New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-24
2:25 PACE-PURSE 5000.
A MONSTER LOTUS BED.
FIFTEEN ACRES OF BLOOMS IN GRASS LAKE. ILL.
From The Chicago Post. 'A

FIFTEEN ACRES OF BLOOMS IN GRASS LAKE. I'LL.
From The Chicago Post. ..r r4 .
few more days of warm weather and the nam,
moth lotus bed in this akeone Of fne I Boom
and vii. be visited by hundreds of people from
Chicago and other cities; THIS year me as .ns
will be on a scale OF such magnificent proportions
that it will Guido that of all former seasons as tho
beds have been spreading until they are now pre-
than fifteen acres. ,,,. .o1
Although a recent visitor In this vicinity reported
the existence Of small bed or these historic Esyp
tan blooms southern Illinois, there IS auhentic
information of only one other large pea ~ md 'n ,s
supposed to have furnished the original plants OF
this bed, which is now the most extensive on tns
The frs, question asked by strangers who make
their initial s to ths then ens ADd the
fame OF this feature is rapidly becoming nauonaa
ne h genuine Egyptian lotus which has Inquired
so conspicuously in the poetry OF the land OF inc
Grass Lake is pear-shaped and is about three
miles in the widest part large Rropp rs
empted BY these remarkable flowers. which nave
ourshed in manner TO put 70 b shame Question es Of
time when the lake. save in its deepest parts
w be from ss saTdens Of the
In the Of blossom. which usually oesins
earlier this year the buds rise to height OF Tour
five feet, and the rnwary stpanger VINO oda
is almost certain TO become hopelessly lost SO
dense is the growth. ,, ,. 81.
lake and who dsregarded the warning OF residents
by venturHg to expGre the eeds ws no
that they could not make their way out AS q =
ps e Iyaer qr hF pods ad night
Each blossom is large small dlnnerpate
b sRss cos sr9 on Gn he from
millions OF blossoms s so strong that II can De de
tected at the mouth OF the enamel luIy d Hiiie a"u
The leaf light in color and has the %. ap-
spashed upon its surface instantly forms into tiny
round drops like quicksilver. Few leaves are less
than two feet in diameter and they float upon the
surface OF the water. Their shape Is circular ana
the richness Of their eooring gives the vas. ne na
adorned with the luxurant blossoms
The flower is yellow in shape, spherical ana mas
| have been shipped to Chicago florists or put upon
| the market II Is not improbable. however. that
VIII wn na Grass ns akes are e'
to the fact that this peculiar Hover would De
startling novelty in floral decorations ana displays plays
The seedpods. which develop from the base Of the
blossom after the latter has fallen away have been
the cause OF sending a chill OF fright TO the heart
OF many stranger who has pulled his boat into their
| midst during the fail duckshootng season. WITH
| a sight wind TO shake them. the dried pods. which
arc Similar in size and form a champagne glass,
| rattle their loose seeds and the result Is a weird
| may be heard a mile away. Those who have met
this experience declare that 1t Is ghos'ly ana UNI
shape OF hazelnut and the pods are Of greenish-
| yellow hue. ,
| lished Itself in its northern home is question which
affords full scope for speculation. as the memory OF
| the Oldest nhabitant does not run back 10 time
| when there not a lotus bed In Grass Lake, ana
tradition Is equally unable TO account for the pres
OF these floral wanderers. There are. or course
many theories by which the origin OF the great bed
the birds coming from the lotus swamps OF Florida
the honor Of transferring the first seeds to this lake.