The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-19
UNCLE Sam. FLORIST.
A Glimpse or the Botanical Garden 4,
Washington.

A Glimpse or the Botanical Garden In,
washington.
Upcls sans botanical garden I'M
Washington occupies q tract OF be-
tween eight and nine acres OF land al
most in the shadow OF the capitol.
II you are q newly elected member
OF congress and have not been Initial.
cd into the full scope OF your perqui-I
sites. you will probably receive within
q short time after your arrival, a letter
and never heard OF. asking you for an
order on the superintendent for some
choice ferns. palms or hanging bas-
kets to be filled at their own sugges-
ton. Perhaps the letter comes from
some resident OF Washington, for
there are many here who arc on the
outlook for new members OF con-
grees. especially those who do not
bring their families with them, or It
may come from ono Of your own con-
stituents, who ls we'll versed In all the
congressional perqulsites. So 1t will
not be long hef0re you learn
that there is a vast variety OF things
besides seeds and congressional re-
informing the custodians where the
articles may be sent.
Each member OF congress Ia entitled
to q certain amount from the botani-
cal garden each year. the kind and the
amount being OF course subject to the
rules Of the superintendent III q sem
ator should senu for one OF tho rare
specimens OF palms or cactuses, it IL
very doubtful about the request being
honored. The last speciman of q rare
plnnt would not be given uD under
any circumstances. The moot OF the
order sent in are for roses, geraniums
and blooming plants, OF which there
Is q great supply. II the representa-
tive or senator prefers to have his
quota OF plants sent to his green
house In his native town or city. he is
furnished by the clerk OF the house OF
/ representatives with a wooden ship
ping box, in which the plants are Sc.
curely packed and shipped by express
| to their proper destination.
Upon entering the botanical garden
by the woat gate you will notice OF
each side OF tho broad walk an end
less variety OF cactuses, in all of the
varied conditions OF growth and
scratchiness. Some seem to grow al
ter ideas peculiarly their own, as II
their chief charm lay In thoir scrawny'
ugliness. Others are very pretty and
would help wonderfully TO adorn
any conservatory or bay window
This avenue extends for about $50 feet
when the decorations Of the avenue
change. and you find yourself amid
an avenue OF palms.
You mag have hurried by the great
variety of caetuses. but you will Ger
tainly loiter among the choice Gollec.
ton Of palms gathered from every
quarter OF the globe whore palms
grow.
!. The largest of all the conservatorles
is tho palmhouse, with It's Immense
dome shaped roof. The building has
some of the immense palms which II
contains. many OF which are 40 feet
high. Here you will lind palms from
Mexico. Brazil, Central America. South
I america, New Caledonia. Australia
and the South Sea Islands; palms with
/ long trunks, pa ms with thin leaves
with broad leaves, with long names
and with short names. that YOU read
md forget with an ease that Is wen.
derful. so that the most you carr,
away with you Is memory that you
have seen the largest variety Of palms
| In the world.
| In tho large basin. 90 feet in diameter.
| Is the Bartholdi fountain. which was
purchased at the Centennial exposition
OF 1876 by the library committee for
the botanical garden. Tie fountait,
ia OF cast iron ind cost $500. In the
basin of the fountain grows the Vie
toria Regta. the largest species vi
water lily In the world. The lily 10 an
annual, and as the season In Washing
ton ia too brief Tor the lily to reach its
maturity, the seed has 10 be importer
each year. Tho plant is q native ci
Brazil, and the seeds are imported In
water. for II they were kept dry during
the langth OF timo which would he re
quired for transportation tho seeds
would be worthless. In August the
Victoria Regia Ia In its full glory, and
1t is during this month that the ANA
teur photographer delights himself
by posing small child upon one oil
the immense leaves. BY tbis novel ex
erlmelt we are better able to Judge
OF tie size OF this glautess OF the lily
family.
AmonG tho other wonders of the bo-
ianical garden Ii large bed OF Gle
plant giass, which grows TO the
height OF 1S or 20 feet. As n rapid
growing plant this giass seams 10 bs
the first In It's class, but during the
wiiter season 1t dies dowu to the
roots. When in bluRsom. the LeG
looks like a small section OF the jun.
gle transplanted to American soil.
Tho trees in tie botanical garden
hrye been selected more with view
TO their adaptability to the soil and
climate and TO their worth as shade
trees lntber than to illustrate peculiar
Kinds or varieties Of trees. aId Alto.
gctber the general effect of the tree
planting has beeh very successful. i'll
that the lequi4ite amount Of ehade
has been secured he well us harmon.
Gus touch OF general establishment
OF tho garden.-ioeton Herald.
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