REPORT 



COMMITTEE ON GARDENS. 



FOR THE YEAR 1878. 



By JOSEPH H. WOODFORD, Chairman. 



Your Committee have been foi^tunate this yeav in receiving invita- 

 tions to inspect two estates not entered for prizes. The first visit 

 was on the 24th of May, to C. S. Sargent's, at Brookline. This 

 estate consists of over one hundred and thirty acres, situated in 

 the most delightful part of the town. The surface of the ground 

 is undulating, and its natural advantages have been judiciously 

 utilized b}' the tasteful grouping of trees, shrubs, and plants. 

 American and foreign evergreens, and choice Chinese and Japan 

 shrubs and trees are to be seen in profusion, giving an air of 

 refined taste to the whole estate. Choice azaleas, rhododendrons, 

 and palms, resplendent with bloom and fine foliage, were elegantly 

 arranged under a huge tent, and proved wonderfully attractive, 

 probably more so than usual, to the thousands of people who 

 annually visit thig beautiful estate. The Fernery, and arrange- 

 ment of plants in it, caused many exclamations of pleasure and 

 delight. Groupings of echeverias and agaves were also much 

 admired. In fact, the whole place pi-esented an appearance of 

 great study, and the successful combination of natural advantages 

 with skilled art in the management of trees and shrubs, and laying 

 out of the grounds. Mr. Sargent, in the largeness of his heart, 

 annually throws his grounds open to the public ; and multitudes 



