1882.] 



A.Sn HORTICULTURISr. 



because we can think of nothing else that re- 

 sembles the parasol pine. 



A Japanese yew near by, of rich and spread- 

 ing habit, exemplifies this resemblance between 

 various members of a sonus situated in various 

 pai-ts of the earth. This Japanese yew, Taxus 

 cuspidata is, however, very noteworthy for great 

 hardiness, a character that can be scarcely ac 

 corded to any other yew in this climate. Thui- 

 opsis Standishii is another Japanese plant on 

 this lawn of comparatively recent introduction. 

 I want to call your attention to it, situated near 

 the retinosporas, not only because it is a beau- 

 tiful evergreen, somewhat like the Arborvitae in 

 general appearance, but because it does belter 

 here, apparently, than in England. This is a 

 peculiarit}'- remarkable in an evergreen, for the 

 moist climate of England seems to make for 

 them a very home. 



I should like to speak of other plants on this 

 lawn, but they are either too difficult of attain- 

 ment, like theCercidiphyllum, a promising tree, 

 or like the dwarf pines and spruces, hardly new 

 enough to come within the scope of this essay. 



Before leaving the spot entirely, however, let 

 us stand a moment and take a last look at the 

 unity of effect accomplished on this lawn 

 Streams, borders of foliage, statuesque small 

 trees and larger specimens, all flow, as it were, 

 together in natural lines. Indeed, harmony of 

 color, and lines combined with conti-asts distinct 

 enough to give variety, characterize the entire 

 scene. The position of each plant is so related 

 to the other, for purposes of beauty and perfect 

 development, that one delights in the fair pro- 

 portion and entire unity of the design. It is a 

 picture and yet something more than a picture ; 

 a combination of foliage and grass constructed, 

 riot in servile imitation of nature, but on the 

 principles employed by nature in her most 

 pleasing work. The copse or glade is suggested, 

 and yet the treatment of each plant of our lawn 

 is v«ry different from that of the wild wood, and_ 

 indeed more honorable to that plant's highly 

 cultured nature. Perfect maintenance, exquisite 

 keeping are evident everywhere, from the skill- 

 fully-pruned shrub to the velvet turf that catches 

 athwart its beautiful surfiice the level rays of the 

 setting sun. Unfortunately such lawns are ex- 

 tremely rare in America. We are learning to 

 appreciate them, and in time will have them, 

 though the progress in that direction is slow; 

 and I feel certain that nothing is more likely to 

 aid in the development of a true knowledge of 



the resources of lawn planting than the consid- 

 eration of new hardy ornamental trees and 

 shrubs, and their tasteful and effective arrange- 

 ment. 



MR. HUNNEWELL'S GARDEN AT WEL- 

 LESLEY, MASS. 



BY WILLIAM FALCONER. 



NO. I. 



The garden of Mr. H. H. Hunnewell, at Wel- 

 lesley, needs no introduction to American hor- 

 ticulturists ; it ranks pre-eminent among private 

 gardens. Wellesley is a town on the Boston and 

 Albany Railroad, and some forty-five minutes 

 ride from Boston. Mr. Hunnewell's garden u 

 fifteen to twenty minutes walk from the depot. 

 Some visitors like to walk there, others to ride 

 from the station— the latter may find good and 

 reasonable accommodation at a stable near the 

 depot. 



The garden comprises some forty acres, and is 

 beautifully situated with the Waban lake on its 

 north side, Wellesley College and its park-like 

 grounds, and a wooded hilly country beyond the 

 lake, and an uneven timbered country broken 

 up with handsome and well- tilled farm lands all 

 around. Before the south front of the mansion 

 is a manj'-acred open lawn that in unbroken 

 sweep reaches to the turnpike limit. Deciduous 

 trees and evergreens are set as isolated speci- 

 mens, groups, groves and avenues, towards the 

 side out- edges of the lawn until they reach and 

 form a part of the pinetum or rather arboretum. 

 The terrace garden lies between the mansion 

 and the Waban lake, as also the rockery and 

 wild garden. There are some flower-beds near 

 the mansion, but the main flower garden is a 

 short distance off, somewhat of an oblong 

 square in form ; on two sides bounded by hedges, 

 and on the others by a curving belt of trees and 

 shrubs and a mixed border. The beds are cut 

 out on grass, and the patterns in the beds por- 

 trayed by the plants used to fill them. There is 

 a Rhododendron garden, an Azalea garden, a 

 kitchen garden, and a village of greenhouses in 

 which are grown handsome plants and lovely 

 flowers and tender fruits. Mr. Harris, who is 

 the gardener, is a man of fine professional talent, 

 cordial disposition and gentlemanly bearing. 



I cannot well refer in detail to so large a gar- 

 den, but will confine myself to a few of its 

 prominent features. 



Greenhouse ptor?/s— include leading decern-- 

 tive sorts, and some of the choicest and rarest of 



