As far as it is possible, between the present time and May, 1893, the Lagoon must be made to look like a natural bayou, secluded, shallow and placid, but not suggestive of stagnancy or any form of foulness or unhealthfulness. Its low, sterile, sandy shores must be given a rich, affluent, picturesque aspect, in striking contrast alike with that of the present ground, the shores of the great lake, the margins of the Basin in the great Court and the canals yet to be formed, and with the bare and prosaic shores of the ponds heretofore made in Jackson and Washington Parks.

The desired result in this respect is to be accomplished largely by thick, luxuriant growths of herbaceous, aquatic vegetation along the shore, rooted partly above and partly below the surface of the water.

The best of the few poor trees now growing on the island are to be retained and, if possible, forced by an enrichment of the soil into finer foliage. Between them and the water plants, bushes and young trees are to be introduced so as to make the island from the east appear a broad, continuous, close bank of verdure.

Nearly everywhere else, except where formal terraces are to be formed near the shore, three main objects are to be had in view in the shore planting:

First, to make an agreeable low foreground over which the great buildings of the Exposition will rise, gaining in grandeur of effect upon the imagination because appearing at a greater distance, and more lofty than they would but for such a foreground;

Second, to establish a considerable extent of broad and apparently natural scenery, in contemplation of which a degree of quieting influence will be had, counteractive to the effect of the artificial grandeur and the crowds, pomp, splendor and bustle of the rest of the Exposition;

Third, without losing a general unity and continuity of character in the shores, to secure whatever time, with all possible exercise of skill for the [323]

[324] purpose, will allow, of mysterious poetic effect, through the mingling intricately together of many forms of foliage, the alternation and complicated crossing of salient leaves and stalks of varying green tints in high lights with other leaves and stalks, behind and under them, and therefore less defined and more shaded, yet partly illumined by light reflected from the water. So far as consistent with this last purpose of obscure and subdued poetic beauty through the intricate conjunction of various forms of vegetation and complex dispositions of light and shade, it is intended that the shores should have a somewhat gay and festive aspect through a profusion of flowers. But it is not desired that there should anywhere appear to be a display of flowers demanding attention as such. Rather the flowers to be used for the purpose should have the effect of flecks and glimmers of bright color imperfectly breaking through the general greenery. Anything approaching a gorgeous, garish or gaudy display of flowers is to be avoided. It will be easier to accomplish what is thus to be aimed at, even if flowers are used profusely, because, to the great body of visitors, the Lagoon plantations will only be seen from a distance, and from a nearly horizontal point of view, on the shore opposite that on which they stand. Boats will be prevented from closely approaching the plantations.

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While the greater number of plants to be used will be such as are indigenous to the river banks and swamps of Northern Illinois, and therefore hardy, in order to increase intricacy and richness of general effect, many are to be scattered among them that a botanist, looking closely, would know could not have grown in the locality naturally. The work is thus to be in some degree of the character of a theatrical scene, to occupy the Exposition stage for a single Summer. But it is not intended that the slightly exotic forms of verdure to be thus used shall call, any more than the flowers, for individual notice. Rather, seen as they will generally be, at some distance, they will merge indistinguishably with other forms of verdure, and not suggest a question as to what they are, or how they have come to be where they are.

The line at which the water meets the shore is intended hardly ever to be seen, being obscured by aquatic plants growing above and below it.

There are several serious difficulties to be overcome in realizing this design thus set forth, and they must be met by original expedients. The chief of these difficulties is that of the uncertainty of the normal elevation which the water will have during the period of the Exposition, and the certainty that whatever this normal elevation shall be, it will fluctuate irregularly from day to day, so that what is dry ground at one time will be flooded at another. The only means of dealing with this difficulty thus far proposed to be used is that of providing plants very liberally which will stand a good chance to flourish, although their roots are sometimes high above water, and sometimes submerged. Trials of numerous plants must be made in the Summer of 1891 with reference to this purpose, and large reserves of a class of plants of small cost, sure to succeed, must be prepared for replanting any ground where better sorts shall either be drowned or dried out, so that in no case will the shores at any points appear sparsely furnished, much less unfurnished or barren.

Another difficulty is that of guarding against the danger that plants that will have been established on the shore in the Summer of 1892, will be lifted or bruised destructively by the ice of the following Winter. This can be provided against, in some degree, by cutting the plants closely and by laying loose litter over and about them late in the Fall; by cutting the shore ice free from the central body of ice in the Lagoon, and by stakes or otherwise preventing it from floating off until it gradually melts in place.

Another difficulty is that as there will be several miles in length of the shore planting to be done, and as the planting season will be short, and the men employed working at disadvantage in the ice cold water, a satisfactory direction and oversight of the large number of unskilled laborers required can only be had through an extensive and elaborate system of management, carefully organized in advance, with a view to this difficulty. At best, the work of planting must be expected to be done in a comparatively rude way which it will be difficult to get gardening foremen to efficiently direct. Plants, therefore, [326]that require delicate treatment, or that do not take root readily in wet, sandy ground, can be little depended on. The plants must be set thickly and there will be little or no opportunity to cultivate them after they are set.

Another restriction on the class of plants to be extensively used is that, owing to the packing of ice along the shore in the southern part of Lake Michigan, the water often remains at a wintry temperature until after the time set in the Spring for the opening of the Exposition, nor does it become as warm during the entire Summer as the water in many streams, ponds and swamps in the same latitude. Hence, many water plants natural to such localities are likely to grow but slowly, if at all, in the Lagoon. It is hoped that this difficulty may be, in some degree provided against by making many shallow bays and pools along the shores, especially of the west side of the island. But the main planting must everywhere be done with thoroughly hardy and tough aquatic plants, common further north than Chicago.

Letters on the Preliminary Planting Map of the Lagoon are intended to indicate a little more fully and definitely the character of planting desired in different localities, by reference to corresponding letters in the schedule below. But while the plants named are to predominate, it is not intended to closely restrict the planting to them at any point. Certain plants, such as bulrushes, sedges and ferns, are intended to be placed wherever they are likely to flourish among others, in order to give increased density, intricacy and naturalness of effect, and to slightly screen, without hiding, flowers otherwise likely to be too obtrusive.

The various so-called pond-lilies are also to be scattered somewhat freely along the edges of all waterside plantations, and on the lower parts of slopes.

Except against the terraces, as to be later explained, and at a few other points where they would rise too high for the effects desired, cat-tails, (Typha) are to predominate in the planting, large patches of them being formed; these are to be broken and diversified chiefly with flags, (Acorus) and bulrushes, (Juncus) and Irises, and among them there should be numerous little patches and recesses, if necessary, on slightly raised ground, where blooming plants can be seen, such as the smaller Irises, Lobelia cardinalis, Ranunculus repens and Viola cucullata. Patches, also, of ferns suitable to the situation. Farther from the water, and to be seen through openings of the Typhas and Acorus, taller flowering plants may be seen, such as Bacharis halimifolia and Nicotiana affinis.

For young trees to be planted with a view to fill out vacancies in the edge of the woods on the island, it is important to use such as are most sure to be in rapid growth, with abundant and vigorous leafage, in ground well above water, in 1893. It has been ascertained that for this purpose, trees of the following sorts can be obtained in Western nurseries, in fair condition, from 10 to 15 feet high: White Maple, Catalpa speciosa, Box Elder (Negundo), Russian Mulberry, American Linden. To these, certain Poplars and Willows of natural [327]growth can probably be added. For crowding under and facing the stems of these, good plants are to be had of the European Alder, Larch, American Mountain Ash. For the lower parts of the mass, Cornels and most of the common nursery shrubs can be had, 3 to 4 feet high, and 6various Willows can be grown. Aralia spinosa may be used freely; also, Pawlonia, cut short to force large leaves near the ground and water. Cat-tails, Flags, etc. can be scattered at intervals in the water outside of these, and occasionally still further out, Water-lilies, etc.

Looking at the map, it will be seen that, for long distances the shore of the Lagoon is intended to be near, and with a general trend parallel to, the straight walls sustaining terraces at the base of several of the Exposition Buildings.

The strip of ground between these retaining walls and the water is to be commonly from 25 to 50 feet broad, and to have a sloping face towards the water. (These strips are marked E on the map).

Nearly all of the Lagoon margin of this character is expected to be submerged for a few hours at uncertain intervals, but ordinarily the upper part will be dry and the lower part, or waterside, water-soaked. Plants upon the upper part will be nearer to the greater body of visitors, and will be more closely observed than any others on the Lagoon shores. They will be looked down upon from the terrace, the roots of the nearest being 7 to 9 feet; of the furthest 9 to 13 feet, below the eye. Seen from boats, or from the opposite shore, the plants should appear a low thicket, or bank, of verdure, more or less broken, irregular and tufty in its profile, the upper part of the wall and the parapet or balustrade of the terrace, being generally seen rising a little above it. To this end, few plants can be grown on this strip that, during the Summer of 1893, will come to have a height of more than 3 to 4 feet.

More flowers can be shown with advantage on the upper part of the strip than anywhere else on the Lagoon shore, precaution being taken, where they would otherwise be too showy, to slightly veil them from the opposite shore by a few bulrushes, Eulalia, or other thin plants, to grow on the waterside of them. With a little care in this respect, Irises, especially versicolor, prismatica and Germanica, set from 2 to 15 feet from the wall, will be exactly suitable to the situation. Care must be taken to avoid anything like a continuous bed of such flowering plants, or any monotony of arrangement, by constantly grouping them with Funkias, Ferns and other plants. Large bodies of low and spreading plants of Clethra alnifolia and cephalanthus occidentalis will be desirable all along the strip, these being valued because of the fragrance of their bloom. Besides these, there are to be set profusely, adjoining the wall, on what will be the driest part of the strip, other plants from which pleasing scents will rise to visitors on the terrace. Viola cucullata, Hemerocallis flava, Lonicera brachiopoda, Rosa rubiginosa, lucida, Carolina and multiflora will, for example, serve the purpose.

To make sure that a dense growth of foliage will be everywhere [328]interposed at some point between the wall and the water, straggling thickets may be formed of young plants of various Willows, so shortened in, or pinned down, that they will {seldom} rise more than 2 to 3 feet from the ground. Among and around these should be Flags, Acorus, calamus and Bulrushes (Juncus), various Sedges (Carex) and other waterside grass and reed-like plants. Small channels may be made to let the water flow into these wherever desirable, such channels being easily made inconspicuous.

The same class of plants, together with Sagittarias and a variety of broad-leaved water plants, such as Saxifraga, Callas, Symphoricarpos, Nuphas and Nympheas should be planted above and below the water’s side.

SCHEDULE SUGGESTING WHAT SORTS OF PLANTS MAY BE USED CONSISTENTLY WITH THE LEADING PURPOSES OF THE GENERAL DESIGN IN THE VARIOUS LOCALITIES INDICATED ON THIS MAP BY LETTERS CORRESPONDING WITH THE LETTERS ON THE MARGIN BELOW.

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T.	Sufficiently described in the memorandum above.
W.	Typha (nearly everywhere predominating); Acorus calamus; Juncus, Iris Sibirica, Kaempferia, Virginica; Struthiopteris Germanica, Eryngius Yuccafolium; Yucca filamentosa; Osmunda regalis and cinnamonia.
M.	Native grasses and sedges (on the ground) with scattering patches of native Golden-rod and Asters; Rose mallow (Hibiscus); Swamp Loosestrife (Lychium); Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias); Cassia Marilandica; Lilium superbum and canadense; Veronica; Rudbeckia laciniata; Nicotiana affinis; (This district will be secluded by surrounding plantations and the above plants seen at a distance in tufts through small openings.)
E.	Iris versicolor, prismatica, Germanica; Sisyrinchium, (Blue Eyed Grass); Xyris flexuosa and Carolina; Liatris spicata; Eulalia Japonica (mainly of the green varieties, few of the striped and those not set prominently out); Viola cucullata (Marsh Violet); Hemerocallis fulva and flava, and other fragrant sorts; Lonicera brachiopoda; Rosa rubiginiosa, lucida, Carolina and multiflora; Funkia (Day lilies); Veratrum viride; Sagittaria; Acorus calamus; Caltha palustris; Orontium aquatica; Calla palustris; Meyanthes trifoliata; Alisma plantago; Nasturtium officinale (seed); Saxifraga crassifolia; Juncus; Corex, various species; Cyperus, various species; Lobelia cardinalis and syphilitica; Spiraeas lobata; Ranunculus repens; Geum rivale (Water avens); Hydrophyllum canadense; Virginicum and [329] appendiculatum; Saururus cernuus; Solidago lanceolata, {tenuifolia}; Aster linariifolius and laevis; Rudbeckia Newmani; Erigeron Philadelphicum; Physostegia Virginica.
L.	Nymphaea odorata and Nymphaea odorata minor; Nymphaea tuberosa and lutea; Nupha advena; Limnanthemum lacunosum; Brasonia peltata; Potamogetons; Marsilea quadrifolia;
B.	Juncus, Cyperus, Carex, Onoclea sensibilis, Aspidium Thelypteris, Spiranthes and low ferns.
C.	Lawn-like turf.