The sun., 1908-06-07
MRS. SAGE'S GIFT TO THE PARK
yiLEOF RHODODENDRONS ALONG
THE EAST DRIVE.

ful without Cost TO the City-M0re Than
Mrs. Russell Sage recently gave to the
citv enough rhododendron plants to cover
a SPACE of a mile along the slope on the
west side of the East Drive in Central Park.
and for the last six weeks about a hundred
men have been busy setting them out.
What will be known as the Sage Plantation
when it is finished starts at Eighty-sixth
street and dividing the bride path and
the East Drive for almost the entire dis
lance, continues almost to 1O8th street.
Some Of the first plants that were set out.
the hybrids that have been planted nearest
TO the driveway. are already in bloom and
add a wealth OF color to the park, but the
other plants, the maximums. that are
being placed above the hybrids, will not
be in blossom for month or more. II indeed
they blossom al all this year.
Thousands of persons for the last month
have watched with interest the growth Of the
rhododendron plantation. but they did not
know the name of the donor Of the plants.
and beyond the fact that they were being
set out under the direction of Samuel Par
sons, the landscape architect of the Park
Department. there was no information to
be had.
Yesterday THE SUN learned that to Mrs.
Sage was due the credit for the great i'm
provement of that part Of the park be-
tween the reservoir and Fifth avenue, a sec
ton that except for the trees was beginning
to look bare The dense shade of the trees
overhanging the East Drive had prevented
The grass growing we'll and when Mrs. Sage
went 10 Park Commissioner Henry Smith
with her offer he decided at once that there
was no better way to get the needed plants
that she proposed to give. Mr.. Parsons
planned the plantation and the work began.
There is no telling just how many plants
will have been set out when the job has been
completed, but up to date it would take five
fg,lres.to give the number. OF the hybrid
plants alone there were more than six
thousand and every one of them came from
over the sea, each in separate package.
The hybrid rhododendron grows best in
Relgium and when Mrs. Sage, through her
agents, began to buy rhododendrons i'm
mense orders were placed in Belgium.
These plants began arriving about two
months ago and came in two shipments,
The maxmums, which are as fine in this
country as they are anywhere in the world,
are all being bought here, although several
sections of the United States have been
called on to supply the demand made by
Alrs. Sages donation to Central Park. Said
one of the experts yesterday as he was
. H. ,,t - ha txaa
Il have handled a great many rhododen-
drons in my day, but this is the finest lot
that ! have ever SEEM
Naturally this all means an outlay Of a
great deal of money just how much the
plants given by Mrs. Sage will have cost
her Commissioner Smith would not attempt
10 say last night.
Would it not cost in the neighborhood
of $4,000 to duplicate these plants that the
city has received in this gift?" Mr.. Smith
was asked.
j. Easily that much should say was the
Commissioners reply.
Asked how Mrs, Sage came to give the
rhododendrons to the city Mr.. Smith said:
Some weeks ago Mrs. Sage, who tax es
great pleasure and interest in Central Park
advised me that she had procured several
thousand fine specimens Of rhododendrons
which she desired to give to Central Park
II this department would accept them
She felt too that she did not care simply
TO donate the plants and put the city to
the expense Of locating them, but requested
that she be allowed to hand them to this
department in the ground, free from all
cost and expense to the city at any location
designated by me-
The slope on the west side OF the East
Drive in Central Park. which the depart
ment had been clearing Of dead wood. &C..
prior to receiving a treatment Of some i'm
provement afforded just the site for such
a magnificent display and was accordingly
designated; and Mrs. Sage has given to
the people OF New York what will be when
completed one Of the finest plantations
Of its kind in the world. and permanent
and lasting adornment to the landscape
effect OF that section of Central Park for
many years to come.
Mrs. Sage, in her quiet and unostepEa-
ious manner, had no desire for publicity
in connection with her gift and simply
desired the satisfaction OF knowing that
she had been instrumental in furnishing
some pleasure to the eye OF the New York
I'cple proInpted ny neT lEueilSo inIereSt
in the park and the pleasure she personally
lakes in this greatest park in the world.
Her action on this occasion Is in line with
her many other noble etforts Of which the
public never hears"
When the rhododendrons are in bloom
the best view of them will be had from
the walk east OF the East Drive and from
tho drive itself, though they can be seen
from the walk along the east bank Of the
reservoir and in many places from Fifth
avenue. Even when the plants are not in
bloom there will be wealth OF green, for
they will remain green all the year.
Tho Park Department has had some
trouble in protecting the young plants
ana already many OF them have been
stoen, One night more than twenty-five
we're stolen and one morning last week
nan was seen going down Fifth avenue
nfh seven large plants under his arm.
Ire ,5a:chnan Who saw him was unable
Z" rtch the theft but ran after him and
~ nan dropped the plants ...
ASIDE from thieves there are many
Fersons VINO injhre ihs plants BY walking
Ger them and in order TO prevent that
particular variety Of vandalism a border