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HORTICULTURE 



October 9, 1920 



RAMBLING OBSERVATIONS OF 

 A ROVING GARDENER 



I am sure there is no more inter- 

 esting private estate in Xew England 

 than that of A. T. byman. at Waltham. 

 Xot only are the greenhouses filled 

 with well grown and in many in- 

 stances rare plants, hut on the place 

 are probably the oldest greenhouses in 

 America, including one which was 

 built for roses 130 years ago, and a 

 grapery which is almost as old. In 

 both houses the heat was originally 

 provided by flues connected with pits 

 in which wood was burned. 



Mr. George F. Stewart, the head gar- 

 dener, is just the man to have charge 

 of this estate, for he has a genuine 

 fondness for all that is antique and 

 historical, and has taken great delight 

 in getting together all the information 



possible about the old greenhouses, 

 the big trees that were planted a hun- 

 dred years ago, the walks that were 

 laid out with the assistance of George 

 V'ashington, and the other interesting 

 features of the place. Mr. Stewart 

 has come prominently before the flow- 

 er loving public during the past year 

 by his remarkable exhibits at Horticul- 

 tural Hall. Last spring he showed 

 some of the finest calceolarias ever 

 seen in the hall. At a later show he 

 had a magnificent plant of Dipladenia. 

 one of the most magnificent speci- 

 mens ever shown. In the greenhouse 

 are a number of seedlings from this 

 plant, and it is interesting to note the 

 variations in the color of the flowers. 

 About the greenhouses are some 



very fine specimens of Fuchsia fulgens 

 and heliotrope. At the recent fair in 

 \S'altham, Mr. Stewart received prizes 

 fcr these plants. Visitors who go 

 tlirough the greenhouses have their at- 

 tention called to a Cherokee rose plant 

 which is over SO years old, and has a 

 trunk as large as that of a small tree. 

 The branches cover the top of one 

 small section of the greenhouse, and 

 make a wonderful display when in 

 flower. Unfortunately they turn to- 

 wards the glass so that they are not 

 very readily seen from within the 

 house. As a specimen the plant is 

 remarkable. 



In the houses are many plants sel- 

 dom seen in modern greenhouses, and 

 apparently unknown to some modern 

 giirdeners. Yet in many instances 

 they are very well worth cultivating. 

 It is probable that some of them will 

 be on exhibition at coming shows in 

 Horticultural Hall. 



There is something of interest all 

 the year round here, but it is when 



Campanula ]Me<liuTn 



