Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-07-11
CITY NURSERY
Is FARMLAND
VIEWED BY FEW
Lies Nestled in White River
Valley Hidden From
Highways.
POSSESSION IS VALUABLE
BY vOLNEY B. FOWLER.


A story Of how man built fairyland
and then went away and forgot it
almost. is woven into the history of the
nursery Of the city park department.
Nestled in the White River valley be-
! tween Thirtieth and Thirty Eighth
streets, west of the stream the nursery
lies, a beauty spot the like of which no
other city in the United States can offer,
because no other municipality has so
large a plant for the propagation Of trees,
shrubs and hardy flowers. Few people,
apparently, know of the existence OF
this magnificent place for the numbers
which come to enjoy it each week can
be counted in dozens, nursery officials
say.
For thirteen years the city has de-
veloped its tree plant from a little three
acre plot until today there are sixty
| acres, containing $4,000 trees, ranging
all the way from twigs to six inches in
diameter In size, under cultivation. There
also may be found 10000 shrubs, 250O0
perennials and between COCO and 1000
vines Seventy two acres of land in and
adjoining the nursery is planted in hay
and grain The city runs a farm off or
which it feeds the draft animals in the
park department.
NURSERY HIDDEN
FROM VIEW.
The existence of the nursery probably
is not generally known because most of
IT is so successfully hidden from the pub =,
lie view. One patch, containing 5000
evergreens, lies just north of the boule
ward which runs along the north end OF
the Riverside golf course. The splendor
of the thousands OF other trees, shrubs
and plants is lost upon those who do
not seek IL out because the big beds are
, located north OF Crooked Creek and are
screened by the large trees along the
stream bed, as well as by the plantation
of trees and shrubs in front Of the nur-
sery and park barns and storehouse stu
ated along the north side Of the boule.
ward.
Those who would enjoy the long vistas.
the cool lanes and the surprising little
grottos to be found in the big nursery
must seek out the little black road which
leaves the boulevard between park barn
and the nursery office building. Fol
lowing this route across a rustic bridge.
built by nursery hands over Crooked
Greek. eventually leads one to a full view
of part of the nursery. The road leads
on for half a mile or so until it finally
reaches the State fish hatchery. Dozens
Of inviting lanes. penetrating to delight
full hooks in the out-of the-way corners
Of the nursery. branch off Of the road.
STOCK ARRANGED
IN ORDERLY BEDS.
All Of the stock il arranged in orderly
beds. In some instances the beds have
been arranged with a view toward OBJ
taining a particular effect To form 4
/ suitable background for some OF the long
views the distant hills along the edge OF
the citys property. have been planted
with evergreens. A bit OF forest, as ma
tural as that through which the Indian
used to roam, has been obtained in the
ceater of the plant by permitting the ori-
/ ginal trees to remain aud planting a
/ thick underground. The effect Of this
underground is unusual for this section
/ of the country, a sprinkling Of pretty lit
tie white birches relieving the monOtony
/ Of green Of other trees and evergreens.
Twenty five families OF trees and
number Of varieties Of each are grown in
/ the nursery. For instance there are four
I kinds Of naples. seven kinds Of oaks, two
{ Of sycamOres, three walnuts, fifteen viii
I lows and seven ash. The linn, mulberries,
sweet gum, and tulip poplars are among
/ the unusual families represented.
/ CITY PROFITS BY
! GROWING TREES.
H H. Tall, city horticulturst. esti-
mates that the stock in the nursery today
/ is worth approximately S13500O. James
/ II. Lowry, superintendent OF parks, has
{ figured that the city has grown between
/ $4,000 and 100000 worth OF trees
shrubs and hardy flowers since the plant
I was started The stock is transplanted
/ in the city parks, Fairgrounds, along
4 bouleyards and around public buildings
A good start toward planting the pub
3 lie lawns sDaceE in all streets where the
I proposed city forestry department to be
established could be had out Of the
trees now sufficiently grown. To plant
the entire city, however. It probably
| would be necessary to enlarge the nur-
sery, Mr. Tall believes.
Fifty varieties are found In the shrub
beds and thirty families and 100 varieties
among the perennials. One loLg bed con-
tains 1000 peony bushes.
About 10000 evergreens are developing
at various stages The nursery grows
practically everything from seed so the
growth may be traced from the very be-
/ ginning. Experiments to get new va
rieties and those which thrive best in
indianapolis constantly are under way.
THIRTY ACRES
GROWS CROPS.
Thirty Of the seventy-two acres used
for the city farm are planted in corn,
twenty In hay and twenty-five in oats.
Practically all of the park stock will
be fed from this next winter.
1 John F. Brasier is in general charge
Of the nursery under Mr.. Tall. whose
duties :ake in the care Of natures grow
ing things on all park and public prop
erty. Andrew Miller is foreman of the