AN ITALIAN GARDEN. 297 



The estate has also very large greenhouses containing not only 

 flowers and ornamental plants but such fruits as grapes, peaches, 

 figs, etc. It has a very large collection of rhododendrons, for the 

 production of which a large structure has been erected providing the 

 necessary amount of shade for the most complete results in flowers. 

 Italian gardening, as seen in the illustration, is of a rather stiff and 

 artificial character, consisting very largely of ornamental evergreens 

 trimmed in fantastic shapes. As seen from the summit of the hill, 

 which is crowned with a marble terrace and portico, and on the slope 

 below which the garden is placed, the appearance of this particular 

 garden is very impressive and in a way strikingly beautiful, at least 

 that is the way it appeared to the writer, to whom gardens of this 

 character were a decided novelty. The celebrated Wellsley College 

 for women is located just across the lake, perhaps three-quarters of 

 a mile away, and directly opposite this garden. The Hunnewell 

 estate is open to the public with certain restrictions and is a most 

 interesting spot for any one who wishes to become acquainted with 

 the trees and shrubs of this country and delights in the beautiful and 

 novel in nature. Wellsley is located fourteen miles west of Boston 

 on the Boston and Albany Railroad. — Secy. 



THE BUSINESS SIDE OF FRUIT GROWING. 



G. n. PURDY, MASON CITY, lA. 



It is claimed that "as a rule, trade papers try to bear the market ; 

 they talk of great over-production ; but the growers' papers are 

 bullish, they see scarcity on every hand." 



I am not representing a growers' paper, nor have I nursery stock 

 for sale, but, judging from my experience, I can see a scarcity of 

 first-class fruit, as I have not seen the market glutted with that grade, 

 except locally, which is usually in our cities too ripe to be reshipped 

 or in the locality where it is produced. There is a good market for 

 our fancy fruit some place. 



The fruit salesman's employment is a thankless job. To him 

 more kicks are registered than in any other employment I know of. 

 The dealer expects fancy fruit, and but a small per cent of that is 

 received in the country towns. 



The carelessness in growing, lack of care in picking and pack- 

 ing, rough handling by carriers and delays in transit, all act as a 

 boomerang to the grower in lower prices received, but if we will 

 take more pains with our fruit, know that it is fancy, sound and well 

 packed, we will have less occasion to consider the commission men 

 dishonest. 



