The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-10
WHITE HOUSE FLOWERS
The beginning and Growth of the
rrcsident's CnnserNntnrr

lIerry Pnsrsr. .a she New York Hsrald1
The history Of the present conservatory
OF the Executive Mansion dates from the
hrst winter of President Johuson's Admin
istratI0u- Those who were connected with
the conservatory before 1877. when [ f-s-
took charge OF IT, tell me that the winter
Of 1886 was q very cold one and that the
old conservatory was set afra through the
1EeTheating Of the pipes which supplied
1t with warm air. The building was en-
trsly consumed. and practically every
one OF the plants contained in it was de-
s-rOyed
During the year after the fire the main
portion OF the present conservatory was
built Once or twice since that time il has
been almost completely remOdeled. But
as the needs Of the Presidents for flowers
have Increased the general policy has been
10 build additional greenhouses rather
than 20 enlarge the present Conservatory
This has gone on until at present The
presidents conservatory, greenhouse. am
frames cover about an acre Of ground.
For many years the conservatory Of the
Executive Mansion was the finest i'm the
whole Of America. From year TO year and
from Administration 10 Administration
and as the country has grown greater and
richer it has been enlarged and improved
and Il is better stocked. equipped. and
supplied today than IL has ever been. Brt
the appropriations which have been avail
able for its further extension and improve
meRt have not been sufficiently large 10
enable il to keep its former position and
there are now number of conservatories
throughout the United States owned bv
private individuals which surpass the ono
owned by the nation.
As IS well known from exterior views ~
the Executive Mansion. the main coneer,--
atory is attached TO the west wing of tbe
building It is two stories in height III
lower story being used for the storing Of
tools. flower pots, gotting soils. for the
keeping Of cut flowers in refrigerators and
for the preservation during the wfnte-
months OF hardy plants and bulbs which
serve in milder weather TO adorI the
grounds.
Down here is room in which are kent
the wire and other designs which serve
when covered with flowers to decorate tho
rooms and tables at state dinners or on
extraordinary occasions. Here. too. is ~
skeleton Of the wedding bell which hung
in the Blue Room when Miss Emily PLAT
the niece OF President Hayes. was married
to Gen Russell Hastings. There are also
some Of the decorative designs which wers
used at the wedding OF President and Mrs
Cleveland. They did not. however. desire
a wedding bell, so the old wedding he'll
/ has hung on is ps- ever since the time
! when il was first us-l
The upper door, or the main conserva-
/ tory, is rooted, as is customary. with
/ glass. On branches running down either
/ side of the ais are collections of ferns
( small foliage pianis azaleas and other
l towering plants At this season of the
\ year the begonias. the hyacinths. and the
/ tulips are either Towering or coming into
/ bloom. 1t is attempted to have always
I blooming plants along these benches
/ These. as a rule. are now a little ahead OF
| the ordinary season. Shortly some Of the
| present flowers will be replaced by lilies
and 50 on in rotation. On the inside OF
[ the benches. and running entirely around
/ the inner bed, are the paths. In the ceutcr
} Of the conservatory is the main exhibit
/ Here are the palms-seventy or seventy
FIVE varieties in all-taking in all OF the
/ more beautiful as well as all of the better
known varieties, and embracing a few very
I rare ones.
The palms vary in age from eighteen
months on the one hand to over $50 years
on the other. The oldest plant in the con
servatOry is the true sage palm, or Cyca
I revoluta. one Of the three first specimens
/ Of this variety ever brought to this coun-
| try Il was imported somewhere about
! ITO, and was purchase in Baltimore fol