The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-16
OUR BOTANICAL R D
PLANNED TO BE THE FINEST OF
THE KIND ANYWHERE.

Details of the Report OF the Plans Cen.
mission Adopted by the Board OF ManaE.
ers-The Buildings. the Drives. the Taths,
the Woods, the Lakes. and the Waterfall.
The new botanical garden, like the new zoo-
logical garden which was described in The
Sun tho other day, is planned to be the finest
garden of It's kind in the world. TIT report of
the Plans Commission TO the Board OF Mana
gers was made Nov. 80. but information about
1t was refused until yesterday, when Prof. N.
L. Britton Of Columbia University. the Score
tary of the Board, made 1t public, together with
a statement that the Board OF Managers met Oh
Monday afternoon and accepted the general
plan, subject to changes and alterations as may
be necessary In the future. Andrew Carnegie.
the vice-P President of the Board, presided at the
meeting. The garden will cover about 800 acres
of land at the northern end of Bronx Park. The
plan divides tho land up as follows:
For the buildings. with their decorative APP
proaches and surroundings, about 90 acres.
For the pines and other coniferous trees, say
90 to 100 species, 80 acres.
For the deciduous trees, about 27b species,
For natural forest. mostly undisturbed, in
Guiding the hemlock grove, % acres.
For shrubs and the small trees, 10 acres.
For herbaceous grounds for plants arranged
scientifically, 8 acres.
Lakes and ponds, exclusive Of the Bronx
Meadows at the northerly end. reserved. 10
Various provisions for auuatics, vines. rock
cries, &C., taking up the rest of the land.
The plans are presented under twonty-eight
heads, tho frst giving the means of access to
the garden; the second the entrances. tho main
ones of which will DO ut the Bedford Park sta
tlon Of tho New York and Harlem road and the
Mosholu Parkway. Twelve other entrances are
planned. The third head deals with the borders.
and plans . rough stone wall around all but the
southern side, which adjoins the rest of the
system Of which was planned by the late Cal
vert Vaux, the landscape architect, The laying
Mr. vauI did before his death. A system Of
paths is taken up next. and then the buildings
First there 10 to DO o museum building with q
frontage OF 3o4 feet and two lateral wings each
goo feet long and 80 feet deep; This Il TO DO q
Next there is to be q horticultural, house 900
feet from the museum building. 1t Is to be one:
e aard. sne 81 si1 Rs ST .h snSe lHss n0G Be.w az 'n the NG %al
scum and the horticultural house there will be-
a heat and power house. The other buildings
propseaune houses, q stable, three rain shelters.
larger than the frst to be built on land south Of
the Southern Boulevard,
cupy Is wooded. and in arranging the paths and
drfveways all the healthy trees that could pos
sibly be saved have been and only the poor ones
southwestern part OF the grounds be devoted to
the cultivation OF contferous trees, the soil and
sn9oi Ioo se,mf aem'r ars 10 op be p SeIwsdn to n stand
not less than 100 feet apart. 1t 10 recommended
that the part Of the track east Of the Bronx DO
with the exception of an area toward tho south
ern end reserved for forest, q narrow fringe
part OF the tract reserved for open meadows.
Tho remaining part OF this serentY-acre tract Is
TO be devoted TO deciduous trees.
Thu lnfAat wat nf the RrNn n River hnFnarAd
New York and Harlem Railroad, is to be do.
species. These are to be arranged in families
that will make them easy to study, and the
fsmilies will be arranged with an eye to tho
East OF the frst horticultural house will be .
section devoted to vines.
yard. in the southern end of the garden. and
bordered on the east by tho forest, will be a sys-
rockway is planned for the cultivation Of rock
trees shrubs, and herbs which I've best II bGss;
the report recommends that the bog. near
the spot where the museum Is to be- DO
are to have an area Of about six acres.
and are 70 DO supplied b. two streams
o o1s FROM t%na ehe INVERTEBRATES shfGGns tRS n rssspvoi Pa and ths
other from tho Mosholu Parkway which ono
now runs into the Webster avenue sewer. The
lowering of the Bronx River two feet is called
for from the Lorillard mansion TO the north OF
the park. This 10 to be accomplished by tho
lowering OF the old dam erected by the Loril-
lards when the land was private property. In
place OF the straight dam there Is to be an ir-
regular stone pile. which will break up the fall
into a foaming cascade.
There 10 to be q collection of plants selected on
account of their useful products. There will
also be permanent nurseries for the cultivation
of plants that are not readily obtainable from
commercial nurseries. The committee says:
ut is most gratifying and Il matter of con-
graduation to observe that almost every part of
these diversified grounds can be. and has been.
awaited OF and appropriated To tho most apt and
beautiful uses. and that this is done not only
without sacrificing any OF their unique natural
charms. but with great additions to their natu-
raj beauty
The Board Of Managers says officially:
The general plan, together with detailed
plans for the several buildings, will be officially
submitted to the Commissioners OF Public
Parks as soon as certain drawings, not yet
wholly completed, can be made ready and shall
Managers of the Garden. Tho work OF planning
is now 30 far advanced that 1t Is believed that
all drawings may be finished shortly after the
beginning of the new YEAR,