these
chambers are ornamentcd with stalactities OF re-
markabA, delicacy and translucent quality ana
SO perfect in their material composition as to be
capable of emitting musical tones of rich timbre
at the touch of a metallic instrument. The cavern
also contains thirty lakes and many tributary
waterways The owners, Messrs Keith and Ala
Dough, are themselves personally engaged IN con-
structing the miniature representation in Horti-
cultural Hall. They have brought bither from
the Black Hills in large and small slabs, some of
the choicest specimens of crystal and stalactites
which the cave has yielded. and these are &C.
mented 70 the sides and roofs of the chambers.
There will be seven rooms and galleries for APP
proaches. All is TO be lighted by electricity. A
miniature waterfall will also be produced, and the
water playing from the Jets at the top of the dome
over the mountain of plants. WILL it descends to
the floor, filter through the earth and be dis
tributed in different sections of the cave preserv-
ing the crystals in a moist condition. which will
contribute largely TO the spectacular effect
II IA the intention Of Mr. Thorpe to utilize this
cavc for the purpose of experiment in the mat
ter of the development of vegetation under thu
light of electricity. To this end when all is