KEPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GARDENS. 209 



avail themselves of his generous hospitality', and will forever bless 

 his name for giving them days of restful pleasure amid the beauties 

 he has culled from every clime. 



To Mr. Sargent 3'our Committee are much indebted, and beg to 

 thank him most heartil}^ for the noble example he maintains from 

 year to jear for others to emulate, and for the joy he dispenses 

 broadcast to the many visitors who annually appreciate such 

 generosity and hospitality. 



The second visit was made on the 22d of June, to the " Hermi- 

 tage," the delightful residence of William Gray, Jr., the President 

 of our Society. The weather was decidedly cold and rain}-, ^et 

 there was a goodly gathering of the veterans of the Society on this 

 occasion, and a coidial welcome was extended to us as we entered 

 Mr. Gray's hospitable mansion. A good fire of hickorj' logs was 

 burning on the hearth, and boxes of elegant roses adorned the 

 reception room. After the company had been regaled with a 

 bountiful collation, the rain ceased, and an inspection of the estate 

 began. The naturally' undulating surface of the ground had been 

 made more beautiful b}- careful tilth, and the judicious grouping of 

 trees and shrubs. The whole surface of the estate not covered bv 

 trees, or under cultivation, was a close shaven lawn, in excellent 

 condition, and presenting the appearance of a rich green carpet, 

 not onl}- to the e3'e but to the feet. 



Rhododendrons, and other choice foreign and American ever- 

 greens, were planted with good taste, and the grouping of tropical 

 and native shrubery and trees was very skilfully done. A spacious 

 tent, which is to remain a permanent fixture, covered a very 

 pretty tropical garden of palms and ferns, grouped in the happiest 

 manner. 



The rose garden presented a remarkabl}- vigorous growth of the 

 finest imported plants, some of them showing blooms exceeding 

 five inches in diameter. 



On the whole the estate presented a well kept and splendid 

 appearance, and is just such a place as gentlemen of refined taste 

 delight in occup}ing. 



On the 23d day of July your Committes visited the garden of 

 William Doran & Son, at Brookline, which was entered in compe- 

 tition, as a Garden of Small Fruits. This garden consists of two 

 acres of land, which has been brought under cultivation by great 

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