The Red Cloud chief., 1912-04-04

the lslhnu Anu surely nowhere can
earth present faircr scene. Far away on the
western horizon the dim outlines of the Ponza
islands are visible Ischa. floating In the golden
haze of the dying day seems linked by Procida
and Nisida to the mainland and the eye travels
slowly eastward over Posilippo and Naples to
where Vcsuvius. brOoding and silent since the
great catastrophe of Ave years ago. Keeps watch
over the city it has often threatened with de.
struction still further east the distant peaks OF
tho great Arennine Range appear almost to fringe
the sunlit waters of the Bay of Sorrento, whose
cliffs dotted with pink and white walled houses.
dominated by the rugged mass OF SAINT
Angelo and the hills which guard Ravello and
Salernos gulf.
Well nigh two thousand years have come and
gone since Augustus Caesar, wearied by the
splendors Of imperial Rome first gazed on the
matchless beauty of this scene; small wonder
that the magic spell which Capri throughout the
ages has cast upon the stranger within her gates
should lose none of its potency till mems hearts
shall cease to care for beauty Since my garden
FIRST came into being, have often analyzed how
impcrious is this love Of beauty, for, from Il
purely gardening point of view no one would
select spot exposed to all the winds of heaven
md bcreft of water on springlcss island And
yet Nature supplies the compensation in having
provided such background to the picture that
she must continue to dominate 1t, making amends
for the inevitable failures which the gardener
IL forever encoun,cring And II the growing"
period is short In this sun.baked land yet again
II IL prodigious in result while 1t lasts Gardening
In Italy teaches one Of many lessons: namely. to
avoid the temptation arising from the desire for
quick efect-that OF planting trees and shrubs
TOO large in size the smaller ones establish
themselves and go ahead in half the time making
rompact and sturdy growth, and also avoiding
the necessity for unsightly stalking. Six years
ago the hill Of San Michele little more than
barren rock. clothed I'm parts with vineyards and
olives. Approaching Capri from Naples It Is cas-
lily discernible as 1t rises midway between the
iprecipitous cliffs at the eastern end and Monte
Solaro the highest summit of the island; this
exposure to all points Of tho compass Is being
utilized to advantage as the difference between
the north and south aspect amounts to fully
fortnight In the Towering season.
The modest little house-originaly the Coonos
lies mt the base of the hill on the southern side
The vineyard which surrounded It has been
cleared and terrace and parterre substituted:
here In the spring months Darwin and Cottage
tulips naunt their painted faces In the sunshine;
freesia. narcss ixias and sparaxis (for Capri Is
a bulbsoil par excellence); roses are rapidly Gov
srng tho columns and wreathing the olive trees
all grated on the Ianksan rose that boon to the
gardener In the south. Beyond the parterre, In
the lower garden, long tank. hanked by
Expresses on either side holds the beautiful Mel
nmbium-the Lotus Of Old Nile-specosum ro
scum. rubrum, Shiroman and Osiris-a feast for
the eye denied to the gardens OF the north
VIII you come with me on n pilgrimage up the
hill through the old lemon garden where the
trees, once periShing from neglect, but well
screened from their cruel enemy, the south wind
Rre bearing thousands Of yellow fruit. and the air
ls laden with the scent of blossom? AS we as.
cend, each successive terrace holds it's quota OF
bulbs and iris. under the silvery sheen OF the
olive trees. until reach at length the rose
garden, and here 1t is we'll to rest while The
Southern Sea stretches below us, with the pic.
turesQue ruin OF Castiglione In the middle dis
tance. Against background of tall bamboos at
our feet bloom the roses for which Capri (as
Paestum was Of old Is famed. What would have
been the feelings Of Virgil could he have looked
on the goodly array to which rosarians are now
accustOmed-Mme. A. Chatenay, the Lyon rose
Richmond Betty. Marluise de Ganay Nine I.eor
Pain. In addition to all the older favorites such
as Anna olivier. Nine. Ravary. Caroline Testout
to say nothing OF pillars wreathing themselve,
with Sinca Anemone Tausendschon, Ideal anc
the Mchuraianas! From the rose garden tn,
circling OF the hill commences: a broad path
planted on either side with Towering shrubs
wigelas lilac, syrnga, deutzias. pomegranate
and guelder roses--leads to the vine-cad per
gola and as We leave II, at the farther end tn,
Incompatible Bay of Naples greets the eye Al
available ground on the hillside Is being utilize,
for shrubs and plants. with wind breaks OF Gu
pressus macrocarpa and Pinus halepenss. whicl
grow at a surprising rate In this sandy soil. Her
are to be found the towering crabs. thorns an,
almonds, while japanese naples and Rosa ru
gosa give feast of color In the foreground, In
terspersed with tenderer shrubs. such as Fabian