Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women - Wise Acres Yearbook (Ambler, PA)

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Easter lilies are also grown extensively for the Easter trade in the United States, and in January long beds of the new growth of the lilies can be seen pushing through the soil, promising a beautiful display around Easter. Patches of bananas can be seen everywhere extending from the gardens. The golf links near Tucker’s Town bear witness of the fact that beautiful turf may be grown under the sky of Bermuda. The- bright verdure contrasts effectively with the blue of ocean and sky. Agriculture cannot be carried on to any great extent, owing to the limited space on the islands. Cows, supplying the demand for milk can be seen pasturing in groves of cedars intersected by clearings grown to grass. A wonderful experience never to be forgotten is the visit to the sea-gardens, where through glass-bottom boats, gliding over coral reefs, one can view submarine flowers in great number, sea-fans in endless variety of forms, corals, sponges, anemones in rose, pink, brown and orange. Among them many kinds of fish of all sizes and colors are swimming about. And who are the fortunate inhabitants of Bermuda, who can enjoy all the attractions the year around? The population consists of about 7,000 white and 13,000 colored people. Members of the English army and navy and their families, the natives and tradesmen and the vast number of people engaged in the catering to the endless number of tourists, who are coming and going in a constant stream, make up the population of Bermuda. It seems that with this big crowd of people consumption far exceeds the production of the islands. Food products, dry goods, and other merchandise are supplied from England and the United States. Fortunately there is no room on the islands for industrial enterprises, leaving Bermuda its quaint and picturesque character which the Bermudians are determined to maintain, for automobiles and trolley cars are barred from the islands. Horse and carriage, and bicycles are the modes of conveyance. Some of the islands are connected by bridges and long rides may be taken to points of vantage, such as Tucker’s Lighthouse, where beautiful views of the many islands and channels with sailing yachts flitting in and out, with the harbor of Hamilton in the distance, may be seen. Bermuda may be called the vacationist’s paradise to attract the general public, for it offers all kinds of sport in an enchanting setting and atmosphere, conducive to rest and meditation, with the pleasure of hotel-life calling whenever you want a change. On the other hand Bermuda offers a vast field of study to the horticulturist, for he is not only interested in the culture of plants proper, but to be truly interested his query reaches down to the soil and its formation as fundamental for the makeup of plants, making the study of geology incidental. Then the interest may be focussed on the economic value of plants. Every 12

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Due to their peculiar geological formation, the islands are devoid of fresh water springs and for water the people of the islands are dependent on the rainfall through the year, the rain being caught from the roofs of the houses in reservoirs installed in each house. The government has also established large reservoirs for its own use and for emergencies. All the cisterns are under the supervision of the Health Department and have to be cleaned and disinfected at least once a year and the roofs have to be kept under a whitewash. The limestone underlying the soil is soft before being exposed to air and can be cut readily into blocks, when taken from the quarries. Through exposure to the air the stone hardens and the blocks of limestone are used for the building of the houses on the islands for the roofs as well as the walls, giving a white and immaculate appearance to the entire settlement. The crushed limestone mixed with water is used for the making of smooth and solid roads. The result of seepage of water through the soil and the limestone into grottoes underneath the limestone formation in some part of the islands, have given origin to beautiful crystal caves where drops of water laden with concentrated lime have formed large and small glistening crystals, stalactites hanging down from the roof of the cavern and stalagmites, building up from the drip, to meet them. One can reach these caves through passage ways cut through the limestone, and electric lights unnoticeably attached, are lighting up the calcite formation on walls and roofs and the groups of artistic columns and curious shapes resembling human beings at times, making them scintillate and glisten, and suggesting fairyland. One of the caves has filled up partly with water, after the stalagmites had formed, these reaching up through the water now, and since the water is tidal and apparently connected with the ocean, pontoon bridges lead through the whole length of the cave. Returning to the surface of the islands and driving along the roads, one is greeted by the growth of cedars, a species of juniper typical of Bermuda, palms and tamarisk, lantanas and century plants, sending up their flower stems to the height of telegraph poles, hibiscus and oleanders, bryophyllums and large blue: morning glories, all of these growing wild along the roadside and around old quarries. Again they may be seen adorning gardens and pleasure grounds where they are mingling and rivalling in growth and bloom those of roses, bougainvilleas, many kinds of shrubs and in particular that of the brightly colored shrub, ‘Match-me-if-you-can” (Acalypha). The vegetables gardens will be found to produce all the vegetables of our climate. The Bermuda Department of Agriculture is trying out the various varieties of each kind of vegetable, in order to determine which of those in the market are best suited to its climate and soil, since one of the most important industries of the islands is the growing of early onions, beets, carrots and potatoes for the American markets. 11

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one appreciates their aesthetic value, when, through their mere existence they are livening up the landscape, softening harsh contours, be it if natural rock formation or of houses. But aside from this purpose which they fulfill, plants are most vital to every-day existence as food to most living beings and because they are furnishing the raw material for the greatest number of industries. A visit to Bermuda in January, when the sight of active vegetation with birds and insects flying about forms a wonderful contrast to what the traveller left behind when departing from New York two days previously, is most fascinating. However, leaving Bermuda again after a short visit at that time, a longing is aroused to see the islands in the months of April and May, when there is a profusion of bloom everywhere with plants of tropical and temperate regions rivalling each other side by side. F. S. News From a Graduate Miss “LuLu” Torrens has had a busy, interesting year. She wrote that in the spring she had charge of rearranging and planning and planting several gardens, including shrubs for backgrounds and foundations plantings. During the summer she had several men working for her caring for some home grounds and gardens. One family which was away for the summer had her send them cut flowers from their garden every week. This fall she has continued with planning and planting, and enjoys her work very much. Some Aspects of the Relation Between Horticulture and Landscape Gardening To many the terms landscape architecture and horticulture are almost synonymous. This misconception is due, I think, to the quite erroneous but nevertheless widespread belief that the sole function of a landscape architect is to make flower gardens. As a matter of fact, these two great fields of human activity, while possessing certain interests in common, are fundamentally different. Landscape architecture is a fine art, closely allied to architecture, sculpture and painting, and for its successful results it is dependent upon the same principles of design as govern the other fine arts. The particular concern of the landscape architect is the arrangement of portions of the earth’s surface for human use and enjoyment. The design, or the orderly arrangement of 13