SUMMER MEETING AT LOUISIANA. 105 



practical and professional Landscape gardener, whose knowledge will 

 enable him to have the lawn and landscape to harmonize and correspond 

 with the modern taste in architecture. 



We have given an example of the humble cottager, and will now 

 bring to your notice of a living example of the other extreme. In so 

 doing, will have to go no further than our neighbor, H. M. Vaile, Esq.^ 

 in the suburbs of Independence, who has devoted much study and 

 attention to the ornamentation of the surroundings about his fifty 

 thousand dollar mansion. He has an extensive lawn geometrically and 

 artistically laid out and arranged displaying a wonderful degree of skill 

 and taste. His tender plants and flowers are renewed every spring 

 from his conservatory or greenhouse. His front lawn last year con- 

 tained eighty thousand flowering and foliage plants, which are kept up 

 and 80 arranged mid walks and drives and clumps so as to constitute 

 in all one grand and gorgeous boquet, as viewed from the steps of the 

 house. Yet this lawn does not constitute the full extent of the picture 

 of this suburban. To give some faint idea of a more extended view of 

 these premises by casting an eye to the south, beyond the lawn may be 

 seen rustic works, and farther in the distance clumps of ornamental 

 trees and family orchard. To the rear tenantry and winery, waterworks,, 

 conservatory, stabling and park containing wild animals. To the 

 north, artificial lake, boathouses, etc. Bounding this may be seen 

 barns and pastures on which range herds of thoroughbreds. Taken 

 altogether, it embodies a landscape of rare beauty for a newly improved 

 homestead. Whilst the two extremes mentioned may not be applicable 

 to the great mass of our people, yet all intermediates should strive to 

 beautify both home and country-. If more of our capitalists would 

 invest a portion of their surplus in rendering home attractive as well 

 the ornamentation of our country instead of absorbing all in stocks and 

 bonds or speculation, it would be a laudable example, beside a source 

 of pleasure to know that they had done something to beautify their 

 country. 



In connection with this subject I will quote from the Buffalo ^j7- 

 ^ress, which says of siiburban Bpston: "Then the Boston host can 

 take his guest such a drive from Cambridge through Watertown, J!!<rew- 

 town proper, and all the other ISTewtons to Auburndale, as cannot be 

 matched in the country ; over twelve miles of roads smooth as a billiard 

 table, shaded on either side by grand old trees, which stand like sen- 

 tinels in front of an endless succession of the finest private estates in 

 this country, and every one of them maintained in the highest degree 

 of perfection. A stranger is at once impressed with the fact that these 



