The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-23

at the foot OF the hin on which the mu.
depth Of six feet and converted into two lakes
by BY I'll oR S dTSew U Thess
streams takes Its rise in water lost from the
Williamsbridge reservoir i empties into the
| bog and is estimated capable OF keeping both
lakes filled. The other stream has its rise in
the Parkway about mile beyond the garden
sewer. 1t has even greater volume OF water
than is companion stream email pond is
9 1 s sSs to Of
drainage system. Altogether there will be a
water area Of some six acres. irrespective
About the museum twenty-five acres Of land
has been reserved for ornamental purposes.
acres S% in extent ext devoted to the Systematic col
lection OF herbaeeous plants II is a mesd2w
BY the he y G grove and on the west S By
fringe OF trees separating II from tho pine
tn Rock arrears on both sidsS OF the
land. Thus in this space natural provision Is
msns for panatc a5sh plants 9e tS6S
WHICH thrive best in the shadow q the wood
lands Aanaties have been added to those
plants and their near Kindred thrive along its
banks. Upward OF five thousand plants Of mony
species have been set out and labelled. They
s"GHen"e to The TEs level q the ferns Of which
large and varied collection thrivcs in the tree
rockery has been selected and stocked with
trailing plants and others which thrive best in
such locations and 5Oq feet OF treilis work; et,
dozens Of vines Of climbing habit
The pinetum west Of the herbaceous grounds
has already been stocked with many fine speci-
Believed p thsi ay i9o sp S "' Of eeoniers
border OF trees and shrubs which will eventu-
ally screen the grounds. from street sights and
to the %h IS
The museum building is rapidly approaching
and the upper floor is e1Pe th to
mainder of the building by January, II has a
frontage Of some gov feet depth of 20 feet
the style ofthc italian Renaissance. carrie out
IN white brick and terra Gotta Already time
has m the sn R o Tnn
The plans allow for the construction Of lateral
wings later when necessity Demands. The up
trail mass and thanking wings. the intermediate
portions showing steep roofs pierced with
dome rising slightly above the whole. which
stands on basement partly hidden by a ter
al tRe s ocr and Is
reached by a, terrace along the front of
the building. This terrace is sra raised at the
centre and reached by an inclined approach.
This arrangement places the museum halls
within one ght Of s,aTS b up another her fight
ment has entrances at the ground level The
western entrance nearest the Bedford Park
railroad station and trolley ears opens s on
and 300 accommodated il necessary, The hall
forms segment Of a circle, The seats rising ,
apex Every seat in the room will afford
view unbroken by columns. the ceiling being
has ak large exits direct to the open air and
may also be reached from the general base
ment. There are other halls in the basement.
perhaps. flower shows or the like but the
first is the most important to the general pub.
botany and kindred themes are to be given.
their number limited mainly by. their popu;
to Storage rooms nnitor apartmente Nc
The second and third floors have an area Of
about 10000 square feet each. and are foored
various colors Walls and columns are finished
in hard plaster Weed is almost entirely ban
are Of heavy oak Heat and power to run two
elevators, one for passengers and the other for
ea rSa n the base
ing, win be lighted by electricity. Thus all fire
floor will be largely devoted to the economic;
branch of botany. a subject which cannot fail
visitor, All exhibits win be carefully labelled
and cataloEped Many OF The exhibits III! such as
IN Of The eShbts
will be arranged according to, products. and. as
far as possible according to their relative use
the most difficult OF all branches to handle
owing 70 the nlnite variety Of useful plants
department have already been obtained and
are stored in various places awaiting the com
Elletion Of the building e. Many Many photographs
products to their ultimate condition Of useful
sources, many as donations from Institutions
individuals and firms Long before the exhibit
tory tory Of the main industries Of the World
A brief, lst Of the Departments into which
theSs exhibits are to- be divided vii give
visitor will be ,unconseousy; led to view them.
drug plants. fibre and timber plants plants
Welding essential oils. fixed oils, resins wakes.
an6 p@n %sa
those of miscellaneous economic application
and plants used by the American Indians;
further to illustrate the subject. and as far as
possible the process of manufacture will be
Otherwise. Many we'll known firms have made
large donat M Of crude and re- refined pr9hucts
sna rom Rico Wiz large
of specimens Illustrative Of the flora and
natural resources Of AMERICAS new posses
Rico in February and spent two months in the
country collecting specimens mainly of the
amples OF the rarsr flora Of the locality about
San Juan, Pence. A. Funds for the expedition
h sssdn S oor IS to :" th
botanical museum; the exhibits arranged svs-
tematlcally from the lowest types OF the vege-
table kingdom to plants the most complex.
Types of the natural families are to be illus
trated by specimens of the plants themselves
and by fruits. seeds. bark leaves roots. and
other organs. photographs. plates. and draw
ings. On entering the visitor is confronted by
his deadly enemy. the bacteria. and made
familiar with them by en- larged photographs
Of their microscopic selves. Arrows en-
blazOned at various points will direct him to
his next enemy. the moulds, which embitter
his cheese and spot his linen, creep over the
tagging of his damp courtyard and discourage
his fruit trees when planted too thickly or In
guiding arrowheads, his mind W III be relieved
and his eyes delighted by the almost endless
beautiful: the lichens the MOSES. and the
ever graceful ferns. the grasses. sedRes. and so
on to the infinite varieties Of herbaceous
plants. shrubs and trees. displayed with tho
utmost detail Of root and wood. bark. leaf.
flower and fruit
The physiological museum on this floor will
illustrate with equal completeness OF detail
and convenience OF ready reference the phe-
nomena Of plant life This collection will in
clude specimens. drawings. and models. In
this department may be studied the methods
OF cross fertilization BY which the almost end
less variety OF color. form, and quality has been
given by man to Hover and fruit. while each
wanton breeze and wandering insect has been
unconsciouSly aiding nature to perform the
same wonders. Here also NAV be learned the
wonderful provision nature makes for the dis
trihutiOn OF seeds and the DerDetuatiOn of