USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Chicago, the Garden city. Its magnificent parks, boulevards and cemeteries. Together with other descriptive views and sketches > Part 15
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The greatest interest is awakened by the superb collection of orchids that are partly suspended from the glass roofs of the greenhouses, partly found in pots along the tiers below.
The arrangement of the plants is pretty much after the natural system and each has a label with its correct botanical name. The terrestrial orchids are mostly placed in flower pots, filled with appropriate soil and these are in some cases put upon other empty pots to secure the drainage, while the epi- phytes or air-plants are all supported in the air in a manner diversified and curious.
Several of the superb tribe cattleya, named after an ardent admirer and cultivator of orchideous plants, were in full bloom during the author's visit, many of them emitting a fragrance which, added to their pre-eminent loveli- ness, makes them orchids of great esteem. One brilliant flower perfumed an area of many feet around it with a scent like verbena. The mimic powers are
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not confined to form, but extend also to the odor of other vegetable produc- tions. For instance there is a dusky tiger-spotted plant whose flower exhales a delicious smell like that of raspberries; another sad-colored fiower of very graceful drooping inflorescence possesses a scent precisely like that of the scented geranium.
Then there is the Pitcher-Plant, a native of Ceylon and a wonderful vagary of nature. The stem is erect and of a brownish color and the leaves are long and spear-shaped; the end of the central rib being lengthened out and sustain- ing the pitcher by being attached to the bottom of it. Were the pitcher cut off and exhibited to any person unacquainted with the existence of such a veg- etable structure, when he examined its rougher, leathery, spotted exterior, its firm and rounded lip, so artificially marked in green and red, and its accurately- adapted lid, he would most probably unhesitatingly pronounce it to be an ar- tificial production. A little sourish water, supposed to be secreted by the inner surface of the organ, is occasionally found in the pitcher. There are several varieties of this plant, the most popular of which seems the Nepenthes distillatoria.
Baskets containing the magnificent class of orchids called Stanhopea also hang from the roof of said houses. Their peculiarity consists in the produc- tion of their flowers from the roots, which are of a large size, and beautiful texture and coloring.
Among the extra-tropical orchids we find here the Oncidium tribe; the flowers of some of these species exhale a most sweet fragrance. Then there is a plant called the Cypripedium, which represents a large brown spider on its flower. It is an American species and the spider whose form it portrays is said by Linnaeus "to be capable of destroying insects and even small hun- ming-birds."
And now a word or two in a by-the-way manner upon the peculiarities of orchideous plants. Artificially they are divisible into two classes-the terres- trial, which grow in or upon the soil; and the epiphytal, which grow upon the trunks or branches of trees, rocks and stones. The latter are the most curious from the fact that they derive their nourishment not from the soil, or as para- sitical plants do from the sap of the trees on which they are found, but from the air. They have been called from this peculiarity "air plants" and present us with a phenomenon which was inexplicable until the researches of Liebig proved that plants, even growing in the soil, derive the principal portion of their solid constituent, wood, from the atmosphere. They extend long whitish roots abroad into the air as other plants do into the earth, by which they derive their necessary food. It is an appearance well calculated to surprise the mind, to see great masses of vegetation, as are some of the plants before us, feeding and Inxuriating in the atmosphere, the carbonic acid gas of which is their chief support.
The general appearance and structure of orchids is a perfect anomaly. In their native countries they are to be found crawling over the trunks and branches of forest trees, climbing to their topmost boughs and squatting just where the limbs are united to the parent trunk, where they drop down clusters of flowers, of which one is puzzled to say which is the most striking-their beauty, grotesque appearance, or exquisite fragrance. The flowers are and have long been the puzzle and admiration of every botanist.
Not the least of the peculiarities of orchids lies in their disposition to mimic many natural objects; there is scarcely any animate being to which the flowers are not comparable. With the most artistic skill, to speak playfully, of the most ludicrous character, they imitate insects, lizards, frogs, birds, ani- mals and even the human "face and form divine." From the roof of the green- houses they depend in rows; many of these plants are in bloom successively at every period of the year.
And now let us take a look at some of the more conspicuous ornamental plants found in this collection. Following Mr. Uihlein, who kindly consented to act as our guide and expounder, our attention is particularly directed to the following species:
Egandale .- The "Flower Basket."
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Areca, a genus of elegant pinnate-leaved Palms; Aralia, one of the most ornamental genus, is well adapted either for the conservatory or the open air in summer; Alocasia, plants of great beauty with large sagittate leaves and rich coloring; Begonias, which are not only remarkable for their free-flower- ing qualities but also for the exquisite variegation of their foliage; Chamaedorea, a genus of Palms with rich shining green and elegant pinnate leaves; Cocos, graceful and shade-loving plants of a noble order, of which one species yields the well known fruit-the cocoa-nut; Carludovica, Palm-like plants, which are often grown as Palms, but belong to the Cyclanth division of the Pandan- ads; Corypha, a genus which contains but few species, but some of them pro- duce very large fan-leaves. They are plants of extremely slow growth and are characterized by tall, stout, cylindrical trunks; Crotons, are almost indis- pensable for the decoration of greenhouses or public exhibition, as their habit and color produce an effect, which is not produced by any other plant; Cycas, very handsome plants, are closely related to the Conifers and Ferns and are exceedingly useful for greenhouse decoration; Diffenbachia, a very handsome plant; some species have yellowish green leaves from twelve to fifteen inches in length, irregularly blotched with dark green and profusely spotted with white: Dracaenas, plants that are amongst the most useful and beautiful of fine-foliaged plants of graceful habit, with beautifully colored leaves; Kentia, a genus of handsome, robust, greenhouse Palms; Latania, another handsome family of Palms with large fan-like leaves; Maranta, a plant-family that have their foliage more or less variegated, some of them in the most beautiful man- ner; few plants can equal them as objects of delight in a greenhouse collection; Pandanus or Screw Pines, plants that show a very peculiar spiral arrange- ment of their leaves and which in a state of nature grow twenty and thirty feet high; Phoenix, a genus of Palms and a very interesting and ornamental plant; the flower spikes are produced from amongst the leaves and not below them, male and female flowers being produced on separate plants; Ptychos- perma, another exceedingly handsome genus of Palms, which in their natural state grow from ten to eighty feet in height; Seaforthia, a most graceful species of the Palm family and eminently well adapted for greenhouse decora- tion; Tillandsia, a genus of Bromeliaceous plants, containing many species re- markable for the beauty of their flowers; Anthurium, a plant highly valuable as a foliage plant with large leaves of a bold and striking character and with flowers of a brilliant shining scarlet color; Billbergia, a noble, and erect-grow- ing species, and a very showy plant; Vriesia, an exceedingly handsome spec- ies of dwarf habit of growth; Azalea, a superb genus of highly ornamental plants, has become a great favorite and is much in favor as a decorative plant for indoor use; Camellia, a magnificent genus of evergreen shrubby plant with beautiful rose-like but odorless flowers; Erica, a very attractive green- house plant, that is much admired; Rhododendron, a well known and deserv- edly popular genus of many species. Besides those named there are numerous other families of plants, as for instance: Carissa, Cycas, Euterpe, Aspidistra, many beautiful Ferns, Selaginella, Peristeria, Acrides, Saccolabium, Vanda, Angraecum, etc., all forming a most enjoyable group for the admiring eye of the flower-loving laymen as well as for the botanist.
J. C. VAUGHAN'S GREEN HOUSES.
Among the prominent and successful commercial gardeners of this city Mr. J. C. Vaughan stands in the front rank. His success may be attributed mainly to the firm stand he has taken, not to offer anything.to his customers that is not meritorious or which is merely a fictitious and over-estimated cur- iosity under the name of "Novelty.'
The greenhouses of Mr. Vaughan are situated at Western Springs, a beau- tiful suburb of Chicago, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. They contain over 35,000 feet of glass and hot beds and cold frames in proportion. The frost-proof storage house for dormant Roses, Clematis, Dahlias and small fruits forms a valuable feature for the careful handling of such plants. Over this storage cellar are the Gladiolus and Tuberose bins and racks and the gen-
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eral packing room for mail and express orders. The greenhouses, sixteen in all, are devoted to the various plants as follows: Two large palm houses, one being 24 x 120 feet and 13 feet high, containing many magnificent plants, which will be grown for the World's Fair; one large house 18 x 150 feet, devoted to the new French Canna's, among them some beautiful new, unnamed seedlings; another house to Chrysanthemums, new and old, over 100 unnamed seedlings being grown for a thorough test before sending out; also five houses used exclusively for Roses, two of them 18 x 120 feet; two houses for bedding plants; a house for seed-testing; one for bulbs and tuberous rooted plants; two houses for propagating-
The Chrysanthemums put on exhibition at the Flower-shows in Chicago and other western cities were very creditable to the green-house department of Mr. Vaughan's extensive business (he received eleven first premiums and two second prizes out of 13 entries at the second-last Chicago Flower-show), and they proved a delight to many of Mr. Vaughan's patrons, of which quite a number were fortunate enough to witness the far better display made at the greenhouses themselves. The central latitude provides a climate and seasons for varieties of plants suitable to the great agricultural belt of the Northern States, avoiding the small and inferior vegetables, flowers and grains from the extreme North, as well as the late, large-growing and non-maturing varieties of the Southi ..
The main store at Nos. 146-148 West Washington Street in this city, occu- pies three floors, each 40x185 feet, and two cellars, the latter for potatoes. These storage, packing and shipping floors, with the facilities at Western Springs for storing duplicate stocks of bulbs, dormant Roses, Clematis, etc, are unexcelled for that purpose. The city store is in the center of the retail business of Chicago, at No. 88 State Street and will be found most convenient to all who make their purchases in person. At both stores can also be found garden and farm tools and supplies in endless variety.
It may be mentioned in addition to the above, that Mr. Vaughan intends to keep open nouse during this year. He is having printed a programme of the Horticultural Department of the World's Fair, its plan, its rules, its special features and seasonable shows in all departments. Part of this will appear in liis regular 1893 catalogue, additional in bulletins as needed. All regular cos- tumers and all new ones of this year will receive free the book for 1893 and also the bulletins issued concerning the Fair.
For the convenience of Eastern costumers, Mr. Vaughan has opened a store at No 12 Barclay Street, New York City, from where all seeds, bulbs, tools and supplies offered in the catalogues can be secured.
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Besides the conservatories and green houses described in the foregoing there are in this city & number of other handsome private collections of plants, among which the collections of orchids in the conservatories of Wm. H. Chad- wick, Potter Palmer, Dr. Clarke, G. Wittbold and others deserve special mention. And after our stroll through these conservatories we have not seen half of their contents; but after all how minute a portion do all of them, the horticultural and floricultural show at the World's Fair and the richly stocked palm-houses of our great parks included, constitute of that exhaustless treas- ure which enriches our globe! We had it undoubtedly strongly impressed upon our mind during the time that we held converse not with inanimate, insensate creatures, but with beings which delighted in the tender care that fed and fostered them, and exhibited their gratitude in language unintelligible only to those who have no heart to open, and no cars to give to such things.
AUCHAN S
GREENHOUSES "TOMF ** STATT AT
J. C. Vaughan's Greenhouses at Western Springs.
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THE QUEEN OF AQUATICS.
The public visiting Lincoln and Washington Parks owe a debt of gratitude to the men standing at the head of floriculture in these parks for having in- troduced to lovers of the beautiful in nature the queenly water-lily Victoria Regia, perhaps the most extraordinary of all floral productions. Lincoln Park was the first in this city to successfully rear this lily of the Amazon from seeds and Washington Park was not long in imitating the praiseworthy example set by its lovely sister on the North Side. In both parks the lily-ponds now form one of the chief attractions and there the great Victoria Regia reigns supreme over her numerous family relations of various complexions-all of them beautiful, however.
Although discovered by Professor Haenke, a German botanist of great re- pute, as early as 1801, it was not until 1837 that any historical sketch and des- cription of the wonderful lily appeared. It was then again discovered, this time by Sir Robert Schomburgh, who transmitted the original drawings and a description to the London Botanical Society.
Mr, Schomburgh says: "It was on the 1st of January, 1837, while con- tending with the difficulties that nature interposed in different forms to stem our progress up the river Berbice (lat, 4°, 30' N., long. 52º W.), that we ar- rived at a part where the river expanded and formed a currentless basin. Some object on the southern extremity of this basin attracted my attention, and I was unable to form an idea of what it could be; but, animating the crew to increase the rate of their paddling, we soon came opposite the object which had raised my curiosity, and, behold, a vegetable wonder! All calamities were forgotten: I was a botanist, and felt myself rewarded! There were gigantic leaves, five to six feet across, flat; with a broad rim; lighter green above, and vivid crimson below, floating upon the water; while. in character with the wonderful foliage, I saw luxuriant flowers, each consisting of numerous petals, passing, in alternate tints, from pure white to rose and pink. The smooth water was covered with the blossoms, and as I rowed from one to the other, I always found something new to admire. The flower-stalk is an inch thick near the calyx, and studded with elastic prickles about three-quarters of an inch long. When expanded, the four-leaved calyx measures a foot in diameter, but is concealed by the expansion of the hundred-petalled corolla. This beauti- ful flower, when it first unfolds, is white, with a pink centre; the color spreads as the bloom increases in age, and, at a day old, the whole is rose-colored. As if to add to the charm of this noble water-lily, it diffuses a sweet scent. As in the case of others in the same tribe, the petals aud stamens pass gradually . into each other, and many petaloid leaves may be observed bearing vestiges of an another. The seeds are numerous and imbedded in a spongy substance. Ascending the river we found this plant frequently; and the higher we ad- vanced, the more gigantic did the specimens become; one leaf we measured was 6 feet 5 inches in diameter, the rim 5} inches high and the flowers 1} fect across."
When the great American water-lily became known in Europe, a strong desire to obtain its introduction to that country in a living state soon evinced itself. After a series of futile attempts, the queen of all the lilies was success- fully introduced into the Exotic Aquarium at Kew in England. A number of healthy plants being raised, one of them was sent to the gardens at Chats- worth, the seat of the Duke of Devonshire; and on the 1st of November, 1849, a flower appeared, indicating a condition of advancement beyond what had been attained by any of the other plants at Kew or elsewhere.
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Professor Lindley thus described the splendid blossom: The flower itself, when it first opens, resembles the white water-lily, of a dazzling white. with its fine leathery petals, forming a goblet of the most elegant proportions; but as the day advances it gradually expands till it becomes nearly flat; towards evening a faint blush becomes visible in the centre, the petals fall back more and more, and at last, about six o'clock, a sudden change occurs; in a few minutes the petals arrange themselves in the form of a snow-white hemisphere, whose edge reposes on the water, and the centre rises majestically at the sum- mit, producing a diadem of rosy points. It then constitutes one of the most elegant objects in nature. Shortly after, the expansion of the central parts proceeding, these points fall back, the stamens unfold in an interior coronet, the stigmas are laid bare, a grateful perfume arises in the air, and the great object of the flower-the fertilization of the seed-is accomplished. Then fold inwards the petals, the flower closes, the fairest of vegetable textures be- comes wrinkled, decay begins, and the flower-stalk withdraws itself beneath the water, as if to veil the progress of corruption. But out of this decay arises a new living body; the fruit, curved downward, swells rapidly and in a short time a prickly seed-vessel is observed concealed beneath the floating leaves."
The above descriptions of this wonderful plant will, we think, greatly as- sist those, who come to admire the Victoria Regia in our parks and are unac- quainted with the habits, history and inner life of this vegetable wonder, to get a pretty accurate conception of this interesting object. In addition to all this it may be mentioned that the large, salvor-shaped leaves of circular form are capable of supporting the weight of a child from 10 to 12 years of age standing on a board laid across so as to obtain an even balance.
There is no doubt that the head gardeners of both the parks mentioned will make a special effort during the present World's Fair-year to have the Victoria Regia on exhibition in its most perfect and interesting form, so as to be an object of genuine delight to the eye of the multitudes that will throng around the lily-ponds.
The Rockery in Egandale,
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FLORICULTURE AT THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION.
With the steady march of progress and notably by the aid of the Society of American Florists, and 965 state and local societies and Florists' clubs during the past six years, by the aid of the press, by the aid of exhibitions and by the education which has naturally been obtained from the sources mentioned, the advance of floriculture is one of the wonders of the time.
From a commercial standpoint, the U. S. Census report of commercial floriculture in a digest, is as follows: "In the United States there were 4,659 floral establishments in the census year, 312 of which were owned and conducted by women. The total feet of glass in use in all the establishments was 38,823,247, and the establishments, including fixtures and heating appa- ratus, were valued at $28,355,722.43. The value of tools and implements used was $1,587,693.93. There were employed 16,847 men and 1,958 women, the combined annual wages amounting to $8,483,657. Fuel cost was $1,160,152.66. Three million, two hundred and forty-five thousand six hundred wholesale, and 17,630 094 retail catalogues are. annually issued, while $767,438.21 was paid for postage. $1,161,168.31 for advertising, $354,221.56 for freight, and $554,390.55 for express bills.
The total products were 49,056 253 roses, 38,380,872 hardy plants and shrubs, and 152,835,292 of all other plants, the value of which was $12,036,- 477.76, and cut flowers to the amount of $14,175,328.01 were reported as sold. Mr. John Thorpe, chief of the department of floriculture at the World's Fair, has this to say in reference to the floriculture to be exhibited at the Exposition: 'The costliest ideas and the very highest aims are com- patible only with the advancement of the profession. Small exhibits can not be expected to be effective. Groups of plants of all kinds will not be shown simply by the hundreds, but in thousands and tens of thousands.
The general massing of the plants will be on such a scale as to astonish even those who are acquainted with what has been accomplished. As a matter of fact, and one that is conceded by those best able to judge, the parks of Chicago have this moment the finest displays of floriculture adorn- ments of all the cities in the world. The brilliant and effective coloring to be seen in the designs at Washington Park and the superior water lily display at Lincoln Park, together with the fine displays at the other parks, have gladdened the hearts and called forth the admiration of hun- dreds of thousands, remembering what Chicago has, and is now doing for floriculture in her parks.
The floricultural department of the World's Fair must outstrip all pre- vious attempts in all and every one of its branches, even to surpassing the magnificent work here mentioned. This can only be obtained by a determi- nation to eclipse all previous efforts. Not one moment must be given to looking backward. There is no time to look backward. In that mag- nificent building, Horticultural Hall, will be found space enough to make displays of nearly all exhibits requiring protection. The building is 1,000 feet long with an extreme width of 286 feet. The plan is a central pavilion with two end pavilions each connected to the center pavilion by front and rear curtains, forming two interior courts, each 88 by 270 feet. These courts are beautifully decorated in color and planted with orna- mental shrubs and flowers. The center pavilion is roofed by a crystal dome 137 feet in diameter and 113 feet high, under which will be exhibited the 8
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tallest palms, bamboos and tree ferns that can be procured, There is a gallery in each of the pavilions. The galleries of the end-pavilions are de- signed for cafes, the situation and the surroundings being particularly well adapted to recreation and refreshment. The cafes are surrounded by au arcade on three sides, from which charming views of the ground can be obtained. Of various tropical plants there will be large groups of orchids, palms, ferns, and in fact nearly every known decorative species and variety.
Outdoor floriculture will be on such a scale of magnificence as to eclipse all previous efforts, beginning with the showy tulips and hyacinths. ending with chrysanthemums and cosmos. Floriculture must be representative in every sense of the word. However much the cut flowers of roses, carnations. and chrysanthemums are admired and though large numbers of them are produced, they but very imperfectly represent floriculture. Plants of all kinds must be grown and cared for. We should not only have a large variety of plants and flowers for the decoration of dwellings and the adoru- ment of greenhouses, but every plant suitable for the decoration of lawns and gardens. For example, all bulbous plants, all herbaceous plants, and the many beautiful annuals and bienniels, such as are cheaply obtained and easily grown, must have all the encouragement possible at the World's Columbian Exposition. Let us do everything on a scale equal to the mag- nitude of the undertaking.
I predict that the World's Columbian Exposition will advance floricul- ture 25 years, and that in ten years from now, I venture to say, that Chicago will come pretty near being the head center of the business."
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MEK
FRANZ KAMLE
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F.KARLE
View in Waldheim Cemetery.
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EDWARD S. DREYER.
MR. EDWARD S. DREYER, whose handsome residence is shown on page 103 is one of the most popular and successful business men of Chicago. Be- sides conducting with Mr. Robert Berger, his amiable partner, the well known banking house of E. S. Dreyer & Co., he was also president of the real estate board of this city, is treasurer of the state private bank association, director and treasurer of Chicago Heights, and wasappointed by Mayor Washburne one of the railroad terminal commissioners. He belongs to the public spirited men, who helped to build up the German Old People's Home (Altenheim), the Schiller and Grant monuments in Lincoln Park, the Auditorium, Schiller Theatre, Ger- mania Club building, etc.
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