Varied Gardens Fair 67 



by the enclosing walls as the sense of sight, such a 

 garden were a city paradise. 



There is scant regularity in shape in Salem gar- 

 dens ; there is no search for exact dimensions. 

 Little narrow strips of flower beds run down from 

 the main garden in any direction or at any angle 

 where the fortunate owner can buy a few feet of 

 land. Salem gardens do not change with the 

 whims of fancy, either in the shape or the plant- 

 ing. A few new flowers find place there, such as 

 the Anemone Japonica and the Japanese shrubs; 

 for they are akin in flower sentiment, and consort 

 well with the old inhabitants. There are many 

 choice flowers and fruits in these gardens. In the 

 garden of the Manning homestead (opposite page 

 112) grows a flourishing Fig tree, and other rare 

 fruits ; for fifty years ago this garden was known as 

 the Pomological Garden. It is fitting it should be 

 the home of two Robert Mannings both well- 

 known names in the history of horticulture in Massa- 

 chusetts. 



The homely back yard of an old house will often 

 possess a trim and blooming flower border cutting 

 off the close approach of the vegetable beds (see 

 opposite page 66). These back yards, with the 

 covered Grape arbors, the old pumps, and bricked 

 paths, are cheerful, wholesome places, generally of 

 spotless cleanliness and weedless flower beds. I 

 know one such back yard where the pump was the 

 first one set in the town, and children were taken 

 there from a distance to see the wondrous sight. 

 Why are all the old appliances for raising water so 



