THE HORTICULTURE BUILDING.

     IMMEDIATELY south of the entrance to Jackson Park from the Midway Plaisance, and facing east on the Lagoon, is the HORTICULTURAL BUILDING. In front is a flower terrace for outside exhibits including tanks for Nympheas and the Victoria-Regia. The front of the terrace, with its low parapet between large vases, borders the water, and at its center forms a boat landing.

     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 with 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 ornamental shrubs and flowers. The center pavilion is roofed by a crystal dome 187 feet in diameter and 113 feet high, under which are exhibited the 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 designed for cafes, the situation and the surroundings being particularly adapted to recreation and refreshment. These cafes are surrounded by an arcade on three sides, from which charming views of the Grounds can be obtained.

     In this building are exhibited all the varieties of flowers, plants, vines, seeds, horticultural implements, etc. Those exhibits requiring sunshine and light are shown in the rear curtains, where the roof is entirely of glass and not too far removed from the plants. The front curtains and space under the galleries are designed for exhibits that require only the ordinary amount of light. Provision is made to heat such parts as require it.

     The exterior of the building is in "staff," tinted in a soft warm buff, color being reserved for the interior and the courts.

     The cost of this building was about $400,000.