CHAPTER IX.

THE FRENCH FLORICULTURAL EXHIBIT.

Many New and Rare Flowering and Foliage Plants — The Finest Azaleas and Rhododendrons Ever Seen
in America — M. Jules Lemoine, Principal Gardener of the City of Paris, Introduces Many Lovely
and Bewitching Members of the Realm of Flora and Encircles the Woman's Building in Bloom —
He Also Enlivens Other Stretches of Sward.

Y REQUEST of the French Commissioner, Mr. Thorpe
kindly consented that the French Floricultural section, in
charge of M. Jules Lemoine, principal gardener of the City of
Paris (Bois de Vicennes), should be represented elsewhere
than in the Horticultural building, and so the eminent Pa-
risian floriculturist elected to make displays uponthe grounds
adjacent to the French building, upon the Midway Plaisance,
the space north of the Horticultural building, adjacent to the
Children's pavilion, the Puck and White Star Steamship Line
pavilions and around the Woman's building. It is upon the
latter space that M. Lemoine made his most elaborate and
beautiful exhibit and one that will be long remembered by all
who were so fortunate to see it in June and July.
On the east side of the Woman's building are a fine lot of siver spruces, fifty
varieties in all, between four and six feet in height, and set out with much taste.
There are also about forty azaleas, representing two varieties. A variegated Buxus
and a new hardy plant known as acer negundo, folis aurea variegated, attract at-
tention. Another plant that interests visitors is Ilex aquifolia argenta, which does
very well in this section. It was in fine condition in July.

Proceeding toward the eastern entrance from the south may be seen a fine
display of of Evonymus — Due d'Anjou, marginata alba, marginata aurea, radicans,
folvar, puchellus, etc., also three specimens of the new Abies picea pumila. Next
are a number of lauros of Portugal which stand up in pyramids seven feet high.
Some clusters of silver spruce are next seen between the eastern entrance and the
northern end. Then there are a number of genista Andreanain yellow and maroon
flower, and more buxus Araucaria imbricata.

Just north of the eastern entrance lauro cerasus rotundi folia stand up in
pyramids attractively. On both sides of the northeastern corner of the building
are sixty superb varieties of rhododendrons, all in flower in June, making a most
striking appearance. Among them are the " Lady Eleanor," " Elvelyn," "Martin
H. Sutton," "John Waterer," the father of the rhododendrons; "Princess Mary of
Cambridge," "Stella," "Joseph WThitworth," " Mrs. Fitzgerald," and many others.

304

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

Ali of the above are from Messrs. Croux & Son, the well known florists and nur-
serymen of the Val of Aulnay near Paris. These plants came in willow baskets and
bagging and were put up in such excellent shape for shipping that they never
suffered in the least from their long land and ocean trip, and never lost a leaf.

Crossing the northern entrance to the Woman's Building and going west the
lover of rare and beautiful rhododendrons stands in the midst of fifty as fine ones,
all in flower in June as were ever seen in France, which surpasses all other countries
in the production of this aristocratic plant, and which were contributed by M. Moser
of Versailles. Among them are the " General Cabrera," " The Gem," " Michael
WTaterer," " Nelly Moser," " Star of Ascot," " Marechal MacMahon," " Blandy-
anum," " Caractacus," and "Imperatrice Eugenie. ' From France, too, are some
new azaleas — glauca stricta — a remarkably hardy plant, which flowers indoors in
February and out of doors in May and June. The February flower is used largely
for decoration in France, as it yields abundantly and makes a fine appearance as a
cut flower. Among the other contributions from Paris is a new rare and beautiful
foliage plant — Dimorphantus Manshuricus foliis argenteis variegatis and aureis,
(obtained by Gouchaud), a native of the interior of Japan. There are two of these
plants near the northeast corner of the northern entrance and two near the north-
west corner of the plat, the only four in Chicago.

Near these are a splendid collection of cedars Libani aurea, a favorite the
world over, and clusters of Evonymus Japonica elegans, of most exquisite foliage.
There are close by twenty varieties of silver spruces and twenty-five varieties of
cedars. In the middle of this plat are 100 new Hypericum Moserianum that the

careless observer would take to be roses. They were
in flower in July. These are sometimes called the
Thousand-headed plant, on account of the interstices
that may be seen through its petals with a microscope.
Passing round to the western side of the building and
going toward the south may be seen among the gor-
geous rhododendrons and azaleas a little bed of Japan-
ese maples, as fine as any in Japanese gardens.
Further along are twenty-four Kalmia, which attract
much attention; four superb specimens of azalea Pon-
tica, rare and large; twenty azalea mollis, all in pink
and white flowers in May and June. Some beautiful
genista andreana in flower, fifty plants in all. Pass-
ing the western entrance and proceeding in a south-
erly direction one comes upon another beautiful ex-
. hibit from Georges Boucher, of Paris, consisting in
part of 260 varieties of standard tea and hybrid roses,

all rare or new. These were from five to six weeks on their voyage but not a
plant was lost. Many of them are from three to four feet in height, and were
planted six inches deep on account of the little root they had on arrival. Every-
one is thrifty and were in flower all summer. Among these rare and new roses

STATUARY.

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR. 305

are " Mme. Carnot," " President Constant," " Duchesse d'Orleans," " Lyonnais,"
" Duchess of Connaught," " Mabel Morrison," " Earl of Dufferin," " Beaute de
1' Europe," "Mme. Victor Verdier," "Louise Odier," " Reine Marie Henriette,"
and " Caroline Testout."

Some new clematis, now seen in America for the first time, is placed near the
western entrance. This attracts much attention, as do two varieties of roses
" Rugusa," white and red, from Baron Veillard, of Orleans; and the same nursery-
man exhibits 12 specimens of the new varieties of clematis, " Mme. Edouard Andre."
Crossing the western entrance and proceeding south the observer is struck with
the plats of more roses sent from M. Paillet, of Chatenay, near Paris. Here are
nearly 200 teas and hybrids, all of which were in flower during the summer months.
Among them are " Mme. Honore Defresne," Souvenir d'un ami," "La France,"
"Jacqueminot," "Pauline Labonte," "Rubens," " Gloire de Dijon," "Merveille de
Lyon," " Capt. Christy," and others that are as well known.

The southern end of the building west of the southern entrance is planted
almost entirely with spruces, 150 varieties in all, from Honore Defresne & Son,
Vitry, near Paris, (one of the largest and best known nursery firms in the world,)
among which are Cedrus, Libani, pendula, Juniperus hybernica, Abies commutata,
glauca, Taxus aurea, Abies Remonti and others. In the plat east of the southern
entrance are set out 150 shrubs and evergreens, among which are the Magnolia
grandiflora, Skimmia japonica, Ligustrum coriaceum, Eleagnus Simoni, Andromeda
japonica, Nandina domestica, etc.

The palms around the Woman's Building are all of the hardy variety of the
French Mediterranean shore. There are thirty varieties in all, the choicest being
the Brahea Roezli, or silver palm, Cocos Australis, Phcenix Canariensis, and Jubea
spectabilis, from M. Martichon, a landscape nurseryman of Cannes.

These plants are shaded slightly by a row of catalpa excelsa trees, which
runs all around the building, and by a single black oak at the northern entrance.
Between the grass and the building there is a space of about four feet which is
filled in with familiar summer foliage and flowering plants.

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HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR. 307