Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-01-03
UNCLE SAM, FLORIST.
A GLIMPSE OF THE BOTANICAL GAR
DEN IN WASHINGTON.


Hold Upa Child-Plnats IneIudeSl Among
CenGressssesl Perqsisites.
Uncle Sans botanical garden in Wash.
ington occupies q tract OF between eight
ond nine acres OF land almost in the
shadow Of the capitol.
II you are a newly elected member Of
congress and have not been initiated
into the full scope Of your perquisites,
You will probably receive within a short
time after your arrival n letter from
somc person you never knew and never
heard of. asking you for an order on the
superintendent for some choice ferns,
palms or hanging baskets 10 be filed ut
their own suggestion Perhaps the let
ter comes from some resident Of WASH
ington, for there are many here who are
on the outlook for new members of con-
gress, especially those who do not bring
their families with them. or it may come
from one of your own constituents, who
is well vcrsed in all the congressional
perqVisites. So it will not I've long be-
fore you learn tina: there is vast vari-
ETY. Of things beside seeds and congress
sional reports, which only await you-
order informing the custolians where
the articles may be sent.
Each member Of congress is entitled TO
q certain amount from the botanical gar
Zen each year, the kind and the amount
being of course subject to the rules Of
tho superintendent. II senator should
send for one Of the rare specimens If
palms or cactuscs, it is very doubtful
oil. 1,a 1,.i, L.,
last specimen of Il rare plant would not
be given M under any circumstances.
The most Of the orders sent in are for
roses. geraniulrs and blooming plants,
of which there is 4 great supply. If the
representative or senator prefers to have
his quota of plants sent to his green
hoase in his native town or city, he is
furnished by the clerk of the house of
representatives with Il wooden shipping
box, in which the Plants are securely
packed and shipped by express to their
proper destination.
Upon entering the botanical garden
/ by the west gate you will notice on each
side of the broad wall, an endless va
riety of cactUses, in all of the varied con-
ditions of growth and scratchiness. Some
seem to grow after ideas peculiarly their
own. as if their chief charm lay in their
scrawny ugliness. Others are very pref
~ and would help wonderfully to adorn
any conservatory or bay window. This
avennc extends for about $50 feet, when
the decorations of the avenue change,
and you find yourself amid IN avenue Of
palms.
You may have hurried by the great va
riety Of cactuses, but you will certainly
loiter along among the choice collection
Of palms gathered from every quarter Of
the globe where palms grow.
The largest of all the Conservatives is
the Farmhouse, with its immense dome
shaped roof. The building has to he &,
large one To accommodate some of the
immense palms which it contains, many
of which are 40 feet high. Here you will
find palms from Mexico, Erazil. Central
America, South America New Caledonia,
Australia and the South Sea islands;
palms with long trunks. palms with thin
leaves, with broad leaves. with long
names and with short names. that You
read and forget with, an ease that is won.
derful, 80 that the most you carry away
with you is n INT mory that you have seen
the largest variety of palms in the world.
In the large basin. 30 feet in diameter
is the Bartholdi fountain, which was
purchased Mt the Centennial exposition
of 1875 by the library committee for tho
Botanical garden. The fountain is OF
cast iron and cost $6.CcO. In the basin
Of tine fountain grows the Victoria Regia
the largest species of water lily in the
world. The lii;- is an annual. and rs the
season in Washington is too brief for the
Ills to reach its maturity. the seed has t.
he imported each year. The plant is &
native Of Brazil, and the seeds are i'm
ported in water, for if they were ken
dry during the length Of time which
would be required for transportation
the seeds would lie worthless. In Au
gust the Victoria Regia is in its full
] glory, and it is during this month tina
the amateur photographer delights him
! self by posing a small child upon on,
Of the immense leaves. BY this move
experiment we IRE better able to judg
Of the si:o Of this giantsss Of the lii,
family.
Among the other wonders Of the DO
, tanical garden is large bed of elephan
grass, which grows to the height Of Il
or ~ feet. As n rapid growing plan
n this grass seems 10 he the first in it
class. but during the winter season
dies down to the roots. When in bios
!. som, the bed looks like q small sectiol
Of the jungle transplanted to America
e soil.
!, : The trees in the botanical garden hav
: been selected more with a view to thei
!. adaptability to the soil and climate an
to their worth as shade trees rsthe
|. ! than to illustrate peculiar kinds or varit
d tics Of trees. and altogether the geners
+ effect Of the tree planting has been yer
e successful. in that the requisite amour
l of shade has been secured rs well as
:. harmonious touch Of general embelist
J; ment Of the garden. Herald.
Nsfi0oal Flowers.
The flower badges of nations are q