The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-14
FLOWERS AND FERNS.
Washington Beauties Sought
for by Foreigner
81sAssgss Asksa fse ~ Fsasss Merit
eelsasssss-A Party - Bseanisss
osass fes Neunt Raa,ser.

Within short time letters havs been
receaved BY Superintendent Schwag<ri. Of
tAe park department., With olfeFs Of ex-
change Of plants from three famous hor-
ticultural institatioaA One Of these il
the vorid-famed Royal Gardens 1t Kew.
England. another - the government gar
osns near Para ana the third the Arnold
Arboretum. one Of the finest in America.
These Inquiries suggest the variety and
merits Of the fauna and tlora Of Washing
ton. whose value II Likely to b more APP
prsciatsd b. foreigners than by residents
Of the state
To add 10 the collection in the park nur-
sery and afford material for exchange
with other parks Superintendent ScAwag-
eri has started on "Trip up Mount Rainier
with small party OF venturescme tour
lists. which includes Miss Ida Wright, an
enthusiastic botanist The peculiar con-
dittons OF the great mountain With i:s
volcanic coll and the rarity of the cir sug-
esss possibilities Of rare vegetable growth.
On his way he will arrange with residents
Of various localities TO forward TO him
seeds and sapgings at appropriate times.
Before he started he had outlined plan.
II want" he said. ito get some Turks
or Turkeys beard, which grows near Long
mier's spring. II u one Of the yuccas. and
makes line standard ornamental shrab.
being decorative aud howery. 1t grows
wild In the mountains, but 10 very difficult
70 keen after transplanting. ] shall try
some seedlings. Then ct Paradise valley.
. sort Of bench near the snow line. there
are several species Of flowers which grow
up even through the snow. There may b
many others Of whose existence know
nothing.
II would also like to get some phloxes.
especially the dwarf or moss phloxcs. The
peculiar climatic conditions Of this state
ara sure 70 produce their own results in
diversified varieties. Then shall look
out for some rare varieties Of axaieA
have especially in view some ceanothus.
In pink, blue and creamy white. most Of
which are very fragrant.
Although the rhodo1endron Is not
peculiarly Washington flower. yet this
Sound country produces its own kinds.
which are very different to pont,cnm. the
European variety, or catawblensis, the
Pennsylvania flower. have already
found some plants which are new TO me.
One 10 . dwarf birch, which 10 very inter-
eating. Then there 10 . red bear-berry.
one upright and another one . crsspsr..
which has leaves like fine-leafsd box
wood. Another flower. indigenous Of it,
kind to this state. 10 . ehamacerasus BE-
longing to the class OF upright honey
suckles.
Zone Of our most despised plants, which
h movn down and trampled upon. but
which should 10 Of great interest TO lovers
Of flowers. 10 the sallai, which consider .
most beautiful shrub, ~ we'll ~ Berber-
ris Nuttaiii, . variety Of Oregon craze
about three feet high. and . very hand
some evergreen. There II another plant
which 10 not very popular but Is curious,
and that il the devils club, fine shrub
rather tropical In aspect, with large
pedunclcs Of seeds ten inches to foot and
. half long. Its sharp. thin. singing
spears are better known than liked, and il
has immense leaves. It belongs to swamps,
but 10 often found on the mountain sides
where there is sccpage. That reminds mo
Of magnificent fern whose name can
not for the moment recall; It reaches Q
height of six feet at times. We have an
extraordinary variety Of ferns. which are
too often COMPOUNDED with brakes.
1.-THE common clover Il full Of interest,
too. There are fully seventeen varieties
Of clover; some are fragrant. while others
are apparently odorless. The white clover
seems TO Be the favorits with cattle; they
will leave almost anything for that Other
species seem 10 be only flowers. OF these
there are the large pink and the tiny
yellow.
THE fields and the woods are full of
beauties. and I expect TINT some Of our
contributions will Be highly valued In the
famous gardens of the Old World"