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II
RIVING out the beauti
ful avenue of Santa Fe,
that practically begins
at the Plaza Ban Martin,
and after a due western
extension of some 500
yards, bends to the north
west and follows roughly
the course of the La Pla
ta for a distance of three
miles (40 squares), the en
trance to the Botanical
garden of Iluenos Aires Is
reached. Beyond this lies the Zoolog
ical garden, and still farther on the
far-famed Park of Palermo. From both
of theso the Botanical garden Is dis
tinct In spirit and style. It is the em
bodiment of a refined and artistic
taste, a really marvelous blend
ing of the "beautiful and the
useful.
i In 1892 this land was granted
to the director general of the
public parks, M. Thays, for the
establishment of the Botanical
garden and the garden was
opened to the public In Sep
tember, 1898. One must know
something of the soil and the
seasons here to understand how,
even . with . a masterly hand at
the helm, such marvels have
been ,; accomplished in so short a
time."-.- .
i Certain students of medicine and
pharmacy from the National college,
and other schoolsof the city, frequent
the garden and spend hours in inter
esting study. Indeed, they have a
rich Celd from which to glean, as
there are, in what is called the School
of Botany, over 6,000 species, all per
fectly classified according to the sys
tem of De Candolle.
The garden contains about 20 acre?
of ground, half of which is level, the
other half very uneven and ending on
the northern side in steep bunks
that overlook the street. Las Heras.
This street is named in honor of the hero
whose ashes were recently brought home from
Chile, and received with such pomp and cere
mony by his appreciative countrymen.
The entire area is triangular in form and is
divided into 14 different sections, each plainly
marked and devoted to the flora of a distinct
region.
The three pronounced styles of gardening,
which, In a comparatively small area might
have produced an inharmonious effect, or at
least a lack of unity, are so charmingly blend
ed as to give, instead, the fine delight of variety.
The Garden Ixniis XIV. Is, of course, the
most pretentious bit; the "finished coquette,"
some ono calls it, with its statues and foun
tains and its well-trimmed borders of box. It
must not bo inferred that the French garden
is superficial (except as this is the usual char
acteristic of gardens), for there is, both In this
and in the Roman garden, a whole history
written for those who know how to read it.
To ono not bent on special study and whose
knowledgo of the art of gardening, past and
present, is limited, and who prefers a quiet
walk to dress parade, the Knglish garden, as
It is called, appeals most strongly.
Not only are the two Americas royally rep
resented, but Europe, Asia, Africa and
Australia as well. These sections are separat
ed by beautiful walks with exquisite curves
and turns; hero a magnificent tree, thero a
flowering shrub, everything in accordance with
an artistic taste.
In tho South American section, particularly
of tho Argeutlne Republic, the collection is
wonderfully complete, and exceedingly varied
and interesting, from the Anthurium of the
north to the Fagus Antarctlcus of the south.
The tlpa, a species of acacia, Is chief of the
ornamental trees; when properly cared for, It
grows Into a beautiful, bhapely tree. The leaf
is much like that of the locust, and the blos
soms, though of the same form as the locust,
are a brilliant yellow instead of white. The
famo of this tree has gone abroad. Ono of Rio
Junelro'B most beautiful avenues is, in part,
adorned by tlpas. France, too, now boasts
somo fine specimens. It grows In any soli,
and its bark contains an insect poison that
renders it invulnerable to these enemies.
The quebracho (ax-breaker) is a logumincus
tree also, and is tho most valuable and costly
of the Argentine woods. Its color is a dark,
rich red, and it is so hard and heavy that it
eernis llko iron. It Is much used for all kinds
of posts, also in tanning, and is highly prized
by. shipbuilders, as tho water does not In-
jure it.
Several varieties of the nlgarrobo grow here.
In ono province San Luis not only are the
cattle fed on the long pods, but tho poorer
peoplo find them a nourishing food.
The Jacaranda Is another ornamental tree
much admired for Its fernlike foliage and
beautiful purple-blue flowers.
Tho mahogany tree Is a native of the prov
Inco of Buenos Aires, nnd there are several
fine specimens In the garden, with the char
acteristic bifurcated leaf. Tho blossoms appear
in December; they are white, and In form
something llko n small magnolia bloom.
Tho naraiatla, from ono of tho northern
provinces, attains great size and is of unusual
service to the people. The pith Is edible and
m if
tmSIl 6f on THeu S!? $$S5$
is cooked and served in
many ways. The bark is
made into casks and bar
rels. As tho tree sometimes
has a diameter of more
than a meter, one length of
bark serves for a cask.
The paradise tree and the
ceiba are great favorites;
the former, on account of
Its rich purple flowers, the
latter on account of Its bril
liant red ones. This is said
to havo been the favorite
tree of Rosas.
There is a beautiful largo
tree from Mislones, the eel
tis tala, whose delicate
leaves are very like smilax,
just a shade darker and
thicker. The really ugly
tree of the garden is the
palo borracho (drunken t.tlck), with a shape
less swelled trunk, covered with thorns, and
having small, irregular branches. It is, how
ever, very useful, as it furnishes a species of
vegetable silk.
In the Tierra del Fuego section, or subsec
tion, thero Is a most lovely araucarla, a tine
dark green, except tho tips of the branches,
which are of a tsofter, lighter color. The leaves
really seem a sort tit developed thorn.
Of all the Argentine trees, the ombu is tho
most remarkable, with Its thick, soft bark. Its
spongy wood, its dense foliage, and long clus
ters of whlto blossoms. It la of rapid growth
and attains an enormous size. Tho soil here
is too 'rich for it; so, in self-defense, Its im
mense roots, after a few years, seek the sur
face. The older trees have numerous little
tender branches that spring directly from this
surface root and grow straight up through tho
thick branches, trying to reach tho light. Thero
is one in the garden, eight years old, with a
height of CO feet and a diameter of three. At
about two feet above tho ground the trunk di
vides into two smaller trunks, each sending 'off
long, straight branches. Its roots are Just; be
ginning to appear. It Is an ideal, troo -for. a ,
children's playground, with possibilities for'
climbing about nnd even for keeping houso
among its hospitable branches.
The section of acclimatization is very Inter
esting. Hero may bo seen the result of assidu
ous efforts to cultivate varloi-s exotic as well
indigenous plants. One very notable success
has been that of tho cultivation of tho yorba
mate of Paraguay. After a number of fruit
less efforts M. Thays succeeded by tho follow
ing melhed: Tho seeds wero placed in water,
almost boiling hot; every six hours the hot wa
ter was renewed. This was kept up for four
days; tlun tho seeds, three In number, were
pressed out of their llttlo sheath nnd planted
in n special soil, covered to a certain depth
and kept constantly moist. Six months' time,
and even a year In somo Instances, was need
ed for the sprouting. When tho plants grew
to ho 2i Inches high they wero placed In sep
arate pots; when 12 inches, they wero planted
In tho garden, where somo of them have now
reached a height of 12 feet. What is particular
ly promising is that tho seed from these plants
will grow without. any special preparation.
There has been some discussion as to whether
this manner cf
germination is n
modern idea or a
rediscovery of the
process used by
tho Jesuits, the
secret of which
they carried away
with them when
expelled from
their possessions
in Paraguay. The
mate consumed .in the country costs $4,000,000
annually, soJt ia well worth while to develop
its cultivation! As, however, thb Argentlno
Republic becomes Anglicized, it demands tea
instead of mate, regardless of tho advice of
physicians, who claim that mate is tho more
wholesome beverage.'
The collection of ferns Is very large, from
the innumerable arietles of the dainty maiden
.hair to tho tree fern.
. The cactus in number and variety almost
equals' the fern. One very rare variety from
"the region of the Andes is always shown to
visitors. It is particularly ugly, with its long,
stiff stalks in Fplny ridges.
Among tho water lilies, the Victoria regla,
with its enormouH pads, Is a great curiosity
to foreigners, though It abounds In tho north
ern provinces of the republic, and Is called
irupo by the Gtinrani Indians. It Is also said
to have a leaf so thick and strong that It will
bear tho weight of a baby several. months, old.
Thero U only one large plant growing "al aire
llbre" in this garden, and it is the pride of th
pond.
Of orchids thoro are somo lovely sp'.'iiu'.en.
' Tho representative flora of tho Old World
deserves extended space, Europe almost (sug
gesting a World's fair, with hero a bit of Spain
or Italy, there of Norway, and still farther on
a gllmpso of Germany. Asia Is not mure In
teresting, but moro unusual than Europe.
There is, of courso, tho bamboo, with lis sug
gestion of marvelous tales, nnd from tho north
a biihh covered with lovely white flowers, a
sort of pplrea. Among the Japanese trees i:i
the ginkgo, with its small and graceful fan
shaped leaves.
Africa Id chiefly conspicuous for paluTs'of
many kinds, with an occasional roy
al cedar towering ubove. Whero a
bit of tho great Sahara is pointed
out, it requires a stretch of the
imagination to see moro than tho
oases.
Australia Is extensively represent
ed. There nro CO different varieties
of eucalyptus in this section and tho
saltbui-hes are no longer allowed In
tho main part of the garden; though
the gardeners BlIU seem proud of
the ugly, scraggy bushes. They
crow prodigiously In this eoll, and-
.ffl
thrlvo in any. The Australian variety
has a thicker, moro succulent leaf
than tlie others.
Besides tho sections mentioned,
there Is ono for Industrial and me
dicinal plants, tho section of fruit
trees, and still another section do
voted to the "various methods of re
production, whether by seed, graft
ing, or budding.
There nro also two conservatories.
Ono of tliein Is beautiful and almost
new. The older ono was awarded a
premium in tho Paris exposition of
1SS0, both for its artistic construc
tion and for the excellent arrange
ment for heating nnd ventilating Its
three divisions, which nro kept at a
temperature of 25 (leg., 18 deg., and
12 deg., respectively. The substan
ltal building is an inheritance from
tho department of ngrlculturo, which
formerly occupied this plot of
ground. It contains tho residence
of the director, various offices, and
a small museum.
Agricultural explorers who have
; visited the most famous botanical
gardens of both tho Old and the
New Worlds havo written of this
ono In words of highest pralso and
appreciation.
Buenos Aires has reason to be
proud of Its botanical garden, not
only because it Is ono of tho richest
and most varied in the world, but be
cause of tho persistent effort made
here' to cultivate to tho utmost the
plants and trees Indigenous to tho
country.
The Last Man Ashore.
It was now nearly half a minute
past this big steamboat's sailing
time and she hadn't started yet.
Usually she got awy,on the stroke
of the minute. The cause of tbo
trouble was clear.
Up the gangplank which hadibcen
held that half minute for him camo
a man, u tolerably big and stalwart
sort of man, who had not heard or
had not heeded tho warning given
five minutes before in every past cf the l"t
for all to go ashore that were golns. But at
last up tho gangplank he came, a solitary I'.g
uro in the plank's wide, long space, ar.d with
all the pnsscngers lining that side of the beat
looking down upon him with interest, r.iiilc
forward, with his hand on a bell pull at the
side of tho dork, stood the captain, ready to
give the signal In the engine room the instant
that man stenned off ..the gangplank and tho
plank was hauled ashore.
And so that last man to go ar.horc rnsfd
up the gangplank,- not looking up, but. not
hurrying, walking calmly, while everybody on
the boat looked down, nnd while at tlie snmo
time there stood at either side of the plank
and with their .hands resting upon the to?
rails six stalwart and able-bodied longaliorr
men, rendy to lift the plank and silrgo It shore
ward about as honn ai thiH gentt' n'aii stcppel
off it, which they did. They let bljn got about
n foot clear of it and then they lifted it, at.d
,with the first surge they g:ive It brought up
against his heela.
Whereupon tho last, uifn osior-) turned
with lire In his cya and -aIMi evident do-
sire to lick 'oiiicbi)dy, and he was an able
(joking man,' Undoubtedly lie could l.avo
licked somebody, perhaps two, but tho brit
ct rollectlon t'jld hiiu that ho could not" get
away with tliu 12 locgGhoresicn that ho sow
taw tmiling ct Li:n, whereupon rgain he
turned, now niiii.:g hlnsolf, and ctarted on,
. while In tho meantime the i:is;ant the gang-
, plank was cleared the captain on tho beat had
yanked that bell pull and tto last lica had
been cast off, nnd now tho beat to, tboush
fully 40 seconds late, was at last on hr wy
.1. .-1
on that lire giiwwp know not where,
f:ive Hint your cyrs were nlmt lit sleep
111l Unit your liumlK wero waxen fair,
1 limits whoso warm touch wo fain
would li i
Ton that are komo, thiH In tn nay
The hearl you left tn-Mml you yenrn
Ami wait nil p.iticiil, d:ty n nil day,
For your return.
Who Knows what pathway lured your
feet ?
It may lie thai t I.h yours In faro
Out where the dawn anil twilight meet.
Into a vast, u'nknowa, winiewlu'rft
tut this In mire, the homo hemtH watt
While throiiKli the rmsl of worms you
mum.
Ami Hl',-li ami say that ftoon or lato
You will eonii! home.
Your chair wit til n the liiclenook
1
llotils still Its romfortalilo Knave,
Upon Its nrtn your open hook
With rlhhon left to murk tho plain;
Your rimes burst anew to hlooln
Ami Jrlp their jewellnuM of ilmv:
Tho very air, lush with perfume.
Is awuitliiK you.
We know not. In the curtained nlnlit
Whose every Hlmilow blurs anil hurs
Tho far-lluriK K'eainlntr of tho ll(?lil
I'hat romcn from all the tlrne-oM stars-
Wn know not, but we faintly hear
Your Ktep, unci we hold Hilencn then,
With faith that evrr ilrawliiK near
You remit ukhIii.
They mty 'lis ilone; Hint we no moro
May Hen you smile or hear yon speak.
Or r.atch your footfall on tho ItiMir,
Or Irneo the roses In your cheek:
Tint Hi I II wn blindly erml this call
To you. that Koiriewhrre you may le.irn
That hearts ami hearlfl urn wultlng all -
For your return.
I'jirVy-'-v
;5K'
4.. .
Strange Things.
(Compiled from the occasional re-
mnrks of Rebecca Mlxgrammar.)
"I saw a little child on the street
with his nurse about four years old.
"It seems positively cruel for that
grocer boy to gallop down street in
that wagon, with that bony horso
piled high with packages."
"I was sleeping when ho camo up
stairs like a log."
"Mrs. llrown bought tho cutest hat
today from that fat clerk with plumes
and covered with spangles."
"I saw Mr. Hawkins In tho car with
his wifo in a silk taking her to the
matinee."
"We saw tho mayor go by on a
horso with his nose ns red as a beet.
I think it is an instdl to tho temper
ance people."
"Iiura Mingle got a chair for her
friend with arms bent in that now
fangled way."
They got the cutest dog from Mr.
Hendricks with the ears chopped orf."
"Did you notice tbo conductor of
that trolley car with tho celluloid col
lar?" "The doctor camo to give my hus
band Borne medlclno In an automobile
with a bottle of sirup of something
tied up in a paper that he had to take
through a glass tube."
A Wail.
Advice from folk who think they're wl.10
Vomcs nearly nil the. time uiiLskeil.
Why Is It McjwInK" In dissulso
Ho miililenly should be unmasked?
Curve Thinking.
Miss Ivah de Somebody arises to
tell, women that fhe Is In wrong 011
the cold cream and cosmetic proposi
tion. Ivah asserts that rubbing cu
cumber Juice on freckles nnd saying,
one, two, three four, and swinging
the arms and feet, Isn't the real road
to benuty. Ivah declares that if wom
an will only think In curves she will
have them.
Well, we hate to disagree with a
woman especially with ono who Is
telling her sisters how to be pretty.
Hut we have seen, In our brief but
tempestuous career, no fewer than ten
lady baseball teams. And thero you
are! They think In curves. Thcy'vo
got to. And what has It profited,
them, though they thought In Inshoots
nd oulshoots, nnd drops and tvrlHt
ers? Not a prollt. . Thero Is your
curved thought right down to the last
analysis and if anybody ever saw a
pretty woman on a lady ball team, let
him hold up bis right hand.
Ivah will have to prod 1100 atlldavUs
beforo she pushes the talcum and
rouge off the shelf and substitutes
bent thinking.
