The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-05-06
FLOWER BED.
Especial Correspondence

FLOWER BED.
ably none to the identifying of which
more money or more intelligent care has
been devoted. Though Superintendent
Parsons is obliged to give much atten.
ton to the many smaller parks, by far
the creator portion of his time is taken
up i'll the care of this magnificent area
OF sward and grove, of shaded walks
and pleasant drivcways Of picturesque
arbors and FURNISHED water sheets.
The Force Employed.
1t is almost impossible" he said to
me the other day, "to separate tho work
done i'll Central park entirely from that
performed i'll the other parks and
squares, but there arr employed for
what we term general maintenance pur-
poses in Central park-that is, making
and keeping it beautiful-about 200 la.
borcrs IA drivers, 30 gardeners, Is car.
pentors and 10 skilled workmen. These
are the average figures They change
from time to time, of course and this
year are little III cxccss of the usual
number, though but slightly. 4 million
dollars, 1t Will be remembered, were ap-
proprlated TO be expended in the parks
SO that work could be given to some of
the unemployed of this city This mil
lion has been used principally for new
works, tho general maintenance expenses
being about tho same as usual "
One Of the most important and diff
cult Of all the tasks that have fallen to
tho superintendent Of parks has been to
produce and maintain smooth, even.
velvoty turf That is ono Of the things
they Gun do much better In England
than here but it is not the fault of
American gardeners It is rather the
fault of tho American climate There
Is more moisture in the air In England
than here, and there are not nearly so
many sudden changes from very wet to
very dry. A prolonged sod killing
drought is almost entirely unknown
there, whereas itmay be looked for here
almost every year, there being very few
localities in the United States were a
smooth, green turf can be maintained
without artificial Watering. Central
park is one of Sthe hardest of tracts on
which to maintain good turf, for in nd.
dition to the searching dryncss which
Is felt there in summon as elsewhere In
this country the soil Is deficient in nat.
ural richness, and much of it is very
shallow, rock being fonnd at depth
OF from one to three feet under several
considerable areas of carefully tended
turf. Many experiments with many va.
riotiee of grasses have been patiently
made, and many more will he made un-
til the very best possible variety has
been discovered and the very best quail
ity of turf attainable produced. But no
matter how Intelligent the care OK how
hardy and admirable the Variety Of grass.
nothing will keep the turf in good or
der but plenty OF judicious artificial wa
tering during TRY seasons
Practical Botany.
This careful Watering has to be er-
tended, OF course, to the flowers of which
great quantities arc grown within tho
confines of Central park. In truth, 1t
may be said that Mr.. Parsons chief
concern during tho season Of flowers is
their arrangement and cultivation. AL,
though he has tho assistance of some Of
the most competent gardeners in the
country. ho has found it necessary him.
self thoroughly to master the science
of botany in a practical way. This does
not mean that he has devoted great
deal Of time and quantities Of gray mat
ter to the propagation Of hybrids and
other floral freaks and prodigies, for
that is Just the thing not to do in his
Ease. 1t is required Of him that for the
money placed at his disposal to be do
voted to flower raising the people shall
be furnished with the greatest possible
amount Of floral beauty.
| my experience has taught me, 4" he
said tho other day, that tho number of
elements in any pleasing prospect is sur
prisingly small, and have directed al
most all tho energies of the park gar
deners, in accordance with that truth
to the production Of, comparatively
speaking, very few varieties of stand.
ard flowers Those used most by US ear
~ in the season are tulips and pansies
and geraniums and daisies, Of which
we plant enormous quantities. We also
use in great profusion plants that are
valuable because Of the decorative quail
tiles of their foliage. A great deal of
care is expended also upon the design
| inc IF ODr 6n1unr ha6o op6 hordoro OVID