» MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Here, we ascertained, that Mrs. Fay was the presiding genius. Here 

 she spends the hours of early morn, arranging, planting, and cultivating, 

 with her own hand, the floral treasures of the earth. What pity that so 

 few of the ladies of our land imitate her example; inhaling the fresh 

 breath of the young day, and the invigorating aroma of the newly turned 

 loam ; planting the roses of health on their cheeks, and nurturing the germs 

 of health, and strength, and buoyancy of spirit. 



Mrs. Fay is a good practical horticulturist, and we commend her ex- 

 ample to every lady who has under her control a patch of garden ground 

 ever so small. 



WOODLAWN CEMETERY. 



Our next visit was to the Woodlawn Cemetery, situated in Chelsea; and 

 it was the desire and intention of the Committee to report in full upon the 

 appearance and condition of these beautiful grounds, giving its history, and 

 an extended statistical account of its roads, paths and plantations, with 

 other items of interest; but having been disappointed in obtaining the 

 required materials for such a description, it must be deferred until another 

 season. The Committee, however, must give their unqualified praise for 

 the skill, neatness and taste everywhere displayed, reflecting the utmost 

 credit on those having the control and direction of this lovely and enchant- 

 ing spot. 



MR. RAND'S GARDEN, GRAPERIES AND GREENHOUSES. 



On the 30th of July, your Committee visited the country seat of Edward 

 S. Rand, Esq., at Dedham, and were entertained with the elegant hospi- 

 tality characteristic of that gentleman. They were still further gratified 

 to meet there as guests of Mr. Rand, Col. Wilder, Dr. Eben. Wight, and 

 other eminent horticulturists. 



Mr. Rand's estate consists of about nine acres of land, and it has been 

 in his possession some half score of years ; but who that knew the place at 

 the time of his purchase would recognize it now ? Upon the present site 

 of his elegant and extensive glass houses the surface water collected into 

 pools, and stagnated for the greater part of the year. What is now a lovely 

 lawn, beautifully graded, and, at the time of our visit, bright with rich 

 verdure, was then a wild, rough, uncultivated waste ; and instead of the 

 few old oaks and venerable apple trees, that then stood like lonely senti- 

 nels watching the desolate domain, the grounds now teem with choice 

 ornamental trees and shrubs, and fruit trees of the finest varieties. It is a 

 triumph of art and taste over wild and uncultivated nature. On the north 

 side of the mansion we noticed some superior specimens of the Rhodo- 

 dendron, Azalea, Kahnia and other choice shrubs. The Rhododendrons, 

 especially, were remarkable plants, a single specimen having produced in 

 the spring of the present year, eighty-two trusses of flowers. All the plants 

 were thriving, and exhibited proofs of intelligent cultivation and unremit- 

 ting care. The Herbaceous plants also were numerous and well selected. 



