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


| point to avoid as far as possible all stiff.
ness and conventionality. That is why
i'll laying out circular bed we do not
adopt ooncentric circles Of various hued
| flowers, but rather arrange the bolts of
blooms eccentrically, and Mr.. Parsons
sketched i'll my notebook figure OF two
which have reproduced hcro to illus
trate what he meant The first figure
shows his idea of tho treatment of cir
cular bed planted with tulips, and the
second one tho arrangement of flowers
in II segment Of tho big circle around
the Union square fountain, not located
In Central park, to DO sure, but which re-
ceivcs good deal of his attention and
in the season is one of the most beauti-
full floral displays known. 1t will he
seen that, though the designs are made
according to we'll conceived plans, they
do not in any degree possess the alb.
horrcd qualities of stiffness and formal.
ity.
Water Plants,
Much attention is also given to the
maintenance of ponds and lakes and wa
ter plants. All of the latter that are OK
tensivcly cultivated in Central park are
either lilies or lotuscs, lotuses largely
predominating. 1t was interesting to
mo to know that while some American
varieties of the lotus are cultivated sue.
cessfully and effectively here the true
oriental lotus is found to be best fitted
for the conditions that obtain In the
fountains and lakes of the park system
OF New York. 1t was for long time
supposed that this plant was of so ten
der nature as to make 1t necessary to
house it during the cold months in this
latitude.
One winter, however, large number
of the eastern lotus plants growing in u
small pond We're forgotten The next
year, greatly to tho surprise of every
ono, they grow with greater Insurance
than ever. Every year since they have
increased i'll strength and number, and
1t is more than likely that within two
or three years they will completely
choke the little lake at the bottom of
which they are rooted. 1t may not be
generally known that, although this va
riety of the lotus is undoubtedly iden
tical with the plant held in such great
esteem by the ancient Egyptians, it is
now rnrely seen i'll the land of the lower
Nile 1t flourishes best in India and
Japan
The arbUrs Of Central park have al
ways been an important and pleasing
feature of the place The wistaria lends
itself admirably to the decoration of ar
bors and Mr.. Parsons believes that the
purple lowered vine will this wear he
seen to better advantage than ever be.
fore He also expects unusual effect this
year i'll wild flowers which, scattered
here and there upon the brilliant green
of the we'll kept turf, so delight the eyes
OF visitors whether New Workers or
from out OF town 1t is not suspected
probably Try n 1.-THE of those whose
sense of beauty and the fitness of things
is ministcred to by the presence of
these modest blooms that they were not
planted by the hand of nature. but arc
the result of Mr.. Parsons taste and pa
tlent labor He has made specially of
larkspurs and tho hardy, old fashioned
plants that our grandmothers loved so
well and called everlastings. These
thrive in stony soils, and Mr.. Parsons
has caused n certain ridge Of rock near
OHS - tdlu stI6cC 10 al
most covered with them, the effect be-
ing very charming indeed The mag
nificent pathway that is so popular a
place of resort in the center of the park
and is known as the Mall will also be
more beautiful than ever the coming
summer. There will be more fountains.
every piece Of ironwork and woodwork
is being freshly painted, and there will
be greater profusion of roses i'll the
vases that line its spacious vistas than
ever befCr.
Ornamental Shrubs.
The selection and cultivation of orna.
mental trees and shrubs are an important
factor III the making and preservation Of
the beauty of Central park, and Mr.. Par
sons has taken great pains TO place here
and thoresuch growthsas bear ornamen.
tai fruit like the mountain ash, divers
varieties OF tho sncwdrop, eto, and the
brilliant bobbod sumac II is matter
OF keen regret to him that the mountain
[oI.T'M>