BOSTON AND VICINITY. 51 



known in the United States, in which were grown ex- 

 tensively numerous varieties of foreign grapes. For the 

 testing of these under glass in cold houses, Mr. Gray 

 erected a large curvilinear-roof house, two hundred 

 feet long by twenty-four wide. This was such a great 

 success that he built two more of*the same dimensions. 



In addition to these, Brighton, in the early part of 

 this century, was the residence of several celebrated 

 agriculturists and horticulturists. Here were the 

 orchards of Gorham Parsons, who also had others at 

 By field ; of S. W. Pomroy, Mr. Faneuil, Samuel Brooks, 

 and others; and here for many years were held the 

 exhibitions of the Massachusetts Society for Promoting 

 Agriculture, with great success, under the patronage 

 and supervision of such leaders as John Lowell, John 

 Welles, Peter C. Brooks, Gen. Dearborn, Josiah Quincy, 

 John Prince, and the gentlemen above named. 



There is a splendid illustration of the wonderful 

 progress of horticultural improvement and refined taste 

 that cannot be omitted, and may, without detraction 

 from any other, be considered as standing at the 

 head of all others in New England, if not in our 

 country. This is in Wellesley, the estate of Mr. H. 

 Hollis Hunnewell, comprising in all, with its fields and 

 forests, about five hundred acres, on which he com- 

 menced his operations about thirty years ago. The 

 ornamental part contains about forty acres from which 

 he cleared the wild growth of scrub oaks, pitch pines, 

 and other worthless trees and shrubs before he com- 

 menced work upon it. He then laid out his splendid 

 avenues and plots, and commenced the planting of 

 his most interesting and instructive collection of hardy 

 trees and plants, not only of our own country, but of 

 all such, from California, Japan, and other lands, that 

 would endure our climate. His collection of rhododen- 



